Sicily – Sport Climbing Meet

(Preliminary dates – subject to flight availability)

This trip has been run for a number of years and is hugely popular with members. Think loads of amazing routes to climb, at all levels. Warm sun, stunning cool seas, fab Italian food and beer and a funky, cheap hostel, with a climbing wall – that’s an easy walk to the town and beach. Whats not to love? Amore!

The trip is from the weekend of the 11th/12th to the weekend of the 18th/19th with several shorter options.

The destination is as usual the North Western Sicilian village of San Vito Lo Capo with 6Km of cliff sport crags on the Western side and some nice multi-pitch routes on the Eastern side and a possible boulder day at Bosco Scorace in the hills. Plus The national park (Zingaro) ~30 minutes away & Hot spring baths ~45 minutes away near Castellmare Del Gulfo (paid and unpaid options)
More details below;

DATES:
Ryanair now flies on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday so there are multiple options;
Planned Full week option
Departure Saturday 11th October Ryanair 17:10 Departure arriving Palermo 21:30 N.B. no climbing on day one.
Coming back on Saturday 18th October – Departure 21:55 arriving Dublin 00:30. Poss full day climbing on the last day.

Flight times for other days are below;
Sunday 12th Out Departure 05:45 Arriving Palermo 10:05
Back Departure 10:30 Arriving Dublin 13:01
Monday 13th Out Departure 13:25 Arriving Palermo 17:25
Back Departure 10:30 Arriving Dublin 13:01

Thursday 16th Out Departure 13:25 Arriving Palermo 17:25
Back Departure 18:10 Arriving Dublin 20:45

Multiple permutations exist Sat-Thur , Sun-Thur, Mon-Thur, Mon-Sat, Sun-Sun, Thur-Sat and Thur-Sun all possible for those looking for flexible options. You should take note when choosing as some flights come in late (not all car hire offices open late) and San Vito is 1.5 hours by car and some people have been charged late check-in fee’s for arriving after midnight in accommodation.

FLIGHTS:
Flights currently (Early April ) Range from €260 up to €325 for full week options and oddly slightly dearer for the shorter options (all including 20kg bag).
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOOKING THEIR OWN FLIGHTS.

CAR HIRE:
San Vito is 1.5 hrs from the airport so some cars will be needed. There will (should) be some car-pooling and currently the indicative costs for Airport terminal pickup with ‘full’ insurance from Drivalia/Locauto (I’ve used both of them before) are €420 – €465 for a Compact and €520 to €585 for an SUV with prices currently trending downward .
Cheaper options are available – caveat emptor.

ACCOMMODATION:
I have verbally confirmed availability with Marco in the fabulous hostel “Timbuktu” for dorm rooms. The Dorms are secure with keycard entry and Marco usually gives them to us to use for ourselves alone. The hostel has a small number of private rooms which get taken early (mostly gone).
Marco has given us good rates in the past and has again this year with just some small increases;
Dorm room beds are still €25 with Breakfast up from €5 to €6
Breakfast usually consists of Croissant/pastries, bread, jam, butter, fruit, coffee, cappuccino, cereals, yogurt, tomatoes, eggs. If there is anything else we would like and we let him know ahead of time he will see if he can get it.

You can obviously decide to opt out of it and just have the dorm be for €25 a night.

If you opt in to the breakfast bundle it is € 31 a night for dorm rooms; This is done before we leave so Marco can arrange the need in advance. Also just to eliminate any doubt if you opt in and you do not actually avail of the breakfast it’s still the extra €6 a night.

We stayed here before and it is a very relaxed place and the hostel has a bar out the back with Hammocks.

There is a large kitchen free for use by the residents and fridges for storage of food

You get bonus points as a resident if you are a decent Karaoke performer!

There is also a wide range of accommodation in San Vito as it is a holiday town for Italians too.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Register to confirm your interest in the event, and once you’re registered you get added to the trip whatsapp (Sicily 2025 Registered).
You can specify if you are on one of the shorter options then and which one, this makes scheduling the dorms in the hostel, if needed, much easier.