About your guide

Rafa Espinoza Peñate

A lifelong climber who guides for a living and the only person you'll deal with, from your first message to the last belay of the day.

Climbing
19 yrs
Guiding
13 yrs

Contours — Cerro Quemado · 3,197 mContours — Lago de Amatitlán · 1,186 mContours — Volcán de Agua · 3,760 mContours — Volcán Pacaya · 2,552 m

Rafa portrait — at the base of the wall, rack on
Climbing since
2007 · 19 years
Guiding
~13 years
Languages
Spanish & English
Home crags
Amatitlán · Cerro Quemado

In his words

“I've been climbing for about 20 years, and guiding for around 13. I used to guide across Central America and currently guide climbing tours in Guatemala and beyond.”

Whether you're looking for sport climbing practice, coaching, rope climbing basics, or just want to climb, Rafa is an all in one package.

Book directly with a local

Booking with Rafa is direct: the person answering your WhatsApp message is the person tying in with you at the wall. He sets the day around your level: full instruction for first-timers, belaying and beta for climbers who want mileage, and keeps groups small enough that everyone get their sends in.

Where he works

Guatemala — Quetzaltenango (Xela), Amatitlán, Atitlán, Huehuetenango. Pickups from Guatemala City, Antigua, and Xela.

Rafa coaching a first-time climber, top-rope
Group at the crag, gear laid out
About Rafa — extra photo 1
About Rafa — extra photo 2

Climb with him

Pick an open date on the calendar — Rafa confirms by email. Pay in person on the day.