Potrero Chico logistics beta
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Hey folks, had a few questions about the logistics of the area. |
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Money-wise -- cash. US or Mexico. Few to no places will take plastic. |
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Take a wad of US US $20s. |
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Check into your foreign transaction fees for ATMs beforehand. Usually the 1-2% charge is a better deal than what the currency exchange booths at the airport will offer you. There are multiple ATMs at the Monterey airport that will provide you local currency or dollars. |
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Rancho sendero has a new hostel that has lockers in it. |
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Satori is a stellar climb that doesn't get as much traffic as other classic's due to a longer approach. All pitches are easily linked so it's very doable to do it in 4 long pitches. The Walk is well worth avoiding rock fall during the busy season. |
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In my experience your US Bank is going to give you the best exchange rate so get some money exchanged before you go, pesos are preferred by most IMO. An ATM is available next to the town square, it is a bit of a walk to get to if you're on foot. |
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The most important information is that Leobardo's tacos at Don Rubens mini-super are the best tacos I've ever had! They are much better than the climbing, and you should completely forget about buying groceries in town, as your cooking is guaranteed to pale in comparison to Leo's tacos. Plus, you'll get free spanish lessons and shots of mezcal if he likes you. |
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+1 for Leos. Cheaper cerveza and mucho better food than posadas or homeros or whatever you cook. He even invited us in to watch Soccer with the family. He only accepts Pesos |
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Thanks folks! |
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What's the best guidebook for Potrero these days? |
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Seems like phone-based Rakkup currently has the best info and should have a print guide available soon. |
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Leo's tacos (and burritos) are really good. The pizza truck is super pricey, but a fun hangout with a very cool owner. Grocery runs are nice if you like breakfast and snacks for climbing (booze, too). |
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Mike Stearns wrote:Seems like phone-based Rakkup currently has the best info and should have a print guide available soon.Yep, heard the same. Dane's guide (The Whole Enchilada) is out-dated, and I think, out-of-print. Ed's guide is reasonably up-to-date (last year), but hard to use as your only guide, generally being just a listing of routes with minimal-to-know description. Rakkup is phone-based (digital). There's an all-Mexico guide from a few years back that contains a reasonable EPC section, but it is a huge two-volume guide with lots of information you don't need for a trip to EPC. I'm looking forward to when Frank gets his print version done (sometime in 2017?). |
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Just got back a couple days ago and absolutely reccomend what these fellas are saying. Not only is La Posada crowded and the most expensive, their grass is fairly uncomfortable. Sendero is super super friendly, the owners are locals, and the grass is plush. I mostly used the Whole Enchilada and it is obviously outdated. With the addition of so many routes since it was last printed, route finding through just the Whole Enchilada is pretty difficult. Not hard at all to find partners to climb with because everyone is so dang friendly. EL Buho is a sweet little coffee shop just to the right of the main grocery store, and the manager Mike is a crusher (and all around rad dude) who can give you some great beta. Don't miss out on the single pitch stuff! |
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smurray47 wrote:Hey folks, had a few questions about the logistics of the area. Money-wise, do most place take card, should I bring cash $US, or should I bring an ATM card and take out pesos when I get there? Does a taxi to EPC from the airport use the meter, or is it something that should be discussed before embarking? Groceries-wise, is walking to Hidalgo every couple days a viable plan? Accomodations-wise, unfortunately we're going to be around there during peak season, Dec 20-Jan 5-ish. Anyone want to chime in on experience with camping accommodations that offer a balance of secure storage, relative quiet at night, and proximity to the crags? Not a big partier, more of a 1/2 beers and read kind of guy. Climbing-wise, we're obviously going to try to hit some of the classics, but I'd love to hear some stories if anyone has had some fun adventures that wouldn't show up on the top 10 climbs on MP. Thanks much!Hi being from Monterrey around 40 mins from EPC, there are a few ATM machines scaterd in town, and a bank. There is also a nice grocery store that accepts cards. La posada accepts cards but charge a rate. so bring money to pay stance, beers and tacos and pay with card all the food at the grocery store. Taxi from airport is a flat rate, so ask before hand, and the day you arrive should you buy the return taxi to the airport in advance. If I were you, I try some of these estrellitas, supernova, yankee clipper, treasures of sierra madre, snot girs, satory, to name a few. for more info you can contact MARK GRUNDON ELPOTREROCHICOGUIDES.COM good luck Marcelo Gonzalez |
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If driving through the Del Rio crossing, does anyone know where to get Pesos from an ATM? Does the place where you stop to get your vehicle and tourist permit have an ATM? |
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20kn, |
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Vehicle Breaks in are not common at the campgrounds. I would not recommend parking your car at La Posada, as the parking there is very limited. We crossed at Laredo you could get pesos exchanged at a counter located in the Banjercito, but as mentioned earlier you will get a slightly better rate at your local US bank. |
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Johnathan C wrote:20kn, there are places you can stop at stateside to exchange money before crossing, and it's a little better of a deal than exchanging on the other side of the border.Are you talking those commercial, currency exchange counters that exchange like 10 different types of money? I've always found an ATM is the best place to get cash as you should always get the daily international currency exchange rate less the standard ATM fee. |
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20 kN wrote: Are you talking those commercial, currency exchange counters that exchange like 10 different types of money? I've always found an ATM is the best place to get cash as you should always get the daily international currency exchange rate less the standard ATM fee.Oh for sure, but I don't remember seeing one at the transportation center. Maybe there's one near. |