PRINT: Rock Climbing in Puerto Hermina Beach (Quebradillas), zzz

Puerto Hermina Beach (Quebradillas)

International > N America > Puerto Rico > zzz - minor crags

Description

A very climbable 60 foot high limestone crag situated next to the parking area, beachside at Playa Puerto Hermina in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. North facing and shaded most of the day, the top can be accessed via an easy scramble and walk from the east end.

Please respect the Taíno head sculpture and do not climb on or disturb this figure. Help keep the area clean and pick up as much garbage from others as you can on each visit- thanks!

There is also a world-class free skateboard park in the neighborhood and a "rappelling club" at the skateboard park. This group has been using the cliff for rappelling for many years and there are three marine grade glue-in ring bolts on top of the cliff (one badly rusted) that are remnants from these activities. As always, please be courteous with other users as there are only a few routes currently. Titanium bolts are the only material that will work long-term in this environment so please do not use steel.

Getting There

Crag location (and parking):
18.483551, -66.902709
https://goo.gl/maps/dqn2uENcBntkygnG6

The crag is 30 feet away from the parking area at this popular surf and spearfishing beach. Access to the ocean for swimming is tricky but nice swimming beaches can be accessed via a 10 minute walk to the east along the coast from here. There is now a kid friendly ocean pool nearby the parking formed during the big swell in March 2017 that also damaged the sidewalk.

Routes from Left to Right

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 28 ● Surf's Up Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 30 ● Hang Ten Sport, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 30 ● Free Bird Sport, TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 35 ● Hump Day Sport, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 22 ● Shredibles Sport

● Surf's Up

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport

● Hang Ten

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR

● Free Bird

5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, TR

● Hump Day

5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR

● Shredibles

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Drone view looking at the north-facing wall at Puerto Hermina Beach in Quebradillas. Climbers on Hump Day and starting Free Bird.

Crys climbing at Playa Puerto Hermina. Photo courtesy of Manuel Vélez (manuelvelez.com)

Adi Carter pulling the big tufa of "Hump Day" at Puerto Playa Hermina.

View from the cliff top of the snorkeling and spearfishing zone at Puerto Playa Hermina. There is the remnants of a small building and a swimming cove, also the easiest entrance into the ocean just…

Scoping out the route Hang Ten during the bolting process.

View from the top of the cliff of the parking area and beach at Puerto Playa Hermina.

Javi @ Puerto Hermina -- Photo: Coral

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Eli Helmuth
Ciales, PR

We have high quality and affordable Airbnb lodging available at our home in Ciales, with two great sport crags in town and a short drive to beautiful beaches including Mar Chiquita (snorkel), Tubos (surfing), and Playas Esperanza (surf and snorkel) this is a perfect basecamp for climbers and adventurers visiting the island.

airbnb.com/h/cialespr

Ciales is central to all of the climbing and ocean activities on the north coast which is where the majority of rock climbing on the island is located. The largest crag of Bayamon is just 40 minutes away, the DWS in Arecibo an equal distance to the northwest, and as a family of climbers we can assist with your planning to maximize the time on the rock. Ciales is the gateway into the Toro Negro Mountain Range with the highest peaks on the island at over 4,000' high. Swimming holes, cliff jumping, world class caving, and many more adventures are close by and there's no better place in Puerto Rico to be central to outdoor adventures. May 11, 2018

Joey Chicharrones
Middle Earth

This area has super fun routes, great access, and an unforgettable setting. Even if you climb at higher grades it is well worth your time to check out this wall. Tons of potential for new lines too. Feb 8, 2021

Casey M
SL, UT

This crag is absolutely beautiful! Beach front climbing makes for amazing views at the top. Gnarly waves for the surfers and a lovely beach cove to cool down in after. Only 5 bolted routes for now, nice and fun easy/moderates, but tons of potential for more.

Not being used to this type of rock back home, I would note that the rock itself is quite sharp and abrasive. It made me cautious about rope rub. There are solid titanium glue-ins on all the routes. However, none of the anchors had any chains or rap rings so also keep that it mind. Sep 27, 2021

Rebecca G
Crested Butte, CO

What the photos don't show is how cool the actual rock is: Tufas, colonettes, dribble castles... How often do really entry-level climbs have these things? And again, Eli bolts 'em for scaredy cats to feel brave. I would take anyone here, and know that if they didn't have a wonderful time, they need to try a different sport. It's such a treat to have climbs at this basic level be this interesting, and on a beach no less... Mar 17, 2023

Heliodor Jalba
Montserrat, ES

Rams horns were installed on all anchors on the five routes by the climbers association, AEPRI: aepri.org/en/home

Please use your own quickdraws for anchors when lowering multiple times or toproping. Use the rams horns only on the final lower in order to minimize wear on them and ensure they last as long as possible. Nov 30, 2024

Emily Croharé

Really fun climbing, and an incredible beach too! In January, 3 of the 5 routes were seeping, but it was a pretty wet January, so maybe this isn’t the norm. Jan 31, 2025

Paxman Paxman

The Scramble to the top is: from the base of the crag (looking at the wall), go left and follow trail to little cave. On left of cave is way up to the top where there are big cemented anchor points. I think only two of the anchors can safely be set up from the top, the others are out of reach, and you would have to rappel to them to set up the top rope if you did not want to lead.
Amazing place! Nov 5, 2025