RAFISCH.COM

El Potrero Chico is the premier multi-pitch sport climbing mecca in North America.

The bolts are solid, the routes are classic, the approaches are short, and the weather is amazing.  It is located near the small town of Hidalgo just north of Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.   Careful when planning a trip to Hidalgo because there is also a Sabinas Hidalgo very close by.

DO NOT go to Sabinas Hidalgo.

There are several ways to get to El Potrero Chico.

By Car:

This mode of travel gives you the most freedom while exploring mexico.  Make sure the title of the vehicle is in your name and be sure to bring it with you.  Without the title you cannot proceed past the second border check point.  At the border you must pay $20 usd for a tourist visa.  If you do not have access to a vehicle with the title in your name then choose a different strategy.

By Bus:

I recently took the TURIMEX bus line from Houston, TX to Monterrey, NL, Mexico.  The round trip ticket was $100 (usd) but it took 11 hours to reach the bus station in Monterrey.  We went to San Antonio first, then cut south to Laredo.  The line at the border was insane and took about an hour.  At the border you must pay $20 (usd) for a tourist visa that is good for 180 days.  Don’t lose this you will need it later. If you take the bus be sure to have a decent grasp of the Spanish language because you will inevitably need to arrange for a taxi at the Monterrey central bus station on Colon street.  You are at a serious disadvantage without the ability to communicate in Spanish.  From the Colon bus station it is approximately a 30 minute taxi ride to El Potrero Chico.   Remember not to go to Sabinas Hidalgo.

For the return trip get La Posada to have a car drop you off at the bus station in Hidalgo.  There is an express bus that runs directly to the Colon bus station.  The cost of the taxi and express bus ticket was around $15 (usd).

Don’t be shy about asking questions because you don’t want to end up somewhere crazy.  After all it is Mexico.

By Plane:

I hear this is really easy but expensive if you are a cheapskate like me.  The airport is on the northern side of Monterrey and quite close to Hidalgo.  Arrange a taxi through La Posada ahead of time or find one at the airport.  The taxi ride shouldn’t be more then 20 min.

Bring your own map

With any of your Mexico endeavors make it a point to bring your own map.  Print out some google map stuff if you need to, that is what I did last time and it really came in handy.  Erik and I got lost driving to Potrero one time and bought a map at a gas station in Mexico.  There were roads on that map that didn’t exist.  Bring your own map.

Know the Peso to US Dollar conversion

Don’t get hustled.  Do some research.

This page has the following sub pages.

• Timewave Zero
• Yankee Clipper
• Space Boyz