We climb as a rope team

Patagonia climbs differently

More than a hundred conglomerate routes half an hour from Puerto Natales, on a crag you cannot walk into on your own. The day is built around your level, whether you have years on rock or have never worn a harness.

Access

The sectors sit on private land that requires a prior request to climb. As a local guide I handle access and request the permits for you. There are no shortcuts.

I handle access and request the permits for you.

Climber on the vertical conglomerate wall of Cerro Benítez at dawn, above a sea of clouds filling the valley

The crag

River cobbles cemented millions of years ago, crossed by bands of sandstone. The round holds of the conglomerate and the friction of the sandstone, on the same wall. Over a hundred bolted routes, from 5.6 to 5.13+.

Over a hundred routes from 5.6 to 5.13+, conglomerate and sandstone.

Laguna Sofía seen from above, with the snow covered Prat range behind

The setting

Steppe, Laguna Sofía below and the Prat range behind. Half an hour from town and usually nobody else on the wall.

Laguna Sofía below and the Prat range behind.

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Cerro Benítez

A rock paradise hidden in Patagonia

A world class climbing setting. Cerro Benítez offers more than a hundred routes on sandstone and sedimentary conglomerate. A natural amphitheatre far from the crowds, with perfect lines for your first vertical steps and for hard projects alike.

A climber on a grey sandstone slab surrounded by the cemented pebbles of the conglomerate, at Cerro Benítez

Programs

Choose how you want to spend the day

Two climbers flaking the rope at the foot of the big conglomerate roof at Cerro Benítez

Most booked Short session

Half day

A session that fits your schedule.

Ask about dates

Sunset over the lake and the mountains, seen from the steppe at Cerro Benítez

More time on the rock The whole day

Full day

Explore the walls of Cerro Benítez.

Ask about dates

A climber pulling over the conglomerate roof seen from above, with the group at the foot of the route

One or more days

Tailor made

Your goal sets the plan.

Suggest an objective

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On the wall

A day here is easier shown than told

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Climbing shoes edging on the cemented pebbles of the conglomerate

A climber topping out over lichen covered rock, with the valley below

A climber seen from behind, helmet on, reaching for the next hold

A small bird perched on the lichen covered rock

A crack in the rock with a piece of protection placed in it

The great conglomerate roof with a tiny climber on the lip and the belayer at the foot

A group gathered at the foot of Cerro Benítez, with the rock wall behind

A climber in a helmet on the conglomerate wall, seen from above, with a lake and the steppe below

The Cerro Benítez wall seen from above, with the path at its foot, the lake and the snowy mountains behind

A climber in orange on the wall packed with cemented pebbles

A climber grinning and waving with both hands while being lowered, with the valley behind

A climber backlit in golden light on the rock

A climber seen from below on a steeply overhanging conglomerate wall, cut out against the sky

The rock towers of the hill, with tiny climbers at their foot

A climber in red topping out, with the group below and the lake and snowy mountains behind

Where we are

Patagonia starts here

Where many see Puerto Natales as a technical stopover, we turn it into the centre of your adventure. Surrounded by steppe, fjords and rock, we have made this town our base of operations for climbing.

Just thirty minutes from town, Cerro Benítez gives us the perfect setting. Whether you want to take your first steps on rock or sharpen your technique with our programs, this is Patagonian climbing at its purest.

The Torres del Paine with snow and cloud

The conglomerate wall at Cerro Benítez with tiny climbers at its base

Who goes with you

Raúl, climbing guide, racking up at the foot of a wall in the Paine massif

I look after every detail of your experience

Climbing is a conversation with the wall. To enjoy that connection freely, you need someone who speaks the language of the rock. Raúl is a certified climbing and trekking guide, and one of his strengths is reading Patagonian terrain by instinct. With full command of the craft, he takes on interpreting the environment and managing the risk. Your time on the wall becomes fluid and natural: every cue you get comes from observation, so you move at your own pace while you take in the landscape.

eS'Lab Rock climbing, Puerto Natales, Patagonia

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Sernatur Registered Tourism Service seal

Guide and Instructor seal of the Chilean Association of Mountain and Climbing Guides, number 156

Sustainable Tourism Chile seal, good practice commitment

Guide and instructor accredited by the Chilean Association of Mountain and Climbing Guides, number 156. Tourism service registered with Sernatur, with a Sustainable Tourism good practice commitment.

FAQ

What people ask me before booking

Do I need previous experience?

No. The day is built around your level, not the other way round. If you have never worn a harness, we start on the ground, go through the gear step by step and you climb when you feel ready. If you already climb, we talk grades and head straight for what interests you. The conglomerate at Cerro Benítez helps either way: the holds are big and the rock is forgiving.

Do I need to be fit?

You do not need any special preparation. Climbing on a top rope is more like going up a ladder than pulling with your arms, because leg work and footwork make up for almost everything. If you can walk for half an hour without trouble, you can climb. Once on the rock, I read how you are doing and pick the routes that suit you best so you enjoy the day.

Is the gear included?

It depends on the program: guided days include the full technical kit, while courses and workshops include only the shared gear, so we recommend having your own personal kit (harness, helmet and shoes). If you are missing something, ask us in advance and we will sort it out. On your side, you only need to bring water, comfortable clothes, a warm jacket and a windproof one. If you prefer to use your own gear, bring it and we will check it together before we start.

How long does it take?

A half-day guided outing is around four hours from the meeting point, and a full day between seven and eight. Bear in mind that the walk in to the sectors counts within those times. The course is split into several full-day sessions that we arrange in advance, because really learning does not fit into one afternoon.

What if the weather is bad?

This is Patagonia, so the weather decides. I watch the forecast constantly and look for alternatives; often changing sector or time of day is enough to dodge the wind or the rain. If the day genuinely does not allow safe climbing, we reschedule or I refund you. We never push it.

How do we get there?

Transport is not included in the price. The meeting point is arranged specifically depending on the sector chosen. To make getting there easier, we have arrangements with transport services we can recommend.

A climber abseiling down the conglomerate wall of Cerro Benítez, with the steppe and the forest behind

Next step

Tell me what you want to climb

Message me to shape your ideal program and sort out the details, the dates and what your experience costs. No commitment.

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WeatherPatagonia

Fetching the forecast.

Real time weather forecast. Local experience lets us adjust the itinerary to the conditions. Data by Open-Meteo.

Start your adventure

Patagonia is a magical place.