Climbing Near Jericó, Chiapas

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Spanish:La Escalada en Roca en Chiapas se reparte alrededor de dos sitios, San Cristóbal de las Casas y Tuxtla Gutierrez.San Cristóbal de las CasasEl pueblo mágico de San Cristobal de las Casas se encuentra a una altura de 2100 m.s.n.m. en los Altos de Chiapas, rodeado de pinos y encinos. Es el destino principal del turismo en el estado y conocido por su arquitectura colonial y el movimiento de los Zapatistas. Los nativos de aquí son los Tzotziles y son famosos por su artesanía y sus tejidos.El tipo de roca es caliza en varias diferentes formas. En “El Arcotete” por ejemplo, te encuentras con escalada en estalactitas, parecido a lugares como Tailandia, Kalymnos o la Cueva de la Chonta en el estado de Guerrero. Agarres grandes, rutas largas, muy desplomadas de mucha resistencia y techos. Por otro lado, en la zona del “Cerro de Don Lauro” dominan rutas de placas muy técnicas con agarres pequeños. En muchos partes de la roca puedes encontrar fósiles de animales del tiempo, donde el cerro estaba todavía bajo el agua.El clima es muy agradable con una temperatura promedia de 19 grados. De noviembre a mayo es la temporada seca y el mejor tiempo para escalar. En los meses de junio a octubre puede llover fuerte y a veces solo se puede escalar en sitios que son protegidos de la lluvia como "El Arcotete". En esa temporada es recomendable que comienzas temprano a las 8 o 9 de la mañana, ya que mayormente llueve en la tarde, alrededor de las 2pm y tarda hasta la noche. Lo bueno es, que la roca se seca muy rápido. Pocas horas después de la lluvia, esta casi todo seco otra vez.Tuxtla GutiérrezLa ciudad de Tuxtla Gutiérrez es la capital del estado de Chiapas y el hogar de los Zoques. Su nombre viene de la palabra "tōchtli", que significa "conejo" en la idioma náhuatl. En su extremo oriente colinda con el pueblo histórico de Chiapa de Corzo, lo cual es la entrada al Cañón del Sumidero. A sus faldas se solean los cocodrilos, junto a cientos de turistas, que diariamente visitan este lugar impresionante.En el calor de la ciudad de los conejos no debe faltar un Pozol, la bebida ancestral de la región. Es una mezcla energética de cacao y maíz que también se toma en el estado de Tabasco. A pesar de que la ciudad está bastante agitada, se pueden escuchar todavía a veces los cantos de las cotorras o el tecleo de una marimba entre el ruido del tráfico.La escalada a su alrededor es magnífico.El tipo de piedra es caliza, que se presenta en sus formas más alegres, como por ejemplo en tufas, hoyos, slopers, estalactitas y chorreras. La roca es casi siempre de muy buena calidad y es bastante similar a zonas conocidas como Arco en Italia, o Rodellar y Siurana en España.El clima es caliente con una temperaturas hasta 35 grados casi diario. La mejor temporada para escalar es de noviembre a marzo, ya que es un poco mas fresco. En los meses de mayo a octubre puede llover fuerte a veces por días.English:Rock Climbing in Chiapas is distributed around two sites, San Cristóbal de las Casas and Tuxtla Gutierrez.San Cristóbal de las CasasThe magical town of San Cristobal de las Casas is located at an altitude of 2100 m.a.s.l. in the highlands of Chiapas, surrounded by pines and oaks. Known for its colonial architecture and the E.Z.L.N. movement, the "Zapatistas". It is the main tourist destination in the state. The natives here are the Tzotziles and they are famous for their crafts and weaving.The type of rock is limestone in several different forms. In the "Arcotete" you find yourself climbing on stalactites, similar to places like Thailand, Kalymnos or La Chonta Cave in the state of Guerrero. Big holds, long, very overhanging routes and roofs. And in the area of "Cerro de Don Lauro" dominates very technical face climbing with small crimps. In many parts of the rock you can find fossils from the time, when the hill was still underwater.The weather is very pleasant with an average temperature of 15 degrees. From October to May is the dry season and the best time to climb. In the months June to September it can rain heavily and sometimes you can only climb in places that are protected from rain like "El Arcotete". In the rainy season it is recommended that you start early at 8 or 9am in the morning. In most cases it rains in the afternoon, around 3pm and lasts until the night. The good thing is, the rock dries very fast. A few hours after the rain, it is almost all dry again.Tuxtla GutierrezThe capital of the State of Chiapas. Home of the zoques and neighbor with the historic town Chiapa de Corzo, the entrance to the Sumidero Canyon. At his foot the crocodiles sunbathe next to the tourists, who every day visit this spectacular place. In the heat of the city of rabbits (tochtli = rabbit in nahualt) you should not miss a Pozol, the ancestral energy drink. A powerful mixture of cocoa and corn that is also taken in the state of Tabasco. And although the city is growing rapidly, the songs of the parrots or the pounding of a marimba are still heard sometimes among the traffic noise. The Climbing around it is magnificent.The weather is hot, temperatures up to 35 degrees almost daily. At night it cools a little and for difficult projects it is recommended to wait for the refreshing breeze. The best climbing season is from November to February. In the months from June to October it can rain hard sometimes for days.The type of rock is limestone, which appears in its most playful forms, as in holes, tufas, balls, caves, stalactites and chorreras. With the exception of the great wall of the Sumidero Canyon, the rock is always of very good quality. It is quite similar to areas known as Arco (Italy) or Rodellar and Siurana (Spain). Desde el aeropuerto en Tuxtla Gutierrez 30 minutos al centro o 1 hora a San Cristobal de las Casas. Hay varias opciones para quedarse. 

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. To get to las Paredes de Copoya from the capital city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, take a taxi to "la Colonia Ideal", or catch a number 15 "collectivo" bus on the corner of East 1st Street, between 6th and 7th South. Mke sure the bus or taxi is taking you to La Colonia Idea, and NOT the town of Copoya. This climbing area gets its name from the town, but the climbson are actually located the cliff faces below Copoya.*The access for this zone has changed. You now have to go to Copoya Village, and then walk down after parking by Cristo de Copoya.*When you get to la Colonia Ideal, hop out at the last stop, or the highpoint on the route (located at a right turn at the top of a gravel road). Follow the meandering trail system, roughly 15 minutes upwards, towards the base of the cliff. There are a number of side trails so try stay on the ones that look to be the most traveled, and keep heading up hill. See the attachments for individual route descriptions, or check out the Grupo Escala webpage: grupoescalachiapas.comAs I have mentioned above, the best way of getting to las Paredes de Copoya the first time is by contacting Grupo Escala, the local non-profit climbing group. Their email address is: grupoescala@yahoo.com, and the phone number for their local climbing gym is: 019612129240 or  for more info email la.roca.chiapas@gmail.com, or ask at Inercia Sala de Escalada, which is in Plan de Ayala, with Angel Gomez who can take you there.