Just come back from my second trip here.
Datca is a coastal town located on a thin hilly peninsula on the west side of Turkey not that far from Kos. Nearest Airport is Dalaman, flight time is about 4 hours then 2.5hour drive from airport.
There is a free downloadable guide
here and printed versions of it are available to buy too.
Development has only happened over the last 10 years and whilst there are
a few crags to go at the main attraction is the Can Baba cave with a concentration of quality tufa routes starting at 6c+.
The guidebook description to get to Can Baba is rubbish so heres my alternative:
The turn off the road to the crag is located 7km from the junction in Datca along the road to Knidos. The google map pin for the turn off the road onto the track is here: 8G89PJJ8+PF and signposted DuruSu. Follow the track to a barbecue area and take a sharp Right turn signposted Datca base camp. Go down the hill then a 100 yards up the other side to park by a stream bed.
The google map pin for the parking is here: 8G89PJFF+G2
A boulder by the side of the track with two red and white stripes and a cairn on top marks where you cross the stream bed and the path takes you directly and steeply up the hill to the crag (most people stash their ropes up their on the first day).
The crag goes in the shade in the afternoon and catches the breeze. One drawback is that if the crag starts seeping then the routes can take several days to dry out. There are not many situ draws at the crag (fortunately) and the draws in place just tend to be left by current parties. There are super long extensions that might require 20 draws so depends if you are getting involved with those. Basically take as many as you can. Also dont forget your kneepads (I did). Plenty of routes ok on a 50m rope but the longest extensions will need an 80m.
Pretty much all the Can Baba routes are brilliant. Datca Rodeo is classic at 7b+ as is Can Baba at 6c+. Black Hole 7c+ is brilliant apart from a low pebble pulling crux. Live like Jay 7b, Medusa 7b+, Ustsuz 7b and Nefs 7c are all very good. The harder routes look amazing.
Accommodation is super cheap as is eating out especially if you go to the cafes like Nahit Ustanin Yeri (~£6 for a meal) though best go earlyish as they can run out of options and shut later into the evening. We liked the Cheers Bar by the seafront for beers. Theres no local climbing scene as such - ie no climbing shops or bars.
Had a few reports of bad rental car experiences but
Autounionhas proved good.
In theory it is possible to get there without a rental car as there is an airport transfer firm in Datca (Mavi) charging £11 one way but weve found them a bit hopeless to deal with. Maybe there is somewhere to rent bikes when you are there but dunno. There was campsite near the crag (Datca Base Camp) but that closed during covid and never reopened.
On a rest day I recommend a visit to Knidos - a ruined ancient city in a stunning coastal location 50 mins drive from Datca.
