For a decade, the first American climbers to explore Cuba, returned again and again, despite U.S. law threatening fines and imprisonment. Cuba Climbing reflects this history of commitment and devotion. Cuba Climbing is a partnership of climbers and corporate partners working together to sustain the Cuban climbing community. The Cubans climb despite a crushingly poor, authoritarian government that threatens them with prison for climbing, while welcoming foreign climbers. With their stiff-necked commitment to climb, the Cuban climbers have created something that is unique in climbing. Cuba may be the only climbing destination in the third world where the majority of climbers are visiting foreigners, but most first ascents have been done by the native climbers.

This has happened because of a tradition and system of donated gear, clothes, even power drills and bolts, and programs to prepare Cuban climbers to instruct, guide, and mentor new climbers. The majority of visitors now follow the tradition initiated by the first visiting climbers, who left their rack, ropes, shoes and harnesses in Cuba.

Cuba is the karst climbing of Thailand’s Railae, but without drug-wars, banditry, hostage-taking, and terrorism — hazards that far-ranging climbers now face elsewhere. And crucial for international destination climbing is full-out information at your fingertips. Cuba Climbing, the first print guidebook to Cuba, has just been published. Perhaps no guidebook has so many contributors, and every one of them donated their images and personal essays with intimate perspectives on their Cuban experience. There is an extensive, factual, and updated website, cubaclimbing.com2.0. It has every published article on climbing in Cuba, 30 in all. If you go, contact Cuba Climbing and take gear to the Cuban climbers. You will feel very gratified.