Mexican Volcanoes

Overview

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Climb three volcanoes in Mexico, including Orizaba - the highest volcano in North America

Introduction

This expedition is a fine introduction to mountaineering at higher altitudes for those with limited time. In just over two weeks, you climb three major summits and explore some of the interesting culture of Mexico. If you are looking for a 'first' expedition, or a superb mountaineering holiday, this could be it. The climbing is Scottish Grade 1, so you need to have completed Grade 1 scrambles and have some crampon and ice axe experience.

The trip begins with a visit to the Teotihuacan Pyramids, before an acclimatisation hike around the crater lakes to the summit of Nevado de Toluca (4,680m). You then drive to a camp below Iztaccihuatl (or "Izta" as it is known), located 50 miles southeast of Mexico City. At 5,220m this extinct volcano is Mexico's third highest mountain. After your ascent of Izta, you visit Puebla, before arriving at Orizaba (5,610m). Orizaba is the highest peak in Mexico and the highest volcano in North America. It is a perfectly conical shaped volcano dripping with glaciers. To round off your trip you spend a day sight seeing in Mexico City.

Join us on Mexico's Volcanoes

• Ascents of 3 major volcanoes, including the highest in Mexico and North America, Orizaba (5,610m).
• Trip dates dovetail with the Mexican Grand Prix and normally some of the 'Day of the Dead' celebrations.
• English-speaking Mexican climbing guides who have guided on Jagged Globe expeditions for many years.

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Experience Required

The Mexican Volcanoes trip is suitable for those with crampon and ice axe experience, such as that gained on an Introductory Winter Mountaineering course or Introductory Alpine course. If you have completed a previous strenuous treks such as the Western Breach route on Kilimanjaro, this is a good first experience of glaciated terrain on higher peaks. The ascent of Orizaba is typically a 12-hour round trip.

To have a good chance of success on the volcanoes, you need:

• Experience of mountaineering in Scotland in winter on routes of grade I or equivalent.
• To have a good level of health, fitness and determination.

Our Scottish Winter Courses and our Alpine Courses provide good skills preparation for this expedition.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	With Flight	or Meeting in	Availability
Sat 10 Oct – Sat 24 Oct 2026	UK	Mexico City	Available Book now »
Expedition Leader Hector Ponce De Leon 2 more required	£4,395	£3,195
Sat 9 Oct – Sat 23 Oct 2027	UK	Mexico City	Available Book now »
	£4,195	£3,195

This expedition is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
Click to Change currency for prices on this site.

Group size: 3 – 12 people.

Single room supplement: £500

For comparison, this expedition starts from £213 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

With Flight pricing

Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Mexico on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless joining in-country.)
• UK Air Passenger Duty (excluded if joining land-only and you make your own international flight arrangements).
• 2 group road transfers between Airport and hotel, connecting with flights (excluded if joining land-only).
• 3 nights’ hotel accommodation (3 star) in Mexico City, on a twin-sharing, bed and breakfast basis.
• 1 nights' hacienda accommodation on a twin sharing, full-board basis.
• 1 nights' hotel accommodation in Metepec on a twin sharing, full-board basis.
• 3 nights' hotel accommodation in Puebla on a twin sharing, full-board basis.
• 2 nights' hostal accommodation on a twin sharing, full-board basis.
• 2 - 3 nights' mountain hut accommodation on a full board basis.
• 1 - 2 nights' accommodation in tents on a full-board basis.
• All road transport by private vehicles as described in the itinerary.
• All park entrance fees.
• All porterage costs of group equipment.
• All costs for guides and local helpers.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Extraneous hotel bills (e.g. bar and laundry).
• Lunch and evening meals in Mexico City.
• Additional hotel nights, if the programme is changed.
• Optional porterage of personal equipment to high camps.
• Travel insurance.
• Optional trips.
• Tips.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1:	Fly to Mexico City Overnight hotel.
Day 2:	Visit Teotihuacán Drive 50km to Teotihuacán, the site of many of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids. A full day of sightseeing, before you return to Mexico City for the night. Overnight hotel.
Day 3:	San Miguel (3,800m) San Miguel is located in a beautiful state park just outside of Mexico City. Overnight hacienda.
Day 4-5:	Nevado de Toluca Drive in 4-wheel drive vehicles 110km to Nevado de Toluca. The volcano has a crater with two lagoons. Mexico's fourth highest mountain is an excellent peak to acclimatise on, the traverse of its crater is similar in character to the Snowdon Horseshoe and involves rocky scrambling. You will climb Pico del Fraile (4,680m)
Day 6:	Travel to Iztaccihuatl From Toluca you travel to a hacienda at the base of Izta. Overnight hacienda.
Day 7:	High camp on Izta (4,400m) Drive to La Joya and walk to high camp (4 hours). Camping.
Day 8:	Ascent of Izta (5,220m) The route follows scree, then crosses an ice field, which is normally fixed with a rope. Beyond the icefield crampons are removed for the walk to the summit. Views of Popcatepetl and Friar's Peak. Descend and drive to Puebla. A 10-12 hour round trip and 2-hour drive. Overnight hotel.
Day 9:	Rest day in Puebla Puebla is en route to Orizaba and has a beautiful city centre which is perfect for relaxing in cafes, looking around museums and churches and visiting a good bar in the evening. Your hotel for the night is centrally located and serves excellent food.
Day 10:	Drive to Oso’s hostel below Orizaba (3,700m) You travel approximately by road for 4 – 5 hours to a nice hostel below Orizaba. It’s possible to travel all the way to the mountain and walk up to the hut at 4,230m today.
Day 11:	High camp on Orizaba (4,600m) There are two choices of high camp, at either 4,600m or 4,900m. Camping.
Day 12:	Ascent of Orizaba (5,610m) A pre-dawn start is needed to reach the summit. The route follows the Glacier de Jamapa. The angle of the snow gradually steepens from very gentle, up to about 40° before reaching the summit and conditions can be quite icy. Views across the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the central plateau to the west. A 10-12 hour round trip. Overnight motel.
Day 13:	Return drive to Mexico City Overnight hotel.
Day 14 - 15:	Fly home

PLEASE NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The expedition Leader and our local agent will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going nature will be an asset!

Photos & Videos

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• Summit of Orizaba
• Drone footage of Nevado de Toluca
• Drone footage of Izta

Reports & Reviews

First Expedition: Nov 2004
Total: 10 trips

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• “Excellent trip with a good variety of climbing, culture and relaxation.” PW, Mexican Volcanoes Nov '15
• “As described in the literature, it was a perfect introduction to High Altitude climbing.” MP, Mexican Volcanoes - Nov '14

Leader Reports

• Mexican Volcanoes 2019 - 100% success on all four volcanoes
  “The first gathering of the 6-membered team was over breakfast in Mexico City. An all-male team that had a few mountains under their belts. One could say it was a mature team but this wasn’t so evident with...”
  report added 28/Oct/19
• Mexican Volcanoes - October 2018
  “Mexico provided us with a terrific two week expedition. All members summited both peaks of Nevado de Toluca (4620m and 4680m) and Izta (5220m); Ian and David also climbed Pico Orizaba (5610m). Mexico is not always at...”
  report added 09/Nov/18
• Mexican Volcanoes 2017
  “100% success in Mexico! All 10 climbers reached the summits of all 3 mountains during the 2 week trip.Mexico's four highest peaks are all volcanoes and all lie close to Mexico City. The second highest Popocatepetl (5452m) is...”
  report added 27/Oct/17
• Mexican Volcanoes - November '15
  “Success in Mexico! After leaving a wet and windy UK a happy team met at the Hotel Maria Cristina, in Mexico City. After journeys of varying lengths to Mexico we enjoyed a morning of site seeing at Teotuhuacan...”
  report added 25/Nov/15
• Mexican Volcanoes - 19 Dec - 3 Jan '09
  “What a great trip! A beautiful country, amazing landscape, delicious food, inspiring mountains and very friendly people! Although it was wintertime in Mexico, for us it meant shorts and tee shirt weather! We started with an initial...”
  report added 12/Jan/09
• 2 more reports »

• Mexican Volcanoes - 15 Nov to 1 Dec '07
  “From the halls of Moctezuma to the slopes of Orizaba, enough food to sink a battle ship and all topped off with a large dollop of pre-hispanic history and culture, the Jagged Globe Mexico Volcanoes expedition was a great success...”
  report added 20/Dec/07
• Mexican Volcanoes 3 - 18 Nov '06
  “Within this cosmopolitan bunch we had representations from England, Scotland, United States, Germany, Denmark and Yorkshire, a common enough occurrence on Jagged Globe expeditions, indeed one of the reasons they are interesting to...”
  report added 29/Jan/07