Cumbia Cave is the amazing stalactite cave discovered by El Potrero Chico Guide Mark Grundon and friends Rodrigo Garza Maldonado, and Eva Moya Prado
If interested in a expedition to this amazing new climbing area let us know. We can outfit the 4x4 ride down and the camping and food. The camping is in a beautiful river canyon.
Directions to Cumbia Cave:
Half way up the hill to El Salto take the left turn down the crazy dirt road. This is the very small town of Puerto Genovevo. The sign says Potrero Redondo. Drive down this bumpy road for 30 minutes. Cars or trucks with clearance are recommended though I often see the smallest of compact cars making the drive, but I wouldn't recommend it. Subarus seem to do fine but use your judgement. When you reach where the rivers come together (las adjuntas) park. The first parking area/ kitchen is Don Lalo's. You can camp with him and use his kitchen and give him a tip when you leave.
The approach from Lalo's. is as follows. Hike across the river take the first left after 1 minute up the steep road which leads to the campground picinic area. Wander up and right through this field passing on the right side of a big chossy boulder. Eventually near the upper right part of the field you we see our trail that leads right to the cave and is easy to follow. It goes up to the ridge along the ridge and drops down to the cave. 20 minutes.
There is also the old trail we took. Its much longer but has more shade and spring water and orange trees. Walk 10 minutes up the river. Take a left up the first river bed. Follow this for 15 minutes. There is a spring flowing in the river bed part way up. At the source of the spring head up hill for 10 minutes to the cave. Look for orange trees near the source of the spring!
Check out this Video Three Peaks Films made for Dead Point Magazine featuring the Cumbia Cave
Main Cave Second Section Left Side
Route Descriptions:
Rutas de izquierda a derecha en orden de aparición. (Routes from Left to Right in order of appearance)
Primer Sector (First Section)
1. Hombre de Verdad 5.11+ (Mark Grundon)
The first wall when you arrive at the cave. Start up slab and finish on fun steep tufas. Glue-ins
2. Mucho Macho 5.12- (Mark Grundon)
A couple of bouldery crux's down low. Glue-ins
3. Sueños Robados 5.8 (Mark Grundon)
Climbs the slab before the little cave
4. Gold Digger 5.10+ (falta limpieza) (Mark Grundon)
bouldery start chossy finish
5. La Guacharaca 5.13- (Mark Grundon)
Left route in the little cave. Roof climbing to bouldery crux to a gently overhanging finish. Chain draws for first bolts only
6. Chicharrón con Pelos 5.12+ (Mark Grundon/ Rodrigo Garza)
The right route in the little cave. Fun roof climbing. Chain draws first bolts only
7. Cascabel 5.11- (Rodrigo Garza)
Right of the little cave. Starts with wild stemming on giant stalactites
Segundo Sector (Second Section The Main Cave)
8. Mañana te Pago 5.13- (Mark Grundon)
Left most route in the big cave. Pull out the roof on big holds, and finish with some powerful moves to the anchor
9. Sin noticias tuyas proyecto (Carlos Vargas/ Trevor Wood)
An open project guessed to be a 13 come and get it
10. Lado oscuro de la Luna 5.12+ (Mark Grundon/ Rodrigo Garza)
Almost all big holds to the anchor.
11. Código Panal 5.12- (Rodrigo Garza)
More fun stalactite climbing
12. Vasco Viejo 5.11+ (Rodrigo Garza)
A good warm up on big holds.
13. La Vaca Perdida 5.12- (Mark Grundon)
The first route in the cave
14. La Traviesa 5.13- (Patiño) ((Not Pictured))
A low traverse across the cave crosses three routes
15. Tufa Colombiana 5.12 (Mark Grundon)
Climbs the left side of the giant stalactite. First only have perma draws.
16. Celso Piña 5.12+ (Mark Grundon)
Climbs the route side of the giant stalactite. A classic route named after a classic artist. First draws are Climbtech perma draws perma draws all the way
17. Charro Galáctico 5.12+ (Joel Guadarrama)
Climbs up to some huge stalactites with wild stemming
18. El Ajonjolí Tostado 5.12+ (Patiño/ Buho)
Starts in the black rock
19. El Rebelde del Acordeón proyecto (Compi)
20. Tequila Sunrise 5.12+ (Rodrigo Garza)
Climbs the first four bolts of Abuelo then cuts left up to a wild roof finish
21. Abuelo Malandro 5.11 (Mark Grundon)
All big holds all the way. A popular warm-up
22. Papa Gordo 5.12- (Mark Grundon)
Pulls a roof down low with a chain draw. Finishes on pumpy gently overhanging tufas
23. Cumbiamberos 5.11 (Mark Grundon)
Starts up slab left side of a large stalactite. One bouldery crux otherwise easier tufa climbing
24. Final Feliz 5.12- (Mark Grundon)
Tufas up to a sit down rest then a bouldery finish
25. Nadamás la Puntita 5.11+ (Mark Grundon)
Start on the pillar and make big moves to the tips of the stalactites.