Spain Climbing in March - seeking beta re: wifi/remote work

My partner and I will be traveling to Spain for most of March. We're trying to decide where to go and one of the requirements is good enough wifi for video calls and remote work. We climb in the 5.10 range and would like to stay at a climbing hostel so that I can find partners when my husband needs to work. Trying to decide between El Chorro (and hopefully one other destination) or Siurana and Margalaf. Anyone have experience working and climbing in these areas? We have starlink we could bring but it would be nice to not lug that dish overseas. Also looking for recommendations on where to stay in these areas that fit the bill for wifi and partners. 

Anyone else going to be in Spain during that time and want to meet up? 

Chulilla. 

https://www.yogawithievaluna.com/post/chulilla-is-it-one-of-the-best-rock-climbing-destinations-in-europe

Airbnb offer free wifi. So no issues.

Forget about Siurana with your current grade. You won't enjoy it. Never climbed in Margalef when I lived in Spain; sorry I can't help here.

giraud b wrote:

Chulilla. 

https://www.yogawithievaluna.com/post/chulilla-is-it-one-of-the-best-rock-climbing-destinations-in-europe

Airbnb offer free wifi. So no issues.

Forget about Siurana with your current grade. You won't enjoy it. Never climbed in Margalef when I lived in Spain; sorry I can't help here.

I disagree a bit on this, though admit that my experience ( 20 years ago) is 'somewhat dated'. While there is not much ( though some) in those grades at Siurana itself, there is a reasonable amount in the surrounding Sierra de Prades--places such as Arboli, La Mussara, Mont Ral, Villanova de Prades--all within a half-hour drive. We were climbing mostly in the 5.10 range and found more than enough to keep us happy for 3 weeks. It is a beautiful area and within easy day trip distance of cities such as Tarragona and Barcelona, as well as the coast, for rest day options.
Around Chulilla, though, we found much slimmer pickings at those grades ( just look at the grades mentioned in the article linked above) and a good percentage of them were 'sandbagged'. Maybe some sectors with more moderate grades have been developed since then, though I'm not sure if the rock there offers many such possibilities. Additionally, while the village itself is very picturesque, it is fairly isolated and, as I recall, a bit far from more 'touristy' rest day activities ( I guess that can be considered a positive by some).

I, too, can't provide any input on Margalef.

1 how fast do you need your wifi? rural Spain is not great for high speed. 10 MBPS is likely and sometimes more but def not high speed. I have 10 MBPS and it is fine for Zoom but would not be great for high volume downloads

2 Siurana and Margalef are very difficult to find partners. I never found any in two trips ot Siruana and only once at Margalef. El Chorro is the easiest place I have found anywhere in the world (132 climbing areas in 21 countries) for finding partners. you don't need to stay at the Olive Branch or Finca-just hang out there or buy meals at the OB or pizza or drinks at the Finca. or just go to the popular crags and meet people. there is a whatsapp group which works great too

3 March is always good weather in El Chorro and can be good in the others but can also be cold and rainy. EC is the best to be sure of good weather

4 Siurana and Margalef don't have many options for accom near the climbing. EC has tons of accom. 

5  how many days would you stay here and what is your upper budget limit and what features do you need? 

6 you can climb at Turon, Teba, Torcal... all less than 1 hour from here. Puerto Rico is near Marbella, a little over one hour. so you can be based here and still climb at a bunch of other areas.

I moved here because of the weather and ease of finding partners and food and the beauty so I am a big fan. 

PM me if you want more info

Yes there are tons of moderates around arboli, Villanova, etc but it's going to be really hard to find partners in those smaller crags. Arboli has a refugi but it's like a ghost town (I laugh every time I visit friends who live there) and I would not recommend going solo to any of those crags unless you are into hiking around with your gear and maybe not climbing. 

Super easy to find partners in Siurana and Margalef if you are climbing in the 7+/5.12 range, much harder at the lower grades. I have no idea about the wifi situation in Chulilla but it's sooo easy to find partners there and the cell phone service is good enough that you can hotspot for zoom calls. The moderates are pretty polished and not the best climbing on the planet but the vibe in Chulilla is so fun. Tbh at the grade and scene you're looking for el chorro is probably your best bet. 

There are many crags in Cataluña. I didn't mention  them because the OP is going to have trouble finding climbing buddies.

-Oliana

-Terradets

-Montgrony

-Montsant

-La Mussara

-Collegats

-Santa Linya

As the most popular ones. Plenty of others though.

Hey! Message me if you're gonna be looking for partners in Cataluña. I'm staying in Lleida till june, and don't know anyone yet.