Hiking in Mexico
A Hiking Guide for Mexico City
MexicoHiking Mexico
This guide to hiking in Central Mexico looks at some of the best areas for walking and what you can expect in each of them. We also have details and GPS tracks of many hikes that you can do from Mexico City, including how to access the hikes using only public transport.
Read the full guide below or click here to see a concise list and map of our favourite hikes around the city.
Contents
- 📖 Introduction
- 📖 Hiking Around Mexico City
- 📖 Practical Information
- 📖 Culture & History
- 📖 Overall Thoughts
- 📖 List of the Best Hikes
Hiking in Mexico: Introduction
The view from La Malinche
The finest region for hiking, however, is the central part of the country. And Mexico City - one of the world's great cultural cities - is right at the heart of this. Central Mexico is filled with high mountains, volcanoes, lakes and forests, making for great hiking. There are an abundance of trails and paths to explore, and the region is largely safe (see below for more details).
In this guide we look at more detail of the different areas for hiking in Central Mexico - explaining the differences between them and what you can expect hiking here.
Central Mexico Hiking Routes
There are many regions where you can do good hikes in Central Mexico. In this guide we focus on the area roughly from from Valle de Bravo in the west to Puebla in the east.The hikes here are all, more or less, possible to do as a day trip or overnight stay from Mexico City - making them ideal for both residents of the city and for adventurous tourists.
Popocatepel and Iztaccihuatl as seen from Ajusco
National Parks in Mexico City
It may come as something of a surprise to learn that there are eight national parks in Mexico City itself. Several of these are not ideal for hiking due to the size, terrain or safety concerns. However, two of them - Desierto de los Leones and Cerro de Ajusco - offer fantastic hiking.Siutated in the south, where the plateau of the city gives way to volcanic slopes, both of these parks have considerable elevation, with mountains peaking at a shade under 4,000m altitude.
Sandwiched between the two parks are a couple of other very popular hiking areas: Los Dinamos and Parque Ejidal de San Nicolas Totolapan. Combined, these four parks stretch around 30km to the south-west of the city. They are all accessible by public transport relatively easily from Mexico City, and offer hikes of different levels from easy to challenging.
Former Convent Desierto de los Leones
The most spectacular and challenging routes are in Cerro del Ajusco National Park. Here you can climb to the two highest peaks in the city - Ajusco (3930m) and Pico El Águila (3910m). The views are spectacular here, both of Mexico City and of surrounding volcanoes including Popocatepetl and Nevado de Toluca.
Example Routes
Pico El Águila & Ajusco
Desierto de los Leones Convent
Los Dinamos & Coconetla
Cerro San Miguel
Mirador Zazacapa
Puebla & State of Mexico Hikes
The city of Puebla is only a short distance from the capital, and is a great alternative destination for hikers who want to tackle the highest climbs in Mexico. Puebla has a charming old town, centered around its 16th century cathedral and narrow cobbled streets. It was also the scene of the famous 5th May battles, where Mexicans defeated an attempted invasion by the French.From a hiking point of view, Puebla is surrounded by enormous volcaones. Situated to the west are Iztaccihuatl (5213m) and Popocatepetl (5413m). To the north is La Malinche (4438m) and to the east is the towering Pico de Orizaba (5636m). Most of these can be hiked (at least in theory), although there are a few things to bear in mind.
First of all, the famous Popocateptl is a very active volcano. In recent years it has been erupting almost as often as it has been quiet. It regularly spews huge amounts of ash into the air, which obviously makes hiking there problematic. Access to the crater is heavily restricted and permits for hiking are not currently being issued.
Pico de Orizaba
That leaves Iztaccihuatl and La Malinche. The good news is that both of these are excellent hiking areas. Izaticchuatl offers several trails starting from Paso de Cortés - a parking area located at the pass between Puebla and Mexico City where conquistador Hernan Cortés crossed on his way from Veracruz to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.
Iztaccihuatl
La Malinche is the most accessible of the huge volcanoes, and it is possible to hike to the top and down in a few hours, returning to Puebla in time for dinner! It is still challenging, with considerable elevation gain and high altitude, but not too difficult, and the views are sensational.
Example Routes
La Malinche
Iztaccihuatl
Paso de Cortes & Los Portillos
Toluca & Valle de Bravo
Located to the west of Mexico City, the are around Toluca and Valle de Bravo offers more excellent hiking. The jewel in the crown is Nevado de Toluca - the fourth highest peak in Mexico (4690m), and arguably the most beautiful.The Nevado de Toluca national park is centered around a huge volcanic crater which houses two lakes as well as numerous peaks above 4,000m in elevation. The park is very popular, particularly on weekends, due to its proximity to both Toluca and Mexico City, combined with the fact that it is possible to do very easy hikes around the lakes.
View of the Sun Lake
Most of the hiking here is above the treeline, so there are spectacular views throughout the entire walk, I recommend it very highly. No specialist climbing equipment is needed here.
Slightly further west, the town of Valle de Bravo is popular with affluent Mexicans. It is home to a large lake, surrounded by various hiking routes. The routes here are mostly in forest and are far less spectacular than in some of the National Parks of Central Mexico. However, if you fancy a weekend away from Mexico City, Valle de Bravo is a nice destination where you can do some pleasant circular hikes.
Example Route
Nevado de Toluca
Cultural & Historical Hikes
In central Mexico there are also some great routes you can do with historical value. These are typically easier than climbing the big volcanoes, but they visit beautiful small towns (some are known as pueblos magicos or magical villages in Mexico), as well as impressive archaeological sites.
Real del Monte
One such area is the Chico National Park. Situated to the north-east of Mexico City, in the Hidalgo region of the country, there are some very nice high altitude hikes here through impressive forested mountains. Easily accessible via the city of Pachuca, there are several pubelos magicos in this region, including Mineral del Monte, Mineral del Chico and Huasca. The area used to be a very important silver mining center, and saw significant immigration from England, giving the villages in the region quite a unique feel. It is a nice experience to stay in one of these villages while doing day hikes in the Chico National Park or surrounding areas.
Closer to Mexico City are smaller villages such as Tepoztlan and Malinalco. Both of these pueblos magicos have impressive archaeological sites, dating from Aztec times. They are situated in the mountains and have to be hiked to via a significant number of steps. The hike to the Tepozteco site from Tepoztlan is particularly demanding, featuring over 1,000 steps. There are several other excellent walks in the area.
Malinalco Temple Complex
Example Route
Tepoztlan & Tepozteco Archaeological Site
Practical Information
Hiking in Mexico comes with some practical considerations. How can you get to the hikes, particularly without a car? What experience do I need to tackle such hikes, particularly ones at very high altitude? Is it safe for hiking, not just in terms of the trail, but due to potential crime or wildlife? And what can expect on the hike - not just in terms of scenery but in terms of cultural interest?We will look at and attempt to answer some of these questions below:
A natural bridge crossing in Los Dinamos
Accessibility
All of the hiking areas in Central Mexico are easy to reach by car from Mexico City. There are large parking areas at most sites, these usually require a small fee and a relatively secure. To enter some National Parks by car it is necessary to make reservations in advance.This is particularly important if you wish to access the 'La Joya' parking which is the closest to the peak of Iztaccihuatl. 6km further down the road, the parking at Paso de Cortés does not require a reservation. Reservations can be made by registering advance by signing up at the CONANP Website.
Taxis / Uber
Most tourists visiting Mexico City will not have a car with them. Hiring a car can also be awkward and requires navigating the torturous traffic around the sprawling metropolis.
The main hiking areas within Mexico City can all be reached by taxi or Uber (the latter costing $200 - 400 pesos depending on where you are going from and the time of day). The problem with relying on taxis or Uber is that, at the end of the hike, you will often be in an area with no phone signal. You can arrange to be picked up in advance, but it is often difficult to get the timing right and there is no guarantee that the driver won't cancel on you!
Public Transport
This leaves public transport, which generally can work very well for hikers in the Central Mexico. The start and end of the hikes can only be reached by bus or colectivo (combis), and it can be a bit confusing to navigate it all for the first time. Which is why on each hike we include detailed instructions on the pulic transport options.
Generally speaking, to visit areas within Mexico City (such as Desierto de los Leones or Ajusco), you first have to direct yourself by metro to a main transport hub (e.g. Tacubaya or Miguel de Quevedo) and from there it is simply a case of getting on the correct bus. Buses run extremely regularly in Mexico and so the time spent in total is not usually too much more than driving there yourself.
For routes outside Mexico City, you often have to take the bus towards the town nearest to the hike. For Nevado de Toluca, there are direct buses from Mexico City to Raices. For Iztaccihutal you must head towards Amecameca; Malinche can be accessed via Apizaco; while to enter the Chico National Park you must first take the bus to Pachuca. This may all sound more trouble than it's worth, but it's really not too tricky once you know where to go in Mexico City and which bus you are looking for.
Tacos in Apizaco after returning from La Malinche
Guided Tours
Several companies offer guided hikes to the most famous peaks in the region (particularly Nevado de Toluca, Ajusco, Malinche, Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba). I won't give any recommendations here because I have relatively limited experience with the companies, but I recommend searching and looking for reviews if you are interested in this.
There are advantages and disadvantages to going on a guided tour. The main advantage is that they will arrange all of the transport to and from Mexico City or Puebla. They will provide you with equipment (trekking poles, helmet, crampons if necessary) as well as food and drink. They will show you the route and can help if there is any difficulty.
There are several disadvantages, however, particularly if you are a strong hiker who is used to going alone. For example, you will be hiking in a group, often with people who are not in great shape, which can make for slower going. It is not uncommon for guided tours not to make it to the summit because it was too challenging for members of the group. Tours can also be cancelled at very later notice if a minimum number of participants is not met. Finally, if you value solitude and have an adventurous spirit, then a guided tour probably does not appeal to you too much.
Most of the hikes around Central Mexico - even high altitude ones - are fine to do alone in my opinion, although obviously it carries a slightly higher risk than in a group if there is an incident. The one exception is Pico de Orizaba, which I would not attempt alone. It is possible to get into major difficulties here, as you have to cross a considerable glacier. It is probably worth going on a guided tour to Iztaccihuatl as well, if you don't think that you can make it up and down in a single day and so would have to camp at high altitude.
A guided tour to Nevado de Toluca
Trails & Routes
The trails in the national parks and main hiking areas of Central Mexico are generally of very high quality. However, there is a distinction to be made between the high volcanoes (Malinche, Iztaccihuatl etc..), the more forested routes (Desierto de los Leones, Los Dinamos, El Chico National Park..) and the archaeological sites (Malinalco, Tepoztlan...). It is important to understand the different challenges offered by each. Another key consideration is the time of year - hiking in summer is not the same as hiking in winter in Mexico - and not perhaps for the reasons you might think!High Volcanoes
The most popular high volcanoes to hike are Nevado de Toluca, La Malinche, Izaticcihuatl, Ajusco and Pico de Orizaba. All of these climbs are remarkably similar in terms of what to expect from the trail. The classic routes begin at high altitude on very well maintained dirt or gravel trails. The gradients are not super steep and although you might not exactly be striding out, due to the altitude, it is not a difficult start.
The difficulty then increases incremently. The long middle section is generally steep (with gradients averaging around 30%). This is where you cover most of the elevation gain, and the path can vary between rock, sand or dirt, but it is generally not difficult technically. Finally, to reach the peaks there is usually a bit of scrambling. This is generally grade 1 or 2 scrambling without any really scary drops, but it is potentially hazardous due to the effects of tiredness and the possibility of snow on the ground.
Scrambling at the summit
The trails in the high volcanoes are usually marked at lower altitudes, but the signs can disappear as you get higher. If you are alone, it is important to carry a good GPS device with you (not just a mobile phone). The trails are usually obvious, and where there are multiple options they typically join up sooner rather than later. However, there are some sections where you will need to follow a specific route.
Forest Routes
Many of the routes in Mexico City (Los Dinamos, Desierto de los Leones), as well as Chico National Park are largely in forest. The trails here are predominantly dirt, which is quite grippy and soft underfoot, making for a pleasant experience. The surface makes these good area for trail running as well.
Trails here are mostly not well signed, or are signed inconsistently, and so you will be largely relying on GPS to navigate. If you climb to the highest peaks in these parks (e.g. Coconetla or Cerro de San Miguel) then there is some very light scrambling towards the top, but the technical difficulty is generally low. Gradients vary considerably. In Los Dinamos, for example, you can do routes that are almost flat, whilst in Desierto de los Leones you can climb well over 1,000m to the highest peaks.
A typical forest trail in Parque Ejidal San Nicolas
Archaeological Hikes
The hikes to temples in places like Malinalco and Tepoztlan are on very well maintained trails. The trails are mostly granite steps (in the case of Tepoztlan the steps can be quite irregular). These are therfore good options for families or hikers who want very low technical difficulty. On the other hand, the steps create more impact and can be troublesome to hikers with bad hips or knees.
A rare trail marker at Dinamos
Weather Conditions
The main hiking season in Central Mexico is from mid October until April. This might surprise you, since it is winter in the northern hemisphere and some of these hikes exceed 5,000m in elevation!
However, this period is also the dry season. Although temperature can be slightly lower in winter than in summer, they are only very slighly lower. It is far more important to have dry, or relatively dry trails, and also to have lower chance of snow accumulating at higher elevations. During winter it is actually rare for there to be any significant snow hanging around below 4,500m.
A small amount of snow on Pico del Fraile (4,680m) in January
The rainy season (Late May - early October) also increases the risk of being caught in thick cloud or thunderstorms whilst up in the mountains - both of which can be a serious safety issue.
If it is your first time in the mountains of Central Mexico, I would recommend hiking from November to April - these months usually offer optimal conditions.
Safety
The question of safety is always going to come up in Mexico, particularly when you head out alone into more rural areas. We have already looked at trail conditions, so this section is more focues on the risk of crime and also the risks posed by nature.In short, the main hiking areas of Central Mexico are among the safest regions in the country. The capital of Mexico City, as well as the States of Mexico, Puebla, Hidalgo and Tlaxcala are (as of early 2025) considered relatively low risk on most government travel advisories. But there is some nuance to this - it is still Mexico we are talking about - a country with a very high rate of violent crime.
Within Mexico City
For example, in Mexico City it is generally be considered safe to visit Desierto de los Leones, Tlalpan or Parque Ejidal de San Nicolas. Ajusco and Los Dinamos have had issues in the past with robberies from hikers on the trail, but this doesn't seem to have been an issue in recent years. In fact, on my last trip to Ajusco there were several National Guard situated along the lower part of the trail - which may or may not reassure you depending on how you view the police forces in Mexico! My anecdotal experience, as well as that of everyone I know who hikes here, believes that all these areas are now safe. I regularly hike alone in midweek,when the parks are very quiet, and have never felt uncomfortable or threatened. This is not an endorsement as such, but rather just providing my own personal experience.
On the other hand, there are some national parks within Mexico City which are simply not safe, and which I would not venture into. Cerro de la Estrella is bordered by the notorious Iztalpapa neighbourhood and should be avoided. El Tepeyac National Park in the north should also be avoided by tourists - and there is not such great hiking there anywhere.
Outside of Mexico City
Outside of Mexico City, the towns where you begin the main climbs are generally safe. Places such as Valle de Bravo, Puebla, Amecameca, Apiaco, Raices, Tepoztlan, Malinalco and Mineral del Monte are very nice towns that are worth exploring, and where you would be unfortunate to run into issues. To me they feel no less safe than an average US or European city.
To the north of Iztaccihuatl, there have been muggings and robberies of hikers on Monte Tlaloc. But this has been a very localised issue and hasn't been a problem at Paso de Cortés or on Iztaccihuatl mountain itself.
In summary, I have found the hiking areas mentioned in this guide to be safe, and they are generally recognised as such in the Mexico City hiking community. There is very little serious cartel activity in these areas, so the main threat is from petty crime, of which there have been very few incidents in recent years. Again, this is mostly anecdotal experience, so also do your own research and decide how comfortable you feel.
How to Increase Safety
Mexicans will advise you to do these hikes on the weekends and always in groups if possible. The theory is that the more people around in general, and the more people in your group, the less likely you are to be robbed or targeted in some way.
This is probably good advice. However, I have done most of my hiking in Central Mexico solo and during midweek. I prefer the calm and tranquility of the nature, rather than being surrounded by lots of people - and many of these hikes do get very busy at weekends (particularly Los Dinamos and Nevado de Toluca). Again, you have to decide for yourself how best to balance safety (or at least perception of safety) with enjoyment of the routes.
A small rattle snake near Paso de Cortés
Natural Dangers
We have already discussed the possible dangers from the weather, particularly during the rainy season. Another natural danger is from volcanic activity. Popocateptl is by far the most active volcano and it is not recommended to climb here. During periods of volcanic activity, it can also cover neighbouring Iztacchiuatl in ash and noxious gasses. If you plan to climb Iztaccihuatl, keep an eye on Popocateptl, to see how much it is erupting and which way the wind is blowing. I have had to abandon a hike there in the past due to ash and gasses covering Amecameca and much of Iztaccihuatl.
Wildlife
There are no jaguars in this part of central Mexico, and probably no pumas (mountain lions) either - although it is possible that the latter may be roaming around the slopes of Pico de Orizaba.
Deer and wild boar are common, but will nearly always run away from you. There are dogs on many climbs, but they are invariable friendly and will accompany you up the climb rather than act in a threatening manner.
The main potential danger is from snakes. There are various species of rattle snakes throughout the entire region, as well as the fearsome fer-de-lance around Pico de Orizaba.
Rattle snakes can bathe in the sunshine on rocks or in the trail, and may also be hidden under long grass. Keep an eye out for them, but don't be overly paranoid, snake bites are very rare in these parks.
Culture & History
Hiking in Central Mexico is not just about high altitude trails, amazing scenery and magical forests. There is also a lot of cultural and historic interest in many of the hikes. Many of the volcanoes and monutains of the region were sacred to the Aztecs and their predecessors in the region.This is most obvious in places like Malinalco or Tepoztlan, where pre-Hispanic temples still remain in the hill side to be visited. However, even the mountains themselves, such as Popocatepetl and La Malinche have their own legends and stories associated with them - something that is unsurprising given how they dominate the landscape of the region.
In Mexico City itself you typically see more vestiges of the period of Spanish rule. The former convent at Desierto de los Leones is a must visit, as is the picturesque hermitage at Cerro de San Miguel. Los Dinamos is also home to small chapels, including in the town of La Magdalena Contreras itself. As well as the old electicity installations and aqueducts which lend their name to the 'dynamo' area alongside the Magdalena River.
The former Carmelite convent in Desierto de los Leones
Overall Thoughts
Central Mexico is a fantastic hiking destination. There are very few places in the world where you can climb above 4,000m altitude year round, without any special equipment. The peaks of Popocateptl, Nevado de Toluca and Iztaccihuatl are truly iconic and give you a real appreciation for the remarkable geography around Mexico City.The trails are generally not too technical or steep, and are relatively easy to follow - although I strongly recommend bringing a good GPS with you. Most hiking routes are easily accessible by public transport (which we detail in the route descriptions), and can comfortably be done as a day hike before returning to Mexico City.
Historically there have been some safety concerns in specific areas, but in recent years the most popular hiking areas have been far more secure. I have hiked a lot alone here and have never felt in any danger - but of course you have to assess your own tolerance to possible risks.
The main difficulty most hikers will face is the altitude, particularly if coming from sea level. Even around 3,000m, this can have a significant affect on performance, and by 4,000m it will be very noticeable.
But don't let that put you off - it is just part of the challenge and the fun of hiking in Central Mexico!
Pico El Águila with Mexico City in the background
Check out the links below to some of our favourite hikes around Mexico City
