Cerro Quemado caves

Cerro Quemado, in Quetzaltenango, just minutes from the city of Xela, has a truly immense conglomerate rock, ideal for sport climbing and traditional.

All the volcanic rock are scattered about the place provides excellent blocks to bouldering.

But the rocks themselves in balance and suspended among others, provide interesting grottos and caves, wet and cold. Such is the case with this, which is located in the vicinity of three climbing routes and type "trad."

Xela climbers have done an admirable job in the rock, putting the ears and quite creative drawing sport routes. So much so that this cave about 30 meters of difficulty, has a path inside ...

Extremely dangerous

Unlike all the notes of the site, the location will not detail here because this should not be practiced unless you have good experience in anchors, abseiling, climbing techniques and safety. Not forgetting to mention special equipment.

The rocks are in balance and who has visited several times Cerro Quemado, can confirm that the landscape is constantly changing because some rocks fall to the earthquakes ...

In addition, the team has held up very well Xela the place and pretty clean, so I advise best to contact them to find the place and down ... There is a decrease for beginners or advised to remain there long.

The entrance of the place is quite hidden, consisting of a small gap between the rocks of about 1 square meter. It is necessary to carry multiple anchor carabiners to secure the second leg of the descent.

The rise is almost impossible if you do not have ascenders ... where there is sustained in the rock and the only surface link with the rope.

The place is very cold and slightly damp. Some tickets allow entry of faint rays of light, but be there without a headlamp is impossible (not to mention the vital center.)

Climbing, caving and prayers

The locals are very friendly, the place is very safe and it is important to maintain good behavior, since for them the place is sacred.

Up there constantly to make prayers and songs, so climbing is always accompanied by the sound of the "rezadores" coming up in groups.

The nature of man since biblical times has considered the mountains as a place to communicate with God, this is another example of that tradition.


To contact the climbers Xela I recommend that you go to the gym and climbing wall near the Temple of Minerva, in the downtown. Some even tend to give rock climbing tours.