Getting There

By Air

Flying is usually the easiest option for most visitors. The closest major airport is Monterrey International Airport (MTY), about ~1 hour (give or take) from Potrero Chico / Hidalgo.

Getting from MTY → Potrero Chico

  • Book a taxi ahead of time: This is the simplest door-to-door option. Typical price is ~900–1300 pesos including toll roads (prices vary by season/group size).
  • Ask around for current recommendations: The Potrero community is very active and up-to-date in the Facebook group: Potrero Chico Rock Climbing (FB group).
  • Rent a car: Convenient if you want freedom for rest days or to run errands in Monterrey (see below).

Pro tip: San Diego → Tijuana (TIJ) can be much cheaper

  • If you can cross at San Diego and fly out of Tijuana (TIJ), flights are often significantly cheaper than U.S. airports.
  • Tradeoff: TIJ flights can be delay-prone, so build in buffer time for connections and arrival.

Taxi-driver Spanish (handy to screenshot/print)

  • “Necesito ir a Parque Potrero Chico en Hidalgo, Nuevo León, por favor.”

By Car

Driving works well if you have a group (and a lot of gear), but it’s also the option with the most “details.” We personally flew, and recommend that for most travelers.

If you do drive, especially from the U.S. border, use the step-by-step directions here: Driving to Potrero Chico.

Border Crossing (from USA):

  • There are multiple crossings; route choice, paperwork, and road selection matter. Use the guide above and make sure you have Mexican auto insurance before crossing.

Rental Cars

  • Major companies at Monterrey airport
  • Compact SUV or sedan works fine (not 4WD needed)
  • Cost: $30-50/day depending on season
  • Mandatory Mexican insurance: $15-25/day additional
  • Reserve in advance during high season (Dec-Feb)

Driving in Mexico Tips:

  • Stick to toll roads (cuota) when possible (safer/faster)
  • Don’t drive at night
  • Keep change for tolls
  • GPS works, but download offline maps

Where to Stay

Camping

Rancho El Sendero (best vibes)

  • Our favorite “community feel” — easiest place to meet partners and get pulled into dinner plans.

La Posada (solid, a bit quieter)

  • Comfortable and a good option if you want a calmer base than the most social ranchos.

Leo’s Housing & Campground (cheap, can be loud)

  • Great budget option for cheap rooms + camping.
  • Heads up: it can be noisy and Leo sometimes throws late parties.

El Cubil

  • Where we stayed: ecpotrerochico.com
  • Super nice, cheaper, and closer to the park, but not very social compared to the ranchos.

Hotels & Hostels

There are also basic hotels and hostels in Hidalgo if you want town access (pharmacy, groceries, restaurants). Expect simple rooms and a quieter vibe than the campgrounds.

Most hostels have communal kitchens, so it’s easy to cook and keep costs down.

Money & Costs

Budget (Per Day)

  • Camping: ~$10–15
  • Meals: $10-20 (mix of camp cooking and restaurants)
  • Guidebook: ~$40 (one-time, 2025 version)
  • Total: ~$25–50/day (varies a lot based on eating out vs cooking)

Money Tips

  • Bring pesos - better rates than USD in most places
  • ATMs: reliable options are at the Mi Bodega Aurrera supermarket or at the police station
  • ATM fee is typically ~30 pesos
  • Most campgrounds and restaurants accept cash only
  • Paying in USD usually gets you a bad rate
  • Lots of places accept card, but it’s common to see big card surcharges

Food & Water

Restaurants

At the campgrounds:

  • Basic Mexican food
  • Breakfast tacos
  • Dinner options
  • Reasonable prices

In Hidalgo (5 km [~3 mi] away):

  • Multiple taquerías
  • Small grocery stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Better variety and prices

Cooking

  • Camp stoves allowed
  • Most campers do breakfast at camp, lunch on the wall, dinner at restaurants
  • Grocery shopping in Hidalgo or stock up in Monterrey

Water

  • Water can be drinkable near the canyon (spring water):
    • There’s a spigot near the water park on the big blue pipe where many climbers fill up before/while climbing.
  • Don’t drink water from downhill / Hidalgo-town sources (including the water down from Rancho El Sendero) — it’s very bad.
  • Most hostels also have filtered water, so you often don’t need to buy bottled water.
  • Stay hydrated - the dry climate is deceptive

Language

You can get by with no Spanish, but learning a bit helps. Most locals speak enough English to get you sorted for basics like ordering food.

Safety & Health

Crime

Violent crime is generally low, but petty theft is common.

  • We found a stolen wallet while we were there.
  • There are frequent reports of theft from bags, especially when routes are close to the road (e.g. Jungle Wall).
  • If you bring a pack, consider keeping it at the first-pitch anchor (or don’t bring a bag at all on roadside crags).
  • Definitely don’t leave your wallet in a pack on the ground, and don’t leave valuables visible in cars.

Health

  • No special vaccinations required
  • Travel insurance recommended
  • Basic medical care available in Hidalgo
  • Serious injuries require Monterrey (1.5 hours)
  • Bring a first aid kit
  • Altitude is low (~1,200 m [4,000 ft]) - no acclimatization needed

Insurance

  • Check if your insurance covers Mexico
  • Climber-specific insurance recommended
  • Car insurance must include Mexican coverage

Internet & Communication

Cell Service

Cell service is generally good.

  • Get a Telcel SIM (available at basically any OXXO). Coverage is way better than cheaper options (e.g. Mexfon).
  • Typical plan: ~220 pesos for 7GB for a month (often includes free social media).
  • Telcel has coverage across most/all of the canyon; other providers can be much more limited (though you can almost always get at least SOS reception near summits).

WiFi

WiFi is much better than it used to be — many hostels now run Starlink, so it can be genuinely fast (including Rancho El Sendero, El Cubil, and La Posada).

Guidebooks & Beta

Essential:

Online Resources:

  • Between Mountain Project and The Crag, you can usually piece together enough beta if you don’t have the book.

Gear Rental & Shops

There’s effectively no gear rental in the canyon.

There are small gear shops at La Posada and Rancho El Sendero for essentials/forgotten items, but it’s best to arrive self-sufficient:

  • Shoes
  • Harnesses
  • Ropes (though bringing your own is strongly recommended)

There’s also a second-hand climbing shoe shop near the park entrance. Expect around ~$70 USD for a resoled pair, but some shoes can be pretty beaten up—inspect carefully.

There aren’t full climbing shops nearby — bring everything from home or buy in Monterrey.

Duration of Stay

Recommended:

  • Minimum: 5-7 days to sample the climbing
  • Ideal: 2-3 weeks to tackle big routes and recover
  • Many climbers stay 1-2 months in winter

The climbing is addictive - plan extra time!