Sicily has drawn visitors to its shores since ancient times, and for good reason. All we’re doing is adding climbing to its list of attractions! At the same time that Sicily is absolutely Italian, it’s also distinctly Sicilian, with a unique mix of influences that show up everywhere from the Arabesque domes and cathedrals dotting the skyline to the food and faces of the people you meet along the way.
We’ll be based right on the shores of the Mediterranean in the gorgeous seaside village of San Vito Lo Capo, hub of the island’s climbing scene and only a short drive from the capital of Palermo, a center of cross-cultural pollination since antiquity.
Cannoli, arancini, ancient ruins, volcanos, red wine, white sand, blue water, and some of the Mediterranean’s best sport climbing? Yep, that’s Sicily alright. These things plus a whole lot more have made San Vito Lo Capo one of the most talked about up-and-coming destinations for sport climbers throughout the world.
Save your spot now, and join us for some unforgettable climbing in Sicily!
Sicily Climbing Retreat
- Regular price
- $4,260.00 USD
- Sale price
- $4,260.00 USD
- Regular price
What's Included & Not Included
What's Included & Not Included
Included:
- Five days of guided climbing with IFMGA mountain guides.
- Six nights’ accommodation at Hotel Artemide.
- Daily breakfast and lunch.
- Two fantastic dinners at our favorite local restaurants.
- Transportation to and from all climbing.
- Gratuities for restaurant services.
Not Included:
- Airfare.
- Transportation to and from the Palermo Airport (see FAQ for details)
- Dinners when we are not eating as a group
- Gratuities for your guides. We recommend between $300-500 depending on your experience.
- Trip protection
Cancellation & Trip Insurance
Cancellation & Trip Insurance
We have a very strict cancellation policy. We recommend purchasing trip protection to protect your investment.
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Climbing
Each day we’ll head out in small groups and make sure you’re paired with climbers and climbs that match your ability (so you don’t have to worry about being held back or pushed too far). Our expert guides will help you through the training and skills you need both on the ground and on route.
Like all of our sport climbing vacations, this trip is perfect for climbers of any skill level. It's also a great opportunity to learn new skills, push your limits, work on your lead game, or just enjoy the ride.
If you feel comfortable climbing 5.9-5.10 in the gym, Sicily is going to be perfect for you. The crags around San Vito are stacked with routes from 5.7 to 5.13 in a variety of styles.
Many of the crags are recently developed too. That means new bolts, no slippery, polished holds, and tons to explore, all with magnificent backdrops and short approaches.
With everything from caves and tufas, to pockets, steeps, slabs, and even moderate multi-pitch adventures, Sicily has it all.
Accommodations
We’ve selected our favorite hotel in San Vito, Hotel Artemide, and booked all the rooms. Located just moments from the beach and climbing, we know you’re going to love it there just as much as we do. No big deal or anything, but our hotel in San Vito also has a rooftop pool.
Meals
We like to try hard at the crag, but we also like to relax and we really love to eat, so we’ve hand-picked our favorite restaurants, bakeries and snacks to give you a taste of it all. Even within the rich tradition of Italian food, Sicilian cuisine in particular holds a special place. With fresh produce, seafood, olive oil, wine and pasta in abundance, we promise you will not go hungry (or thirsty, for that matter).
Schedule
Day 1 | Benvenuti in Sicilia!
All you've got to do is get yourself to our hotel in San Vito Lo Capo. You’ll be on your own for the evening to explore the beautiful beachside town, where your only job will be to find something tasty for dinner and to try to get some sleep.
Day 2: Climbing Day #1
We’ll start the day right with some proper Italian coffees and a breakfast buffet while we spend a few minutes getting to know everybody and lining you out for the week. We'll then packing a lunch full of fresh goodies and head out in small groups for the day to climb. Most of our favorite cliffs are less than a half hour’s drive from town, and we’ll spend the day on the rock before getting back in time for dinner and our first taste of some of the dishes that make the region famous.
Day 3: Climbing Day #2
We’ll repeat our routine with breakfast and treats from the bakery before heading out again to climb. Depending on the group’s skill levels and goals, we’ll head to multiple crags before converging again for dinner. Destinations include the classic Never Sleeping Wall, the unbelievable Crown of Aragorn, and the stacked Bunker and Torre Isulidda at Fakirella Beach. We'll also give you a night to yourself so that you can take it at your own speed and catch up on sleep, spritzes, or both.
Day 4: Rest Day or More Climbing
For folks who are keen on another day of climbing we’ll head out again. For those who want to give their arms a break, they’ll be free to explore town, lay on the beach (no rest day is complete without gelato), head to the Zingaro Reserve to explore even more dreamy beaches, rent a boat, go snorkeling, hike to the top of Monte Monaco, or possibly take a field trip to the nearby ancient Phoenician village of Erice. Luckily whatever you choose, the climbing, lounging and sightseeing are all top notch. We’re also going to give you another night to yourself with no group dinner just to make sure you don’t get sick of us.
Day 5: Climbing Day #3
You guessed it! We'll start the day refreshed and with more delicious pastries and coffee before we head out climbing for the day. It might even be warm too, so try convincing your guide to take you for a midday swim and gelato before heading to a crag that's shady in the afternoon. You'll be on your own for dinner again so that you can finally go for it and have cannoli for supper.
Day 6: Climbing Day #4
We’ll once again start with breakfast before heading out to climb for the day. If you have any goals for the trip still lingering, this is the day to make them happen. Maybe you want to lead your first sport route, clean a route and rappel for the first time, or climb a certain grade. Whatever your goals, our guides are there to help make them happen, and we'll finish off the day and the trip by having dinner at our favorite restaurant in San Vito.
Day 7: Heading Home or Add a Day of Multi-Pitch Climbing
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you’ll have to go home. A short ride from hotel to airport should have you on your way, and we'll have a care ready to take you. If you're not quite ready to end the adventure, you could always stay for another day of multipitch climbing with our guides. See below for details.
Multi-Pitch Add-On
In addition to all of the amazing single-pitch routes we'll be climbing throughout the retreat, San Vito Lo Capo is also home to some incredible longer routes. If you've got more time to climb and would like to join us for an extra day of multi-pitch climbing, our guides will be available immediately following the retreat. Each guide can accommodate one or two people per day, and multipitch guiding is available for booking on a first-come, first-served basis. No prior experience or special equipment are required, and our guides can teach you everything you need to know. Routes range from two to twelve pitches in length, and start at about 5.7-5.8 in difficulty.
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$1,000 for one on one guiding
$1,200 total (or $600 each) for two on one guiding
Cost includes the additional night in the hotel for you and a guide as well as transportation to and from the climbing.
FAQs
Age & Physical Requirements
- Must have tried climbing at least once (either indoor or outdoors) and know that you like the movement.
- Ability to hike three miles over varied terrain while carrying a 15 lb backpack.
- Ability to do 5 sets of 20 squats.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
How many participants come by themselves?
The majority of women come to our clinics alone - somewhere around 95%. If you are hesitating to join because you would be coming solo, please know that we expect a majority of our participants to be joining by themselves, seeking community.
I've never climbed before. Can I still attend?
You do not need to be an experienced climber to attend but we recommend some climbing experience before signing up for 5 full days of climbing. We require that everyone attending is able to top rope a 5.9 in a climbing gym without taking or falling. We are aware that climbing 5.9 in a climbing gym is much different than climbing a 5.9 outside, but having the ability to climb 5.9 in a climbing gym will set you up to have a great time in Sicily. We will have at least 4 instructors at the retreat so that we can accommodate a wide range of abilities.
I'm an advanced climber. Will I be able to lead climb?
Probably. Lead climbing is certainly not a requirement for anybody on the trip, but we're happy to let you lead as long as you have prior experience as a leader and can pass a belay test similar to those found in most gyms (minus the falling).
Our main goal is to keep everyone safe, so on our first day out together we’ll just want to see that everyone is able to manage the rope, communicate, lead and belay safely before being cleared to do it throughout the week. If you don’t plan on leading, we’ll just want to go through a quick belay test to make sure you’re good to go belaying those who are.
For those aspiring to lead, we will try our best to coach you through the process throughout the week with the aim of you learning to do so safely.
What is the average age of climbers who attend?
We generally have a wide range of ages at our retreats. The average tends to fall anywhere between the ages of 26 to 45. But we have had quite a few women in their 60's join as well. It really is up to the attitude and physical ability of the participant.
How many people will be on the trip?
This depends! We have booked the entire hotel with 12 rooms for participants, 6 private rooms and 6 shared rooms. If the trip sells out we will have anywhere from 12-20 participants. If we end up with a larger group we will bring on more guides and alternate where we climb and what nights we go to specific restaurant as to not overwhelm any one place.
I'm plus sized. Am I able to climb?
We aren't experts in this area as this is not the lived experience of our current instructor team. But we want you here and we are committed to making your experience a positive one.
If you can:
- Hike three miles over varied terrain while carrying a 15 lb backpack
- Do 20 squats
- Have good balance
- And maintain a positive attitude
CLIMBING IS FOR YOU!
Currently the most limiting factor is the ability to fit into a harness. We have harnesses that can accommodate up to a 56inch waist. We are looking into getting a fleet of fully adjustable harnesses before next season starts.
If you want to learn more from plus sized climbers I highly recommend looking into Climb Big. Climb Big is an organization with a mission to "Make climbing more accessible for fat folx."
Can I bring my pet?
We know you love your fur babies, but unfortunately we cannot allow pets on any of our group trips or clinics.
Are payment plans available?
Yes we have two types of payment options. Please visit our Payment Plans page for more information.
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