Zazacapa & Aguajito Viewpoints

This route is a relatively easy but very enjoyable hike through the high mountains of Mexico City. It begins in Parque Ejidal San Nicolas Totolapan and climbs to the scenic viewpoints of Aguajito and Zazacapa.

From there it descends along a pleasant trail to the Segundo Dinamo, before a gentle finish alongside the river into the town of Magadalena Contreras.

Route Description

Start	Distance	Elevation Gain	Difficulty	Rating
Parque Ejidal San Nicolas Totolapan	15.9km	440m	Easy	***

This hike begins from the car park at Parque Ejidal de San Nicolas Totolapan. To enter here you must pay a small fee at the ticket booth on the right hand side (taquilla), before following the cobbled road into the park.

Parque Ejidal San Nicolas Entrance

The first few kilometres are mostly gently uphill as the route follows nice dirt trails through the park. This is followed by the most challenging section of the route, ascending up some fairly steep hairpin bends before joining a large trail.

Another short climb then takes you up to the first impressive viewpoint - Mirador Aguajito. This is fairly well signed so is possible to follow even if you don't have a GPS unit.

Aguajito Viewpoint

From the viewpoint there is a nice panorama of the Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, and on a clear day it's possible to see further towards Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl.

From the viewpoint you have to retrace your steps a short distance, before beginning the long descent down towards Los Dinamos.

The descent is mostly on a wide gravel and dirt trail with very little technical difficulty. The surface is generally quite forgiving, making it also a good option for trail running.

Mirador Zazacapa

A slight detour takes you up to the second viewpoint of the day - Mirador Zazacapa. The views from here are not quite so expansive as from Aguajito, but it is still an impressive spot, with panormas across Los Dinamos and Desierto de los Leones National Park, including the peak of Cerro de San Miguel.

From Zazacapa, the wide trail loops gradually downhill as far as a grassy clearing at Ojo de Dios. Here you cross the grass and join a narrower trail, following steps and a steeper path down towards the Segundo Dinamo. On the way you pass the picturesque Sehuaya Waterfall.



Steps heading towards the Sehuaya Waterfall

The waterfall is often roped off, making it difficult to get the perfect view, but it's still a very pleasant route, which leads down to the paved road running up through Los Dinamos.

Follow the road downhill for a few hundred metres, turning off at the Segundo Dinamo. There are plenty of bars and restaurants here if you want to stop for refreshments.

Sehuaya Waterfall

From the Segundo Dinamo the route is very straight forward, following gentle downhill trails all the way to the town of La Magdalena Contreras. There are various parallel routes here, running alongside La Magdalena River, and its a very popular spot with hikers, particularly on the weekends.

Los Dinamos - Magdalena River

Getting to and from the Hike

This hike is primarily designed for users of public transport, although of course it is also possible to reach by car. To get by car, simply drive to the entrance of Parque Ejidal de San Nicolas, there is ample parking here.

To return to the car at the end of the route, it is better to modify the hike and follow the same route back from Zazacapa to the starting point, rather than descent to Los Dinamos.

Public Transport to Parque San Nicolas Totolapan

There are several ways to reach the starting point by public transport, and it kind of depends which side of the city you are arriving from.

Probably the easiest way is to make your way to the Azteca Stadium. To get here you can take the metro to Tasqueña and then the light rail to the Azteca Stadium.

Across the road from the stadium you will find the large Huipulco bus station. From here the number 41 bus goes to San Miguel Ajusco. This will drop you off close to the entrance to the Parque Ejidal de San Nicolas. The bus times are inconsistent, but in my experience it runs quite regularly.

Number 41 bus route

Instead of taking the metro and light train to the Aztec stadium, it is also possible to take the metrobus along Insurgentes. Leave the metrobus at station 'Corregidora'. From the bus stop next to here, you can also take the number 41 in direction of San Miguel Ajusco.

Public Transport from La Magdalena Contreras

Los Dinamos is the simplest of the National Parks around Mexico City to reach by public transport.

From La Magdalena Contreras bus station (situated next to the tourist market and Santa Maria Magdalena church) take the 126 bus to Copilco metro station. This bus runs about every ten minutes and is very straight forward to use. From Copilco you can then take the metro to wherever you are staying.

Nearby Routes