Rock Climbing in Bogota, Canoas & Suesca Colombia...La Escalada en Bogota, Canoas & Suesca

Indoor climbing in Bogota

Bogota has plenty to offer the globe trotting rock climber and boulderer, and even if you fail to venture out of the city limits there is a bouldering wall and climbing wall. We visited Gran Pared and found the climbers there very friendly and you're guarenteed a good pump on the seriously overhanging lead climbing wall.

 
Bouldering in Bogota

Just outside Soacha, Bogota is the excellent bouldering area of Canoas. We followed directions found on a Colombian climbing website monodedo and travelled there by bus with the subsequent 2km walk. So you know where to get off the bus here's a hint... get ready to jump off when the bus passes this sign post as the bridge is just past it.

You'll be able to see the boulders off to the right. Scramble down a slope beside the bridge and walk along the side of the road until you see a gravel road on the right which leads to the old bridge over the road and the boulders.

The main bouldering area is to the right after you cross the old bridge. As we did the trek with a baby we went to the first boulder we could see on the left after crossing the bridge and did a couple of new problems. The better problem 'Palomita' goes straight up the face of 'Baby Boulder'.

Sport climbing near Bogota

The 'sporting' sport climbing of Suesca is a long bus ride from Bogota. Take the Transmilenio to Portal del Norte then walk to the 2nd bridge by a petrol station (or get off at the next stop) and get a bus to Suesca. Suesca is a very small village so don't forget to get off the bus! When the bus leaves the main road you're getting close. Once there don't forget to stop off at Ma's for a superb menu del dia for about £5, washed down with a shandy of 'Colombiana' and 'Poker' lager.

The climbing is minutes from the village. A track takes you behind the village then follow the train tracks. More than enough climbing to be had for a holiday, but be prepared for the sporting run-out nature of the routes. I was advised to take along a rack of nuts and was glad for the advice as the gradings are tough. A couple of cams would also be useful, and there are trad routes if you are prepared to lug a whole rack with you.

Hopefully someone will find this info useful and for now El show debe seguir

Baby, Wife and Dave Make Three

Having a baby sure does slow you down! Luckily my beautiful new bride understands the addiction I have to rock and I've been able to get out and do a few new lines this year.

Monday was a very special day out with a great bloke Dave who is a wonderful and generous climbing partner. He'd been eyeing a line out of the depths of a sea cave for over a year, and when the conditions were perfect he decided to pass the lead to me.

Dave's route name was perfect: Concealed Attraction.