What you get on this adventure: An experienced, local rock-climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area Transportation to and from Querétaro Airport Transportation during the tour 4 nights of accommodations in a hotel or Airbnb 3 days of rock climbing All technical climbing gear Daily breakfasts at the accommodations Daily lunches delivered to the crag (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options available) Wine tour What’s not included: Additional day of climbing Additional night of accommodation Transportation to and from Mexico Dinners after climbing Gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

If you can climb a ladder, you’re good to go. Being in good shape is always a plus but far from necessary. Rock climbing is all about using good movement technique rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength. To ensure you have a fun experience rock climbing in Aculco de Espinoza, your guide will choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level.

What if I’ve never climbed before?

No prior experience is necessary for this rock climbing tour in Aculco de Espinoza. Whether you’ve never donned a harness or you’re a seasoned climber, a guide will help you meet your individual objectives. Above all, your instructor’s number one priority is your safety. As long as you listen to the given instructions, you’ll succeed in completing your climb.

What about required equipment?

All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need: Helmet Harness with a locking carabiner, belay device, and chalk bag Ropes Rock shoes (included in the price, but we recommend bringing your own if you have them) Climbing hardware (quickdraws, cam devices, stoppers, etc.) Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 40L bag) Water bottle Comfortable shoes for the walk-off Light puffy jacket Food you can eat on-the-go Rock climbing clothing (including a long-sleeved sun shirt) Leisure clothing Toiletries (sunscreen, chapstick, bug spray, etc.) Sunglasses Sun hat Camera — optional Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: These courses are not private. For this group rock climbing course in Aculco de Espinoza, the usual group size is 6 women with a 2:1 guest to guide ratio. Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows. Climbing days in Aculco de Espinoza can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to climb on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Rest days and extra days

The third day of your adventure is reserved for rest. What you do on this day is totally up to you — and your guide can help with all the arrangements. If four days of climbing were enough for you, you can pack up and head to the airport (transportation included) on Day 4 and start your journey home. You’ve climbed fantastic routes, learned skills to last a lifetime all the while experiencing the endearing culture found in Central Mexico. In case you’d like to prolong your adventure, stay for another optional day and use it to your heart’s delight. Join the remaining group for an added day of rock climbing at La Concepcion — at no added cost! Explore more of the magical town of Aculco as there is so much to see and do. Maybe go horseback riding, hiking, visit the hot springs, explore the local museums, venture to the pyramids, hop in for a 4×4 jeep tour, or join a dirt bike tour — the fun never stops! Once you sign up, talk with your guide about how to make the remainder of your trip spectacular.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Aculco de Espinoza, most people fly into Querétaro Intercontinental Airport 25 minutes east of La Peña de Bernal. Your guides will arrange free transport for you from the airport to La Peña de Bernal. It’s best if you arrive a day early. In that case, your guide will transport you from the airport to Bernal. Once you and your guide agree on the details, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the airport or a predetermined location.

Covid measures in Aculco de Espinoza, Mexico

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Aculco de Espinoza please refer to the US Embassy’s COVID-19 information site for Mexico. Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

Own It! A climbing retreat in Mexico solely for Women

Learning new climbing skills and owning it in Mexico

The magnificent Aculco de Espinoza is practically begging to be climbed.

This camp is perfect for women looking to upgrade their rock climbing skills in the beautiful environment of Aculco.

The trifold is an interesting part of Aculco attracting visitors and climbers year after year.

This woman is slaying the climbing routes! Mexico offers something for every skill level.

Two women enjoying their days spend on the rocks in Mexico

Participants learning the ropeworks for top-rope climbing

Bernal, Aculco & Jilotepec | Mexico

Own It! A Rock Climbing Retreat in Mexico for Women

5.00 ()

Season

Year-round

Nearest city

Your tour starts in Bernal, 20 minutes away from Queretaro International Airport

Duration

5 days

Difficulty

Guides

Caro Saucedo, Arcelia García, Simeon Heimowitz, SouthernXposure

From $2,000 () / 5 days

Got any questions? or Talk with us

Overview
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

This all-women climbing retreat in Central Mexico is the perfect opportunity to climb three world-class areas while honing in your climbing skills under the guidance of professional guides. Over the course of four days packed with rock climbing, you’ll visit Peña de Bernal, La Concepcion and Las Peñas de Dexcani. It’s difficult to pinpoint the highlight of this tour, but cragging at the 1,400 feet tall La Peña de Bernal might just be it! This Jurassic-era porphyritic monolith is one of the tallest monoliths in the world and an incredible backdrop to your first day of climbing. When you are not climbing, explore the towns and immerse yourself in the culture of Central Mexico. Sample the great cuisine, listen lively street music and visit cozy artisan shops. Become a more confident climber by climbing three different rock types, learn invaluable skills climbing alongside professional guides, and forge friendships that will last a lifetime!

Book a call

Master the art of climbing

Gain a complete understanding of an incredibly valuable skill set for climbing
Create lifelong friendships

Build rock climbing skills with other like-minded women led by highly trained staff
Challenges galore

Climb three completely different world-class destinations, including one of the tallest monoliths in the world

Itinerary

Become a stronger and more confident woman with this ladies-only rock climbing retreat in Bernal, Aculco, and Jilotepec México! Whether you top-rope, mock lead or full on lead climb, everyone will feel included. Get empowered, learn new skills surrounded by like-minded women, and then practice the skill learned until you OWN each system and achieve proficiency and confidence. Have you ever learned skills from another climber and questioned if the system was the best for the situation or worse if what is being taught is even safe? Head to these amazing crags in sunny Mexico and learn from professional guides teaching the most modern techniques for 2023. Accelerate your learning while climbing at three world class areas!

This clinic will be taught at La Peña de Bernal, one of the world’s tallest monoliths. On the first day, the focus will be placed on assessing your goals, getting to know one another, and climbing great routes while learning about the art of fluid motion. Your guide will explain the foundations of climbing and importance of having a strong and solid partnership between the climber and belayer. Fine-tune the skills required to proficiently sport climb outdoors, such as on-sighting tactics, efficient climbing, and fluid movement. Learn to overcome the mindset of thinking about falling instead of climbing, why falling is never failing, building the best anchor-point on bolts and stripping the anchor safely and efficiently. 99% of past participants were leading sport climbs by the end of the day!

Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Hotel or AirBnB
Day 2 will be held at the walls of La Concepción; Central Mexico’s most popular crack climbing destination located minutes from the gorgeous town of Aculco de Espinoza. Fortify the skills you’ve acquired by using the knowledge gained over the past two days of the retreat. The goals of today’s instructive clinic is upgrading your skills and learning more about crack climbing and safety. Building your own top-rope anchor is an essential skill for outdoor rock climbing. You will have ample time to climb great splitter cracks while learning the skill of setting a proper TR anchor. Your professional guides will focus on the equipment necessary to stage solid redundant anchors, the use of acceptable natural features found at the top of a cliff and the most modern system for rigging anchors. By the end of the day, everybody should expect to gain the knowledge and understanding to feel comfortable building top-rope anchors at the top of any accessible cliff with natural anchor points. You will also the use different belay devices and be familiar with several methods to keep belayer’s of differing weights secure while climbers ascend and lower!

Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Hotel or AirBnB
What you do on this day is totally up to you — and your guide can help with all the arrangements. Explore the town with your personal tour guide, relax in the sun or explore the cheese shops and restaurants at your leisure.
The final day of this course will be taught at Las Peñas de Dexcani, located in a private woodland preserve just outside the town of Jilotepec de Molina. The goal of the day is to feel comfortable and succeed in a new environment that forces differing techniques and energy conservation. You will be route finding while the pump clock is ticking. This will be a full day of climbing and learning — as a cohesive group, you will focus on making sure all the necessary building blocks of success have been retained for this day and moving into the future. Learning the techniques specific to sport climbing on steep terrain pays large dividends for anyone looking forward to climbing into the future. Your guides aim to teach lessons and skills to propel one’s entire mindset towards proficiency and self sufficiency! At the end of the day, head back to your accommodation and enjoy the final night of the course. Tomorrow you will pack up and head to the airport!

Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Hotel or AirBnB
If these four days were enough for you, you can pack up and head to the airport (transportation included) to start your journey home. You’ve climbed fantastic routes, learned skills to last a lifetime all the while experiencing the endearing culture found in Central Mexico.

If you would like to prolong your adventure, stay for another optional day and use it to your heart’s delight. Join up with the remaining group for an added day of rock climbing at La Concepcion — at no added cost! Explore more of the Magic Town of Aculco as there is so much to see and do. Go horseback riding, hiking, visit the hot springs, explore the local museums, venture to the pyramids, hop in for a 4×4 jeep tour, join a dirt bike tour — the fun never stops! Once you sign up, talk with your guide about how to make the remainder of your trip spectacular.

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Download Own It! A Rock Climbing Retreat in Mexico for Women Brochure

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Talk with us and let one of our adventure experts help you plan your perfect adventure.

Meet your guides

5.00

Caro Saucedo

Caro is most likely the most accomplished female alpine and rock guide in all of Mexico. After graduating with a Biology degree in 2014, she realized her desire was to follow in her mother’s tracks (literally) and become a full time alpine/mountaineering guide. Caro has been guiding alpine and rock climbing as her full time profession for more than 5 years. She has taken climber’s up every volcano in Mexico as well as guiding the big mountains in the Andes, Perú.

5.00

Arcelia García

Arcelia began her climbing career in 1999 on the cliffs of El Potrero Chico in her home country of Mexico. After graduating from college, Arcelia began her journey as a professional guide. She’s an experienced rock climbing instructor, single-pitch, and multi-pitch guide who’s always happy to share the joy of a wonderful climbing experience in her beautiful country.

5.00

Simeon Heimowitz

Simeon is a PCGI Certified Climbing Guide with over 15 years of experience in guiding in Northern & Central Mexico. He is the owner of SouthernXposure, a climbing school & guide service in Central Mexico. Simeon wrote three guidebooks on Mexico rock climbing, covering the Bernal, Aculco, and El Potrero Chico areas, where he has spent over 18 years climbing the crags!

5.00

SouthernXposure

SouthernXposure Climbing School and Guide Service is at the forefront of rock climbing in Mexico. They are a union of the best rock climbing guides from all over North America. They develop the areas, routes, and the infrastructure on terrain that is destined to become the focal point for the best climbing — not only in Mexico, but also all of the northern continent from Canada to Central America. SouthernXposure is a professional guide service that embraces the cultural heritage of the surrounding area by enlightening visitors to what makes the towns we visit so special. If you've never traveled to the breadbasket of Mexico you are in for a real treat!

5.00 (2 reviews)

10/10 I’d do it all over again!

Rebecca C. (source: GoogleReviews)

Simeon hosted the perfect trip with a mix of local culture and rock climbing adventure. The communication leading up to the trip was flawless as we determined what would make our personalized experience just right. Carlos guided us on our last climbing day as we attempted (and succeeded) our first multi pitch.

A few trip standouts:

delicious local cheese plate put together by Simeon -watching some soccer at the neighborhood fields
learning new knots and cleaning techniques by Carlos -Simeon’s excellent dinner recommendations in Bernal
Aculco’s residents and their kindness

10/10 I’d do it all over again!

Overall I can’t recommend more highly Southern Xposure

Taylor S. (source: GoogleReviews)

Where do I even begin. Coming from the US to Mexico City for a week of climbing. They provided insight on areas we would enjoy and where to spend our time not only climbing but restaurants, hotels, and cultural sites, which helped us immensely in planning our trip.

The day we climbed at La Concepción; Aculco, México with southern exposure was phenomenal. Our guide Carlos introduced us to the area and hand picked routes based on our individual climbing styles and skill level. He was able to provide instruction on crack techniques that pushed us to climb a grade harder by the end of the day! He shared a history of the area with his personal connection to it while impressing upon us the ethics of the region. It was awesome to climb with someone that is giving so much back for the local climbing community. Truly a wealth of knowledge and experience. By the end of the day we didn’t just have a guide, we had a new friend.

Overall I can’t recommend more highly Southern Xposure. Excellent communication form the beginning, going above and beyond. Doesn’t matter if your a beginner or experienced climber they have something to off everyone. All around phenomenal service. Thank you so much Simone and a Carlos

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, local rock-climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - Transportation to and from Querétaro Airport
  - Transportation during the tour
  - 4 nights of accommodations in a hotel or Airbnb
  - 3 days of rock climbing
  - All technical climbing gear
  - Daily breakfasts at the accommodations
  - Daily lunches delivered to the crag (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options available)
  - Wine tour
What’s not included:
- - Additional day of climbing
  - Additional night of accommodation
  - Transportation to and from Mexico
  - Dinners after climbing
  - Gratuities — optional
If you can climb a ladder, you’re good to go. Being in good shape is always a plus but far from necessary. Rock climbing is all about using good movement technique rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength. To ensure you have a fun experience rock climbing in Aculco de Espinoza, your guide will choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level.
No prior experience is necessary for this rock climbing tour in Aculco de Espinoza. Whether you’ve never donned a harness or you’re a seasoned climber, a guide will help you meet your individual objectives. Above all, your instructor’s number one priority is your safety. As long as you listen to the given instructions, you’ll succeed in completing your climb.
All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need:
- - Helmet
  - Harness with a locking carabiner, belay device, and chalk bag
  - Ropes
  - Rock shoes (included in the price, but we recommend bringing your own if you have them)
  - Climbing hardware (quickdraws, cam devices, stoppers, etc.)
Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
- - Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 40L bag)
  - Water bottle
  - Comfortable shoes for the walk-off
  - Light puffy jacket
  - Food you can eat on-the-go
  - Rock climbing clothing (including a long-sleeved sun shirt)
  - Leisure clothing
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, chapstick, bug spray, etc.)
  - Sunglasses
  - Sun hat
  - Camera — optional
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
- - These courses are not private. For this group rock climbing course in Aculco de Espinoza, the usual group size is 6 women with a 2:1 guest to guide ratio.
  - Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
Climbing days in Aculco de Espinoza can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to climb on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The third day of your adventure is reserved for rest. What you do on this day is totally up to you — and your guide can help with all the arrangements.

If four days of climbing were enough for you, you can pack up and head to the airport (transportation included) on Day 4 and start your journey home. You’ve climbed fantastic routes, learned skills to last a lifetime all the while experiencing the endearing culture found in Central Mexico.

In case you’d like to prolong your adventure, stay for another optional day and use it to your heart’s delight. Join the remaining group for an added day of rock climbing at La Concepcion — at no added cost! Explore more of the magical town of Aculco as there is so much to see and do. Maybe go horseback riding, hiking, visit the hot springs, explore the local museums, venture to the pyramids, hop in for a 4×4 jeep tour, or join a dirt bike tour — the fun never stops! Once you sign up, talk with your guide about how to make the remainder of your trip spectacular.
To get to Aculco de Espinoza, most people fly into Querétaro Intercontinental Airport 25 minutes east of La Peña de Bernal. Your guides will arrange free transport for you from the airport to La Peña de Bernal.

It’s best if you arrive a day early. In that case, your guide will transport you from the airport to Bernal. Once you and your guide agree on the details, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the airport or a predetermined location.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Aculco de Espinoza please refer to the US Embassy’s COVID-19 information site for Mexico.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
A 10% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 45 days prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
- - If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to sixty (60) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund.
  - For cancellations forty-five (45) to fifty-nine (59) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
  - For cancellations thirty (30) to forty-four (44) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
  - After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.