Puerto Rico : where to stay?

We are a group of 4, planning on going from Dec 25th to Jan 10th.

Crags appear to be far apart, and there aren't many obvious camping options (government campgrounds appear to not provide facilities such as electricity and potable water).

Do folks generally simply plan ahead in terms of each area and rent stuff on AirBnB? 

We would really prefer not having a set itinerary to be able to move to a different craft whenever we want, but it seems like that would be complicated.

Any insight to provide?

Thanks!

While the crags in Puerto Rico are quite spread out, there is a good concentration of many of the best ones within the San Juan area. There are even crags in the suburbs ( Bayamon, Roca Norte ( the latter limited but very accessible)), while many others are within a 1.5 hour drive radius, so very doable as day trips--we visited different crags almost every climbing day. Given those factors, we chose to stay in B and Bs in a more outlying district of the city. With a group (5-6 folks) we found the B and Bs we rented to be well-maintained, convenient, and affordable. This also gave us easy access to the 'urban amenities' for our evenings and rest days. Many of the more rural attractions such as the rain forest and many beaches, were also reasonable as day trips.

Others I know, have chosen to stay around Ciales or some of the nearby coastal towns. Ciales is a smaller city in a valley rimmed by cliffs ( most of them not currently available for climbing, though several very good ones are) with a selection of lodging options, restaurants, etc. One popular choice for climbers is the Flying Cocanut Ranch, owned by transplanted CO climber Eli Helmuth and also the location of one of the island's best crags.  Ciales is roughly a 1.5 hour drive from San Juan.

What about crags that are near beaches? My family is planning to go to a beach destination in December and I'm wondering if we could combine objectives - they get beaches and I get climbing?!

Hola a todos! 

There are ever more options on PR for climbing, camping, and whatever else you enjoy. It would help to be aware of things like rougher seas in the winter, especially on the North (Atlantic) coast, and some current water issues, influenced by infrastructure, drought, and politics.

The map feature on MP should help you find crags closer to beaches.

I've usually stayed in airbnbs around Mar Chiquita (Manati), as a solid central location with lots of options for a variety of activities.

DM me and I'll try to help you enjoy La Isla del Encanto. 

Salud!

We did 3 days ciales and 4 days San juan for a good sampling of climbing and other PR experiences. We used Vrbo for both areas

@Derek this crag may be a great option for you and the family. It’s right on the beach and I remember the climbs had super rad features.

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/114350621/puerto-hermina-beach-quebradillas

Joey Chicharroneswrote:

@Derek this crag may be a great option for you and the family. It’s right on the beach and I remember the climbs had super rad features.

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/114350621/puerto-hermina-beach-quebradillas

This is an option that has the beach and climbing in close proximity.  The climbing is limited and the rock is sharp but its nice enough.  Might be the shortest approach to any area in PR.  There is more extensive climbing near Surfer's Beach but that is a longer trek if you are starting in the San Juan area.

Neat, thanks for sharing!

Any recommendations near some of the other crags like "Cerro de las Cuevas" and "Cerro las Tetas"?

I wonder what might be the best rest day activities in those areas. We'd probably be pretty happy with something "adrenaliny" (e.g. canyoneering).

I'm not familiar with Cerros de las Cuevas but have climbed at Tetas. From my recollection, Las Tetas are located at the top of a mountain pass, with not much else of interest, including accommodations, etc in the close vicinity. However, the pass where they are located is roughly midway between San Juan and the pass to Ciales, so is very accessible from both areas---about an hour drive from San Juan if my memory is correct.

The climbing at Tetas is on basalt, as opposed to the limestone at most of the crags on the island, so offers unique climbing---and several multi-pitch routes, a rarity there. The approach, at least to the closer 'breast' ( very accurate name), is short and very straightforward if dry--we were rained on a bit while we were there and while the rock dried very quickly the trail did not and was very slippery!!!! Definitely worth at least a day of climbing,

We offer a climber oriented Airbnb in Ciales nearby the Flying Coconut and Caliche Crags. . There are ten more developed cliffs within a few minutes drive plus river swimming and bouldering. Ciales is a gateway into the island's highest peaks and just 11 miles from the amazing north coast @ Mar Chiquita.

We're busy in the winter  months, January is almost all reserved. Glad to assist, just DM me questions.🌴🥥

Ciales Climbers Airbnb

airbnb.com/h/climbcialespr

Most local climbers live in the San Juan metro area. Many times they just hang out at the big crag in town: Monagas. The rest of the time they drive one hour to the big crags on the island in Ciales, Cayey, and Arecibo. A bit further of a drive gets you to what many people consider the best crag of them all: Pasillo Frío in the south of the island.

In terms of climbing and beach combos, you have a few options:

1) Puerto Hermina lets you climb and be at the beach in the same spot. Five super easy climbing routes, nice views, but used a bit as a bathroom by the beach crowd, and random people walking up on you while you belay.

2) Tufa City sector at Surfers Beach. The better beach crag. Seven or eight easy routes up to 10a and taller than Puerto Hermina too. It also has some additional routes that some people find enjoyable. Amazing ocean views with a birds eye angle. Easy walk six minutes from the parking and beach. There's a second sector just like this one another seven minutes further, called the Jungle Wall. And there are more sectors around the area too. Survival Beach is just down the trail, one of the best beaches in PR, and what a spectacular view as you descend into it!

3) Meseta Fronti. A full crag with 40 routes, 12 minutes straight on the highway to the beaches in Arecibo. Most routes are in the 5.10 and 5.11 grades and there are lots of three dimensional features to make for memorable unique climbs. Good route lengths, nice coastline views, some rain proof routes.

4) Monagas in the San Juan metro area. 20 minute drive through heavy city traffic gets you from the big beaches to the crag parking. Big crag with 200 routes of all sorts. Most people hang out here to climb. You can also do a 20 minute drive to the nice beach at Punta Salinas as an alternative to the dense city driving.

5) eh, bouldering at Vacia Talega? bouldering on sharp rock over very soft fluffy sand. Absolutely dangerous to get in the water due to the strong water pull but chilling on the tiny beach is nice. There's a quality big beach on the other side of the rock though, where the locals hang out and where the parking is.