Cubanture Climbing Support

The immense potential of Cuba’s climbing areas was recognized as early as the 20th century. In 1998, Colombian climber Alberto Morales visited Cuba and realized that the development of climbing in the country required foreign support. He was the first to leave his climbing equipment in Cuba, as there were no sports shops, making it difficult for Cubans to obtain gear. Over the following years, many other tourists emulated his example, leading to the gradual establishment of a climbing community in Cuba.

Cubanture Climbing Support

Currently, CUBANTURE is assisting a Canadian entrepreneur who aims to equip new climbing routes and renovate outdated ones in Cuba. This initiative is crucial for ensuring the safety of the climbing routes and fostering the growth of the climbing community.

CUBANTURE donates three climbing routes each year for the annual climbing festival in Viñales. Each year, we either develop a new climbing sector or renovate an outdated climbing wall at significant expense. In 2023, we contributed three routes in the new climbing sector "Coco Solo." For 2024, we will be donating three routes in the "Geisha" sector, which is currently being renovated and expanded. This renovation includes updating three old routes and developing an additional 27 new routes.

The project is led by Paul Lapierre, the owner of Tirex Climbing in Canada. He manufactures titanium bolts, known for their exceptional durability. In Cuba, using titanium bolts or replacing existing ones with this material is particularly beneficial due to the coastal proximity and high salt content in the air, which cause other materials to oxidize quickly. This corrosion can render climbing routes unsafe. The bolt design developed by Lapierre requires a smaller hole in the rock compared to conventional bolts, making it more environmentally friendly and reducing the amount of epoxy needed for sealing.

Every January, Paul travels to Cuba to collaborate with Cuban climbers Yarobis, Tito, and Anibal in Viñales, where they equip a new climbing sector.

The annual climbing festival encourages Cubans to explore climbing or enhance their climbing skills.

International participants are always welcome, making this festival a fantastic opportunity for the Cuban climbing community to forge valuable connections.

By making your reservation through CUBANTURE, you're contributing to the growth of climbing in Cuba, as a significant portion of the proceeds will be donated to our support projects. If you choose to come to Cuba to climb, you'll have the chance to engage with and support the local community.