SouthernXposure Climbing School Presents
“Own It” A Women’s Climbing Retreat in Mexico
All This and so much more!
- Four days of climbing Instruction within three completely different world class destinations.
- Three Professional Rock Climbing Guides
- Airport Transportation
- Breakfast and Lunch for Guided Days
- Six Nights Lodging
- Touring Three Different Gorgeous Tourist Towns
- Shoes, Harness, Helmets
- All this for $2,700.00(minus $400.00 if you book early). $2,300.00?! Yeeee Haaa!
Our “Own It” retreat is so much more than having “gender specific*” days of climbing and learning.
Climbing with Us.
These days are designed by women, for women — a time to climb, connect, and grow in ways that reach far beyond the wall.
Our “Own It” retreat blends adventure with intention. Each day, we explore a different incredible, world-class climbing destination — each with its own unique character and challenges. Guided by some of the best instructors in the industry, you’ll gain hands-on experience and a deep understanding of essential climbing skills in a fully supportive, judgment-free space.
But it’s not just about the technique learned— it’s about the journey. The laughter, the breakthroughs, the shared moments that become lifelong memories. By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave not only stronger as a climber, but more connected to yourself and to a community of women who lift each other higher.
Own Your Skills. Own Your Confidence.
This is an opportunity for women to build skills specific to rock climbing with other like-minded women led by our experienced and highly trained staff.
You’ll learn every skill the right way — safely, clearly, and with guidance from highly trained professionals. Then you’ll put that knowledge into action again and again, until it feels second nature.
Our goal is for you to truly own your craft — to feel confident, capable, and in control on the wall, and on the ground. You’ll train using the most up-to-date techniques and modern standards taught by certified guides, preparing you for climbing adventures wherever you go next.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll walk away not only with stronger skills, but with the confidence to trust yourself — your judgment, your gear, and your power.
Please keep reading to appreciate where we will be climbing and what we have planned for everyone in attendance.
Day 1 ~Welcome to Mexico! Sport Climbing and the art of fluid motion.
Peña de Bernal
Sport Climbing from the ground up. Our first day is spent assessing your goals, getting to know one another, climbing great routes while learning lots. We hit the ground running and set the tone for a stellar time together. No one knows too little to join us or too much. Everyone gains.
This clinic will be taught at La Peña de Bernal. Rising to almost 1,700 feet in height, La Peña is the world’s tallest monolith as well as a world class climbing destination. This magnificent climbing area and beautiful town is conveniently located 25 minutes east of where you will land at the Intercontinental Airport of Queretaro.
All of our days together will focus on climbing different magnificent areas in Central Mexico. While imparting invaluable education to close any gaps within all skills you may already have (or lack), while eating delicious local food and absorbing the cultural heritage around each area.
The climbing is incredible, the skills learned imperative. As a huge bonus to everything gained for the future is the ability to experience three completely different climbing areas, different rock, different ecosystems and climbing styles.
If you like culturally rich cooking, you are in for a culinary experience like no other! As a balance to all the mental stimuli we have delicious food catered to the crag.
Breakfast at a restaurant (near or at the hotel) then lunch (at the crag) is included within the cost of attending. Fresh squeezed orange juice is a great start to any morning!
Our professional guides will begin the day by discussing the foundations of climbing and what it is to have a strong and solid partnership between the climber and belayer. Within this discussion the group as a whole will consider their individual strengths vs. [perceived] weaknesses while discussing what everyone is looking to accomplish throughout their time spent with us.
Throughout this retreat/clinic participants will climb fantastic routes while learning, comprehending and practicing the most modern techniques and technical standards for any skill we cover for the year 2025/6. Each skillset will be taught by Professional Climbing Guides who will celebrate all of your successes along the way.
During our first day together, a deep focus will be placed on the technique differences between traditional and sport climbing. From the ground to clipping the anchors climbers will fine tune the skills required to proficiently sport climb outdoors.
On-sighting tactics
Climbing efficiently and fluid movement
Overcoming the mindset of thinking about only the fall vs. thinking about the climbing
Falling and why it’s never failing
Building the best anchor-point on bolts and stripping the anchor safely and efficiently
99% of past participants are leading sport climbs by days-end
This is a day that will resonate throughout your entire climbing career as you will “own” these valuable skills.
*Whether you top-rope, mock lead or full-on lead climb; everyone will feel complete and total inclusion within the group. You will learn from professional guides while feeling the strength and security from one another’s accomplishments.
La Concepcion, Aculco is ‘the absolute best crack climbing on the Northern Continent’. This is quite a statement isn’t it?! Come and see how incredible our little slice of heaven is ~ for yourself.
Day 2 ~Crack Climbing and keeping everyone safe at the cliffs. OWN IT!
La Concepción, Aculco
Day 3 ~A Resting rest day in Aculco.
Wake up late and kick around the beautiful town of Aculco.
Aculco is a tourist town with lots to see and do.
Day 4 ~Fight the Pump; climbing smart on steep terrain.
Las Peñas de Dexcani, Jilotepec
This course will be taught at Las Peñas de Dexcani located in a private woodland preserve just outside the town of Jilotepec de Molina.
Climbers will fortify and enhance the skills they have acquired through the valuable knowledge gained over the past few days of engaging clinics. The primary goal? To feel more comfortable and achieve success in a new and challenging environment that demands the use of differing techniques as well as effective energy conservation. You will be actively engaged in route finding while the pump clock is ticking away. This promises to be a full day dedicated to both climbing and learning. As a cohesive group, we will focus more attention on ensuring that all the essential building blocks of success have been thoroughly retained for this day and for future endeavors. Learning the techniques necessary, particularly those specific to sport climbing, on steep terrain can yield substantial rewards for anyone aspiring to travel-climb from the experiences we share together. The walls of Las Peñas de Dexcani provide a truly magical outdoor classroom. Through our teachings, we impart lessons and skills designed to propel one’s entire mindset toward greater proficiency and self-sufficiency in climbing.
Day 5 ~Another Resting rest day in Aculco.
Day 6 ~ We return to La Concepcion for another day climbing the best cracks on the northern Hemisphere.
Day 7 ~ Travel Day. We make sure everyone makes it to the airport with plenty of time to relax before their flight.
What is needed to join:
Payment Information
Total Cost $1,600.00 That’s Correct!
Four days of climbing, a lifetime of learning, seven nights lodging, six breakfasts, lunches catered to the crags, all transportation, culture, lots of great times, memories that will honestly last a lifetime.
(We keep the price low for inclusion)
*Please look at other climbing retreats and compare pricing and what you get in return. Climbing at three completely different areas? Lots of learning to be used for a lifetime? And visiting gorgeous towns as well????? It’s an incredible experience. How is this possible? We do not inflate the cost of your meals or your lodging or anything else while you are with us. We are the most professional guide service in Mexico and it shows when you research our reviews on Google
Retreat Dates: December 28/3 January 17/23 March 14/20
What’s Included and What’s Not~
- Airport Transfers from and to Querétaro Intercontinental Airport
- Transportation to and from all climbing each day
- Seven nights of accommodations in really nice hotels. Prices are based on Double Occupancy (If you want a private room it is a small add on, just ask!)
- Five nights of accommodations in either really nice hotels or Airbnb’s
- Incredible breakfasts (catered to the house), delicious lunches (delivered to the crag)Vegetarian, Vegan, Lactose, Gluten Free not a problem
- Instruction/learning, guiding, experiencing three absolutely, positively beautiful world class climbing areas
What’s Not Included:
- Airfare from your home city to Querétaro Airport, Mexico (We would be happy to discuss travel and best connection options)
- Dinners after climbing
- Food with regard to Rest Days
- Gratuities for your guides
- Any type of Travel Protection
What we suggest!
Best to fly in a full day before. We will have our car service pick you up at the airport for the quick trip to Bernal. Once in Bernal spend the remainder of the day absorbing the beautiful weather and poking around all the artisanal shops in town. Food, music, culture and shopping are all waiting for you.
**Bring an extra bag to check on your way home for purchased items. Trust us, you will buy great gifts for yourself and others.
Your time spent here will be unforgettable. Guaranteed.
Meet your guides~
Katie Brown
Guest Rock Climbing Instructor, Single Pitch Guide
Join us for the ultimate climbing experience featuring our guest host Katie Brown.
A former professional rock climber, groundbreaking athlete, writer and mom Katie embodies everything we are about here at SouthernXposure. We are super excited to welcome Katie as our guest guide to add to our already amazing lineup of professional climbers to help everyone attending reach their personal goals. Katie started climbing in the early 1990’s and quickly dominated the competition climbing scene for years. While climbing professionally she won almost every competition she entered, including adult competitions which she entered as a junior. Katie has been recognized as one of the world’s best sport climbers, winning every US Adult National that she entered, both the X Games and Arco Rock Master as well as the World Cup in France.
Katie was the first woman in history to on-sight 5.13d climbing “Omaha Beach” in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky as well as being the first woman to ever flash “Hydrophobia” 5.14- in Spain. Katie’s unparalleled skills have solidified her as one of the world’s best climbers from dominating competitions to achieving historic climbing feats with FFA’s of routes never previously done solely by lady crushers.
Katie Brown, a prominent mental health advocate and public speaker, focuses on championing improved practices for the well-being of competitive athletes. Her impactful presentations shine a light on mental health and body-related challenges faced by high-achieving athletes urging individuals to prioritize holistic health over accolades. With her genuine expertise and book written specifically related to this subject she continues to elevate awareness and foster crucial dialogues on mental wellness in sports. Katie Brown’s journey aligns seamlessly with our mission statement, and we are excited to unite our shared vision with visiting climbers.
Katie’s expertise is unmatched, and she will certainly bring great karma, technique skills and climbing knowledge to pass along to everyone. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to learn from a true climbing icon and empower yourself on the rocks.
Arcelia García
Rock Climbing Instructor, Single Pitch and Multi-pitch Rock Guide
Arcelia García began her climbing career in 1999 at the age of twenty while visiting the limestone cliffs of El Potrero Chico in her home country of Mexico. With an understanding that there was a young burgeoning middle class (with considerably more free time than past generations) spending much more time outdoors, there was a great need for experienced mentors to assist with the education of these outdoor enthusiasts. Ecotourism in Mexico has become enormously popular in the last twenty years and technical rock climbing has become a big part of this equation. Arcelia began her journey as a professional guide after graduating from the National School of Anthropology and History with a degree in Archaeology. Arcelia transitioned from a climber to teacher/mentor as a way to share her passion and knowledge of the systems to keep climbers safe in the mountains. She is fully committed to empower others to explore the outdoors joyously and safely.
Arcelia has applied her technical climbing skills to archeological explorations of cliffs, canyons and mountains throughout Mexico. She has conducted research projects to survey the 500m high walls of the Rio La Venta Canyon in the tropical southern state of Chiapas. Additionally, she has led exploration teams surveying the Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas (600m). Additionally Arcelia has completed projects on the volcano of Nevado de Toluca (4,680m), and Pico de Orizaba (5,638m). Arcelia is an experienced rock guide who is always happy to share in the joy of another’s wondrous experience while discovering climbing in her beautiful country.
Caro Saucedo
Rock Climbing Instructor, Single Pitch and Multi-pitch Rock Guide, Alpine Guide
Caro is most likely the most accomplished female alpine and rock guide in all of Mexico. After finishing her university studies and graduating with a Biology degree in 2014 she realized her desire was to follow in her mother’s tracks (literally) and become a full time alpine/mountaineering guide.
Caro has been guiding alpine and rock climbing as her full time profession for more than 5 years. She has taken climber’s up every volcano in Mexico as well as guiding the big mountains in the Andes, Perú.
When not mountaineering Caro has been guiding rock all around Mexico from the Northern cliffs of El Potrero Chico to the National Park Mineral del Chico in Central Mexico. Caro has also professionally guided in South America and Canadá.
Caro is a most welcomed addition to the staff at SouthernXposure Guides and has been a part of our Women’s Retreat for years. She is a crack master who loves to teach anyone willing to learn the finer points of filling the void and how to defy gravity.
Simeon Heimowitz
Owner of SouthernX, Certified Rock Climbing Instructor, Licensed Rock Guide, SAG Professional Stunt Man, Wilderness First Responder, prolific developer, and all around swell human being!
Simeon is the owner and operator of SouthernXposure Climbing School based out of Aculco de Espinoza, Mexico. He is a licensed rock climbing guide, member of the Professional Climbing Guides Institute (PCGI), Wilderness First Responder, guidebook author and started the first not for profit in Mexico to connect young adults with autism to the freedom of mind and body that only rock climbing can bring. He has been climbing since 1996 and has taught multitudes of people how to climb and stay safe in the vertical world for the better part of twenty years. Simeon is active in several climbing coalitions throughout the northern continent and believes in protecting open space for the enjoyment of future generations. Simeon is also a prolific route developer and has routes with his name on them all over the northern continent. You can find these routes within the guidebooks of the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, Adirondacks in New York State, as well as Mount Charleston outside of Las Vegas in Nevada, Ralph Stover State Park in Bucks County Pennsylvania, and the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Simeon also has lots of fantastic routes in El Potrero Chico, Culo del Gato, Bernal, Aculco and Jilotepec.
Simeon learned to climb at the High Rocks Vista in Bucks County PA. While there he figured out the bolted routes were either real bad, real old, or both. This started the itch to develop well protected hard routes. This itch as with other developers becomes an all out case of hives! From Stover he climbed extensively within the Delaware Water Gap recreational area before moving on to the Gunks in 1997. His desire to share the fine art of climbing systems to keep everyone safe and his love of Mexico propelled him into a life of a professional rock climbing instructor in 2005. SouthernXposure has been teaching people how to climb and guiding areas all over Mexico for almost 25 years. How time flies!!
Come and climb with SouthernXposure. See for yourself why we are the premier guide service in all of Mexico.
