Playa Acapulquito Bluffs (Old Man's)  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  23.0222, -109.7162 Map Page Views:  192. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Dane Bass, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Stephane Fitch on Jan 6, 2013 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: Climbing "Surf's Not Up" on the "Crab Rock" sectio...

Description 

Cabo offers very little rock-climbing, but here's an exception. This extraordinary, undeveloped set of beachside bouldering bluffs is located just southwest of Playa Acapulquito, a.k.a. Old Man's, one of the most inviting surf beaches in Baja.

These highly featured bluffs, composed of sedimentary rock that can be crumbly but generally is solid and offers excellent grip for climbing, are sprinkled with interesting sea caves, arches and recesses. The climbing is available at all but high tide.

According to the folks who work at the Cabo Surf Hotel's surf school and who would be in position to notice, these rocks are seeing virtually no traffic from climbers. That's not surprising, since there's not much of a climbing tradition in the area—loose scree dominates the landscape. So if you're a boulderer who likes grabbing first ascents, the Playa Acapulquito Bluffs are packed with potentially exciting, undeveloped routes.

There bluffs run perhaps 80 yards. The number of potential routes is at least 20.

Getting There 

From San Jose del Cabo, head south on Route 1. Just after Lookout Point, at around KM 28, look for a pullout on your left. Park in the small, free lot just outside the entrance for the Cabo Surf Hotel. (It's a great hotel, by the way. If you're a guest there or you join them for a meal, they'll let you park in the lot inside the gates.) Walk down the stairs, through a tunnel and out a wash to the playa. Turn right and head south along the beach for two or three minutes and you'll reach the bluffs.

The bluffs offer excellent walk-offs throughout, thanks to stairs that the homeowners in the luxurious mansions above these bluffs have carved into the rock at various points in order to ease their access to the beaches below.

The Classics

Featured Route For Playa Acapulquito Bluffs (Old Man's)

Surf's Not Up V2  International : Mexico : ... : Playa Acapulquito Bluffs (O...

This route begins on a jug near the groin at the far end of the first section of the Playa Acapulquito boulders. It begins with a 15-foot traverse to the left, your hands working across a long series of good holds on a seam of hardened, stained rock relatively low on the wall. As the entire base of this climb is recessed, you'll have to hunt around creatively for footholds—and throw a few heel hooks when working past a deep cave section. Turn upwards once you spot the distinct V above your head....[more]   Browse More Classics in International