Tartareu may not be in quite the same class as some of the major climbing areas in Lleida, but nevertheless offers steep and enjoyable climbing with rock quality ranging from acceptable to excellent. Tartareu’s east/northeasterly orientation makes it a very valuable resource for local climbers during the blisteringly hot days of mid-summer, when the cliffs are shaded from early afternoon onwards (in fact some of the side walls face due north and never see the sun). The cliffs, reaching a maximum height of 20m-25m, are situated in the Barranc d’Espinau — a small valley just north of the small village of Tartareu.
Orientation: predominantly east.
General Approach: From the village of Os de Balaguer follow a narrow road heading towards Tartareu (7km). Approximately 250m before reaching the village a dirt track cuts off to the left, heading up the valley of Barranc d’Espinau. The first parking area (P1) is situated about 500m up the track near a tarmac pathway heading up towards the left-hand end of the cliff. P2 is located some 270m further up the main track, just after a passing another side-track (unsurfaced this time) leading back leftwards. P3 lies a further 300m up the main track, from where two well-marked walking paths lead back leftwards towards the right-hand sectors of the cliff. Note: it is also possible to approach the village of Tartareu from the north by turning off the C-12 main road 4km north of the village of Les Avellanes. However, to reach the crag this way means driving through the village of Tartareu itself, whose extremely narrow streets are not suitable for larger vehicles (certainly not big motorhomes!).
🧗♂️
the left-hand section of the zone is pretty much one continuous cliff with sectors situated one after the other, with hardly any breaks. The sectors in this group are, from left to right: Tempura, Bombo Suís, Ànima Negra, La Cara de La Mort, Cavall de Troia, L’Obsessió de Tibar and Lolo Decotón.
Depending on which sector you are heading for use either P1 or P3. Sector Tocho Mocho is a small outcrop lying below the main crag and is best approached from P2. To the right of Lolo Decotón there is a break in the cliffs until reaching the sectors comprising the right-hand section of Tartareu. Here lie the sectors of Jet Lag, Guacamole, Zum Zum Zum and Thailand Babes, which are all approached from P3.
