UKC

Me and a mate are looking for a Easter climbing destination, and we have short listed our options too El Chorro and Orpierre!

We're after a place which we could get to the region via easy transport (plane/train followed by bus) and walk (or hire a cheap car/ scooter) to get to the crags. Its going to be a cheap holiday (camping or bunkhouse for accomadtion) and grades will be the mid to upper 6's.

Does anyone have any experience/ feedback/ useful information regarding, either or both El Chorro or Orpierre?

Best wishes
Simon and Gerb

In reply to s.thursz:


I've been to both but never at easter and never by public transport.

El Chorro is a train, or trains from Malaga, Orpierre might be more difficult.

You can camp within walking distance of climbing at both, and they'll be plenty at those grades. Orpierre might be a bit easier in that regard, it's more compact, El Chorro is more spread out.

If you're open to suggestion, Siurana is great at easter, you can get to Cornudella by bus from Reus, and hitch up the road to the campsite. From there you can walk to a lot of the crags easily.

But definitely worth checking out hire car prices, I got a hire car for about £2 a day when I went to El Chorro in January. At that price it was rude not to.

In reply to s.thursz:

Me and my partner was in el chorro last Easter and loved it!! The climbing is great! We managed to get a hire care for £3 a day bargain!!

It's not a hard place to find either we got there without a problem even though it was my first time driving abroad.

For Accom we booked through airbnb. the olive branch offered camping I think if your looking to go really cheap. we stayed at an place next door and is within 50m to some of the crags. If you look for the crag las encantadas just over the road is the Accom I'm talking about and is the hub for climbers.
I hope this helps I can't wait to go back.

In reply to ryan RM:

I've been to both, and had a hire vehicle at each. I also enjoyed both.
Unless you use local guides (rather than just rockfax) Orpierre area is more spread out and probably harder to get around without just staying at Orpierre crag. Which is quite extensive, though many routes lack memorable lines, but thats a function of being sport lime too. we went as a group here, so didnt need socialising.
I did not stay in Orpierre town. There is a shop.
El Chorro has a little more character, and the Olive branch does make for an easy English speaking social life - which may help with transport when there? I have used it for partners too and made some enduring friends there (I've been out on my own twice). If you wish to go more Spanish, there is also the refugio down the road. There is also a basic shop. By foot, again there are extensive crags.
The rock fax is sufficient I found.

Hope that helps.
K

In reply to s.thursz:

OrPierre is quite high, if early Easter it could snow.

In reply to s.thursz:

I've been to both - in March. Preferred Orpierre climbing but that's just a personal view.

In reply to s.thursz:

I went to El Chorro around easter time last year by public transport. The train is about 10 euro return and takes around an hour. From there its a half hour walk to the hostels. I preffered the Finca hostel/campsite to the Olive Branch. The climbing is great and within walking distance, but theres also plenty of lifts going. I found the multipitch climbs a lot better and less polished than the single pitches.

In reply to 1poundSOCKS:

Hello, im just wondering where you hired your car from. Thanks, katie

In reply to katiet:

Hi Katie I used this company I had no problem with them at all.
http://www.recordrentacar.com/?r=web/listadoCoches&refid=7RJXON23HJ&...

In reply to katiet:


Car del Mar. They're just a broker I think, can't remember who actually supplied the car.

In reply to ryan RM:

Lovely, thanks Ryan, I'll have a look. We've got our first tripped booked, can't wait!

In reply to 1poundSOCKS:

Thanks for getting back to me 1poundSocks, I'll take a look.

In reply to katiet:

The rental company is Goldcar. It was the only busy desk at Malaga airport, so I suspect it's the obvious cheap one. Pickup was slow (not for me though, I managed to get to the queue before the masses), but drop-off is easy and quick.

In reply to s.thursz:

el chorro is nice. great climbing and nice and cheap.