El Potrero Chico · Monterrey, Mexico Fully Guided Rock Climbing Tour

Yes. Potrero Chico is a long-established international climbing destination with a steady stream of visiting climbers, half an hour from Monterrey. We handle all in-country transportation and logistics, stay in well-known climber lodging, and travel as a group.

Not a chance. If you can top rope 5.9 in the gym, you're going to have a great time on this trip. That's the bar, and it's a real one, not a polite one. This is a casual trip, not a sending mission. We hand-pick sectors with climbs for everyone and tune them to the group's skill and interests, so nobody is stuck waiting or pushed past their limit. Come as you are, not to prove yourself.

Carefully, and around your specific group. Before the trip we ask what everyone climbs and what they want out of the week, then pick sectors to match: a wide spread of grades in one place, a reasonable approach, and enough routes that nobody waits for a rope. Our local guides get there ahead of the group and set the ropes.

So a climbing day feels like walking into your gym. Ropes are up, routes are picked, and they were picked for you.

You do not need to lead and you can top rope the whole trip. No lead or multi-pitch experience is required.

Go for it. On single pitch days you can lead as much as you want, and we'll be in sectors with plenty of hard grades. Multi-pitch days are guide-led, so everyone follows on those. This trip isn't built around crushing it, but anyone who wants to push will have options, and we'll be cheering you on the whole way.

No. Everything we climb is bolted sport, single pitch and multi-pitch, and following a trad pitch isn't something we offer. If trad is what you're after, this isn't the trip.

Comfortable on top rope around 5.9 in the gym, at least one day outside on real rock, and the stamina for a full active day of approach, climbing and travel. That’s the whole list. Not sure where you land? Our skill level check takes two minutes.

It’s famous for it, and two of the four climbing days are multi-pitch, but these are some of the most accessible big routes anywhere and you can follow every pitch. The other days are single-pitch sport.

No, and that's on purpose. Four days are climbing days. The other three are the country you flew to: city tours, caves, local food and a full day of something you wouldn't book on your own.

We don’t climb wet rock. First we adjust sectors. If needed we pull one of the non-climbing days forward: Monterrey, the hot springs, or the Grutas de García.

Up to 5 climbers, 2 local guides, and Taylor, the founder of Go Harder Travel, who runs and joins every trip. Mostly 30s and 40s, but age isn't a factor here. We've had climbers as young as 25 and as old as 60, and that mix is a big part of what makes these trips good. Gender balanced, and usually a mix of people who booked on their own. Most of the group shows up not knowing anyone.

Yes, and most people do. Rooms are shared with someone of the same gender by default, and a private room upgrade is usually available for an extra cost.

Bring your own climbing shoes, harness and helmet. You also need a belay and rappel device (an ATC or similar), a personal anchor system, an autoblock (third hand), a headlamp with spare batteries, and two locking carabiners. Don't own all of it? Tell us and we'll help you out with rentals or borrowed gear. You don't need to bring a rope, quickdraws or trad gear.

Yes, and you'll need to show proof of it to join the trip. Your policy must explicitly cover outdoor rock climbing below 6,500 meters, via ferrata, zip line, hiking, caving and canyoning. It must provide at least $100,000 USD for accidents and emergency medical care, and $200,000 USD for emergency evacuation and repatriation.

We recommend the World Nomads Explorer plan, which meets all of the above. You can book it yourself or we’ll book it for you. Note that the American Alpine Club Rescue Benefit and the Garmin inReach rescue benefit do not qualify. Both are rescue coverage, not trip insurance. If you’re looking at another plan, send it over and we’ll review it.

We grab food at a market or bakery on the way out, or bring it to the crag. Evenings are casual group dinners on local timing.

The core itinerary runs as a group plan. We can sometimes arrange alternatives for an added fee, depending on logistics and guide availability.

Everything from the moment you land to the moment you fly home is handled, except most of your meals. Ground transport, hotels, every climbing day and every activity, local certified guides, park entries, breakfasts and one group dinner are all included. You cover your international flights, your climbing insurance, most lunches and dinners, and personal expenses.

You can hold a spot with no deposit and no commitment while you think it over. A $500 deposit confirms your place, and that deposit is non-refundable.

Yes. We'll help you book flights and sort out the rest of your trip, including hotel recommendations and what's worth seeing if you come early or stay late. Just ask.