Climbing these three peaks is the perfect introduction to high altitude mountaineering and Mexico's great climate makes the experience even better. Our trips to Ecuador are considerably more demanding so our Mexico trip would be a fine prerequisite to climbing Ecuador's higher peaks. However don't underestimate these peaks as we consider anything over 5,000 meters a good physical challenge even when using standard routes..
MOUNTAIN FACT FILE - ORIZABA: 5,636m (19,347´). 200km South East of Mexico City. Grade 3C.
MOUNTAIN PROFILE: El Pico de Orizaba (known as Citlaltépetl which means Star Mountain) is a striking volcano. From the west it towers over the town of Tlachichuca in the form of a beautiful white cone. The glacier starts around 4,900-5,000m and covers the upper aspects of the mountain. Pico de Orizaba is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America after Denali and Mount Logan. Orizaba makes for an excellent first experience at high altitude.
THE ASCENT: From the Piedra Grande hut at 4,200m (13,776 ft) we will climb by will leave at mid night taking the normal route over the Jamapa glacier on the north slopes of the mountain. From the hut the summit is one long day of climbing over rock and scree then up the steep snow slopes of the Jamapa glacier.
MOUNTAIN FACT FILE - IXTACCIHUATL (5,286m, 17,154'). 65km South East of Mexico City. Grade 2C.
MOUNTAIN PROFILE: The mountain has four peaks, the highest of which is 5,230 m (17,159 ft) above sea level. Together, the peaks are seen as depicting the head, chest, knees and feet of a sleeping female figure, which is visible from either the east or the west. Iztaccíhuatl is a mere 70 km (44 mi) to the southeast of Mexico City and is often visible from the capital, depending on atmospheric conditions.
THE ASCENT: There are many routes to climb Ixtaccihuatl but we will be climbing the Arista Del Sol route starting from La Joya at 4,000m. The route will take us two full days, on the first day we will stay at a high campsite or in the Grupo De Los Cien Hut at 4,700m. The second day will see us climb up to the summit of Ixtaccihuatl with smoking 'Popo' volcano as our backdrop. Whilst you can do Ixtaccihuatl in one long day, this two day approach gives you a better chance of summiting. On the first day there will be 3 hours hiking and 7-8 hours on the second day.
MOUNTAIN FACT FILE - La MALINCHE (4,462m, 14,639'). 118km South East of Mexico City. Grade 1A.
MOUNTAIN PROFILE: La Malinche is within Malinche National Park. There is a paved road that goes all the way up to 3100m where you can park and also sleep in the "Centro Vacacional IMSS La Malintzi. They have about forty comfortable cabins, a camping area, shop, restaurant, basketball and soccer fields . The IMSS centre is a lovely base to climb this beautiful acclimatisation peak.
THE ASCENT: From the IMSS cabins you follow a well marked trail uphill and through the forest for two hours. After coming out of the forest the summit peak is clearly visable and is a further hour and a half away. The hiking gets harder at this stage and the last half hour is an easy rock scramble to the summit where you have beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and of Ixtaccihuatl and Orizaba. Dont be fooled by the scenic beauty however as this hike is at altitude with 1,400m of ascent and will take around six hours.
Your itinerary will include a brief description of our trip and an outlinne of your stays and meals provided. We provide breakfasts only with hotel stays as they are normally inn a city and thus it gives you the opportunity to vary your cuisine by not being tied to hotel menus. We can provide full board trips on requests in particular if any person has any special dietary needs.
H=Hotel, R=Refuge, Lo=Lodge, Ha=Hacienda, T=Tents, B/L/D/=Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, PL=Packed Lunch.
Day 1: MEXICO CITY - ARRIVAL DAY (H/D).
Your guides will meet you at the airport and transport you to your three star hotel, conveniently located in the center of the city's historic district. You can spend the remainder of the day sightseeing and begin acclimatising as you will be arriving at an altitude of 2,250m (7,341').
Day 2: MEXICO CITY - VISIT THE PYRAMIDS OF TEOTIHUACAN (H/B/D).
You will be picked up at your hotel and be taken to the famous archaeological site of Teotihuacan where you will see the monumental pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Avenue of the Dead.
Day 3: MEXICO CITY TO LA MALINCHE (Lo/B/D).
Departing at midday we travel to our comfortable mountain cabins at the base of La Malinche, which is at 3,000m (14,636 feet). We will take an acclimatization hike and return to the cabins overnight.
Day 4: LA MALINCHE SUMMIT DAY - 3,000m to 4,400m, 6-7 hours (H/B/PL).
You will hike up through the pine forests and up the bare slopes of La Malinche to the summit. After descending we drive to the historic city of Puebla (World Heritage Site) where we will check into our hotel and you will then be free to sightsee in the city.
Day 5: PUEBLA TO LA JOYA - CAMP 1 - 4,000m (T/B/L/D).
Leaving Puebla City behind, we drive through gorgeous high-elevation terrain to the slopes of Popocatepetl and Izta where we set up a campsite at La Joya, which is at 4,000m (13,024') in order to acclimatise. After setting camp we take an acclimatization hike through the beautiful pine forests that surround the base of Ixta. We also spend time today going over the basics of roped glacier travel, and familiarizing ourselves with crampons and axes.
Day 6: CAMP1 TO HIGH CAMP - 4,000m to 4,700m (T/B/PL/D).
Today we move to a high camp at around 4,700m (15,000'). Our packs will be heavy and the air thin, so we will move slowly, taking lots of time to appreciate the incredible views as we climb out of the forests into the high alpine region of the mountain.
Day 7: SUMMIT DAY (IXTACCIHUATL) - HIGH CAMP to SUMMIT to CAMP 1 - 4,700m to 5,286m to 4,000m - 7-8 hours (H/B/PL/D).
We will wake up around 3am for our summit push. After a quick breakfast and hot drink we begin our climb, up steep moraines to the edge of the glacier. After roping up and putting on crampons, we continue up the glacier, navigating occasional crevasses before the final push to the summit. Here we have incredible views of all of the Mexican highlands. A long descent and quick drive will get us to much deserved showers, beds, and a celebration dinner in Puebla.
Day 8: PUEBLA - REST DAY (H/B)
Our hotel in Puebla is located one block away from the Zocalo (main square) in the heart of the downtown historical district of Puebla and has been on the city map since 1668. The day is free for you to relax and explore the city and the many historic sites.
Day 9: PUEBLA TO ORIZABA - PIEDRA GRANDE HUT (R/B/L/D).
After a relaxing morning and big breakfast, we leave our hotel to Piedra Grande hut (PGH), which sits at 4,267m (14,000') on the flanks of Orizaba. We eat an early dinner, organize our summit packs, and get to bed.
Day 10: SUMMIT DAY (ORIZABA) - PGH to SUMMIT to PGH - 4,267m to 5,636m to 4,267m - 10-12 hours (H/B/L/D).
Today is the day where all of your training at home and the climb of La Malinche and Izta pays off. We wake soon after midnight and begin our climb to Orizaba's summit at 5,636m (18,410'). Moderate glacier climbing takes us around a rock band and over crevassed terrain before reaching the crater rim. From there we climb the ridge of the crater to the true summit. Our view will stretch from all of Mexico's volcanoes on one side to the Gulf of Mexico on the other! We then descend back to the hut and drive to Puebla to celebrate our climb and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 11: PUEBLA TO MEXICO CITY - FREE DAY OR RESERVE SUMMIT DAY (H/B).
Wake early in the morning to drive back to Mexico City.
Day 12: MEXICO CITY - DEPARTURE DAY(B)
You will be taken to the airport for your flight home.
On our trips we include transport to and from the airport on arrival and departure, all transportation or travel in country including any internal domestic flights, all hotel and trekking lodge accommodation, a dedicated AB leader and all in country guides and porters, any park, mountain fees or permits and any sightseeing/tourist entry fees, Breakfasts at all hotel stays will be provided but lunches and dinners will only be provided where indicated. All meals will be provided during the duration of any trek or climb.
All booked activities and the use of any group equipment such as tents, cooking equipment are included but any additional activities booked with our in country providers will be subject to an additional surcharge.
Hotel = 7 nights, Refuge = 1 night, Lodge = 1 night, Lodge, Tents = 1 night.
Breakfast = 11, Lunches = 3, Packed Lunches = 3, Dinners = 8 (25 meals out of a possible 32).