Estepona Fair and Sports Park Wall
Estepona, Spain
Specs: In March 2024, a new outdoor climbing wall opened in Estepona, a resort town on the Southern Coast of Spain, along the Costa del Sol. Built as an addition to the Estepona Fair and Sports Park—a permanent leisure park—the Estepona wall offers 662 square meters (7,125 square feet) of climbing wall surface, with terrain for bouldering, lead and speed climbing. According to manufacturer EP Climbing, the structure is “Spain’s largest outdoor climbing wall”—based on total square meters of climbing—and features “dimensions and functionalities conducive not only to sport climbing but also to hosting national and even international competitions for elite athletes.” Built in a temperate climate with an overhead wall cover and night lights, the wall can be climbed on throughout much of the year.
The municipal wall is operated primarily by the Estepona Mountain Group (GRUME), an organization that has run a climbing school since 2005. GRUME staffs the wall’s operating hours and provides beginner, intermediate and advanced courses for youth and adult climbers, hosting activities Monday through Saturday. Similarly to many indoor climbing gyms, GRUME requires a skills test to be taken prior to accessing the wall.
The wall can also be reserved outside of regular operating hours for school programs, training, classes and sporting events. According to an article on RealEstepona, the initiative “seeks to promote the sport of climbing among students, as well as provide a unique educational experience that fosters teamwork, confidence and physical development.” Per that article, financing for the climbing wall came from “the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan-Funded by the European Union-Next Generation EU.” And a second article at Tao Livin adds that the project “is part of the city’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2022-2024,” indicating a “commitment to enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities” in the area.
Walls: EP Climbing
Flooring: EP Climbing
Instagram: @rocodromo_estepona
In Their Words: “Estepona is reaching new heights with the creation of Spain’s largest outdoor climbing wall, promising a unique and thrilling experience for climbing enthusiasts and athletes alike.” – EP Climbing
Naomi is a personal trainer and a routesetter who has also worked at climbing gyms as a youth team coach. After starting college at Colorado State University in 2017, she wanted to make new friends and found climbing, fell in love, and now climbing dictates most of what she does. Naomi earned a bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Science & Sustainability, and when not climbing she enjoys baking, gardening and crafting.
