Paredes de Copoya Climbing

The climbing area known as Copoya is located on the outskirts of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital city of the Mexican State of Chiapas. There are currently just over 60 bolted routes established in the area, and these range from 5.7 to 5.12+.

Within Copoya there are six main climbing areas: La Piedrita with 14 routes, La Cortina with 6 routes, La Terraza with 9 routes, La Cascada with 15 routes, La Ceiba with 15 routes, and La Jardin del Profeta with 4 routes.

The limestone walls that can be found around this mesa (known locally as La Meseta de Copoya) are quite solid and generally of good quality. Another plus is that many of the climbs in this area are in the shade year round due to Copoya's location on a densely wooded hillside. Although this climbing area is only fifteen minutes from the capital, is has a wild and secluded feel once you begin hiking under the dense canopy of trees.

The climbing community is very small in Chiapas, so you will probably have the place to yourself, but on the weekend you may run into a couple of folks from a local non-profit climbing group know as GECE (Grupo Escala Climbing and Exploration A.C.) In fact contacting them as a cheap and reliable guide service might prove to be the most reliable way of finding your way to the base of the cliffs. Proceeds earned by this non-profit club go to putting up more routes as well to continued construction on the only local, indoor climbing gym. Make sure you thank them for putting up and maintaining all of the quality routes in this area, and and in working to preserve Copoya as a protected area.