I'm planning a trip to Algarve in Portugal. And so far as I have seen the place in fotos it seems to be a climber's paradise. Have any of you visited this place? If yes, then I'd be grateful to receive some information about wheres and hows and gears. And then there is this alternative to go at some island in greek (or however it's written...) possibly Zakynthos, Santorini or some other less known island to stay rid of the tourist mass. Any beta at all would be of great help.

-- Ilpo Erinko (Ilpo.Erinko@pp.inet.fi), January 19, 1999

Answers

I visited the Algarve a couple of years ago after seeing a postcard with some great looking sea cliffs on it. I visited several cliffs along the coast but never found anything worth climbing. Just a little bouldering. The rock quality was extremely poor. The Algarve is, from what I saw, very flat. I was the only tourist within a hundred miles that was not carrying a golf bag. I would advise against planning on climbing there unless you have some specific information about climbing areas in that region.

-- Alan Prechtel (aprechte@visteon.com), February 03, 1999.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PORTUGAL, BUT I JUST LEFT THE GREEK ISLAND OF CRETE WHICH I HAD BEEN LIVING ON FOR A WHILE. CRETE HAS SOME EXCELENT WINTER MOUNTAINEERING AS WELL AS SOME GREAT SCATTERED SPORT CLIMBING RANGING IN DIFICULTY FROM 5.5 TO 5.11, MOATLY ONE PITCH. THERE IS ALSO SOME MULTI PITCH CLIMBING SCATTERED AROUND ON LESS THAN PERFECT (MUCH LESS) ROCK. IF YOU WANT IT, I HAVE INFO ON THE SPORT CLIMBING WHICH WOULD BE VERY HARD TO COME BY IN CRETE, (GREEK CLIMBERS DON'T LIKE GIVING INFORMATION OUT TO OUTSIDERS). INFO FOR THE MOUNTAINS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE GREEK MOUNTAINEERING CLUB IN CHANIA, WHT BIGGEST CITY IN THE WEST.

-- JEREMY GIDDENS (jeremygiddens@hotmail.com), September 20, 1999.