Elevation: 718 ft
GPS: 36.9085, -4.7603
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 238,654 total · 1,542/month
Shared By: jaysquared on Jul 10, 2010
Admins: Jason Halladay, David Riley

Description

Located approximately 45 minutes from Málaga, El Chorro is one of the largest and most popular climbing destinations in Andalucía. Sport climbing tends to be the most popular, although long, multipitch, traditional lines exist. El Chorro is also home to the very popular el Camino del Rey which is used to access some of the climbing areas. youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvv…

The rock is very pocketed limestone that is not always of the most confidence-inspiring quality. That is to say, most routes are well-traveled and quite clean, although one is bound to knock on a few hollow flakes. The limestone faces are typically vertical to off-vertical, but very steep routes do exist at a few of the crags. Like much of Spain, bolts are abundant and routes rarely feel runout.

Camping is possible, but hostels and bed & breakfasts are nearly the same price. There are a variety of options in the village of El Chorro, and other accommodations very near to the town. For more info about lodging check out the classifieds on UK Climbing .

There is a small grocery store in El Chorro, but if you need to stock up drive to Álora or buy before you leave Málaga.

El Chorro is a great Fall/Winter/Spring destination, as summers are very hot and shade is often difficult to find. Climbing in summer is doable, but expect temperatures to be in the 90's or greater and bring suntan lotion.

There are two quality guidebooks for the area. The first is "Málaga Rock Climbs - El Chorro", a spiral bound book that is written by a local climber. It is pretty good and available at the gear shop in El Chorro, but it would be helpful to know some Spanish. The other is from RockFax and is available from both their website and at the gear shop. However, take each with a grain of salt, as they both contain errors or a lack of information.

Getting There

El Chorro is probably the best climbing destination if you don't want to rent a car. There are many options for getting here. To get to Málaga either: Fly into Madrid and take an AVE train (~77 euro) from the Renfe Atocha station to Málaga Maria Zambrano OR fly into Málaga. From Málaga, you can rent a car (probably your best bet) or take a train to Álora or El Chorro from Maria Zambrano (~4 euro). Trains frequently run to Álora, and about once a day to El Chorro, so plan ahead. If you take a train to Álora, you can hire a taxi or take a bus.

Once in El Chorro, you can walk to many (though not all) of the crags or carpool with other climbers. If you want to get the most out of your stay rent a car so that you can climb anywhere, buy groceries, and drive to nearby towns on rest days.

333 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: El Chorro Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at El Chorro

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 22
Putiferio
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 14
Amptrax
Trad 8 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 15
Buena Sombra
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 8
Life is Sweet
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 12
El canalillo de la Mari
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 18
Yogur de Coco
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 6
Zeppelin
Trad 10 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 10
Cosas Caseras
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 17
Poema di Roca
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 14
Little Brown Baby
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 7
Sara
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 6
Anack Sunamun
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 3
Judas
Sport
5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 3
Eye of the Storm
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 3
Lourdes
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Putiferio Frontales > Los Albercones
 22
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Amptrax Frontales > Amptrax
 14
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 8 pitches
Buena Sombra Desplomilandia > Buena Sombra
 15
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Life is Sweet El Makinodromo
 8
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
El canalillo de la Mari Escalera Arabe > Upper crag
 12
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Yogur de Coco Desplomilandia > Buena Sombra
 18
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
Zeppelin Gorge > Sector Zeppelin
 6
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad 10 pitches
Cosas Caseras Desplomilandia > Buena Sombra
 10
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Poema di Roca Frontales > Poema de Roca
 17
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Little Brown Baby Frontales > Castrojo
 14
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Sara Las Encantades
 7
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Anack Sunamun Frontales > Momia
 6
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Judas Desplomilandia > Buena Sombra
 3
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
Eye of the Storm Frontales > Poema de Roca
 3
5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Lourdes El Makinodromo
 3
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in El Chorro »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos