Paute  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  7,500' Lat, Long:  -2.7725, -78.7782 Map Page Views:  75. Good page?    Administrators:  TYeary, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  sanz on Oct 29, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Paute as seen from the road on a rare rainy day.

Description 

Paute is one of the most developed and highest-quality sport climbing venues in Ecuador. There aren't a lot of cracks to climb, so development came later than nearby Cojitambo. The walls are shorter and the rock is different but every bit as good.

While Coji sports lots of slopers and thin holds, Paute has lots of positive crimps and jugs on steeper rock. The approach is easy, the weather is nice, and in general, Paute lends itself better to a casual day of cragging than Coji, which presents more involved routes and route finding. Paute does have a few multi-pitch routes, but the majority are single pitch.

The Ecuadorian climbing company Monodedo maintains a website with lots of good beta, including individual route descriptions. Check out Paute's site at monodedo.com/web/paginas/topos/paute.html

Getting There 

You can get there by bus, but it's a haul. If you choose to do so, take a bus from the terminal in Cuenca to Paute. From Paute, head north and up to the mirador. Keep going until you see the rock to your left.

If you go by car, take the Panamericana north and follow signs to Paute. From town, follow the same directions as by foot.

Once you see the rock to your left, there's and obvious trail from the road to the base of the cliff.

Photos of Paute Slideshow

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This pillar is the start for the routes Dona Pili ...

Sandy Preiss at the crux of Don Polla