Iztaccihuatl

Hiking

Depart Mexico City and spend the day touring the Izta-Popo National Park. Following pickup from either of the 2 meeting points in the city, head to the foothills of Popocatépetl to start your hike up Iztaccíhuatl from the base of the dormant volcanic mountain. Take in the beautiful scenery and fresh air as you walk in a small group. Your own skill level will determine how high the hike will go, so you won't feel strained beyond your abilities. Popocatépetl is Mexico’s 2nd highest peak and part of the tour offers splendid views of the valley and village of Amecameca below. Marvel at the 3,700-meter high mountain of La Joya in the famous Paso de Cortés, named after the Spanish conquistadors who crossed it on their way to Mexico-Tenochtitlan in 1519.  Descend the mountain for a light lunch in the foothills to replenish your energy. Then, commence the return trip to Mexico City and reflect on the tranquility of the mountain and the miraculous wonder of nature.

Get ready for your climb and discover the beautiful countryside that surrounds this emblematic volcanic mountain. Arrive at the first pass and see the other side of the mountain, giving you magnificent views of the volcano Popocatepetl. Continue climbing to a scree slope and arrive at the third pass, passing again to the other side of the mountain where you will be able to see the city of Puebla and the impressive Pico de Orizaba, the highest point in Mexico.  Continue on the last climb to be able to reach our destination, the 100 Hut at 4,720 meters above sea level.

After pickup from your accommodation in Puebla, head out towards Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park. After 2 hours, you’ll arrive at La Joyita, where you’ll register with officials and gain a better understanding of the route via a scale model of the volcanoes. From there, you’ll continue driving to La Joya, 13,133 feet above sea level, and the main parking area for volcanic exploration. Begin your hike, climbing to the first scenic viewpoint at 13,914 feet above sea level. Gaze out across the breathtaking vista before climbing even higher, to 14,340 feet, where you’ll pause again, finally ending your hike at an unbelievable 14,842 feet above sea level. Break for lunch, taking in the otherworldly views. Afterwards, you’ll descend back to the parking lots, before heading back to your accommodation.

On the first day of your tour, you will leave Mexico City for the Paso de Cortes. Once having arrived, you will register before proceeding to the Altzomoni Hut. You will then go for an acclimatization walk to the first pass on the mountain, before returning to the hut to eat dinner and to get an early night's rest. You will wake early on the second day, with departure for the summit scheduled for approximately 2:00AM. After 10 hours of hiking, you will be expected to arrive to the peak (5,220 meters) at around midday. Once at the peak, you will be granted with a break to enjoy the views before returning to the hut and being transported back to Amecameca for a highly-deserved hot meal.