Hiking near Mexico City: day hikes within easy reach

You don't have to leave before dawn for another state just to walk. Within two and a half hours of Mexico City there is a pyramid on a cliff, pine-ringed lakes and a viewpoint between the two volcanoes. This guide collects six one-day plans, from the shortest to the longest. Guided outings already on the listings appear below.

None of these is an expedition. Do start early, carry water, and turn around if the sky goes dark: in the rainy season the trails get slick by mid-afternoon.

Short walks: under an hour up

Sacromonte, Amecameca: 1 h 15

The Sacromonte hill is the most rewarding short walk on this list. A cobbled path passes chapels on the way up, and from the top the Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl sit straight ahead. The market is at the bottom, for lunch before you head back. If you have a car and the day is clear, continue to Paso de Cortés.

Desierto de los Leones, inside the city

The Carmelite convent at Desierto de los Leones sits in a forest on the west side of the city. The paths around the convent are an easy walk among oyamel firs. It is the weekday plan, when the towns are quiet and so is the park. On Sundays the parking lot fills from mid-morning.

Malinalco archaeological site: 2 h 10

In Malinalco the walk is short and steep: from town up to the archaeological site, a Mexica temple carved into the rock of the hill. The climb takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The town, with its Augustinian convent, is worth staying to eat in. This is not a long trail. It is a climb with a payoff.

Half-day hikes

Tepozteco, Tepoztlán: 1 h 30

The Tepozteco pyramid sits on a cliff above Tepoztlán. The trail leaves from town, it is steep, and in places you use your hands. The way up takes about an hour at a steady pace. The way down is harder on the knees.

Check that the trail is open before you leave. Carry water: there is little at the top. The market and the ice cream are for afterwards, not before.

Lagunas de Zempoala: about 1 h 45

The park is in the municipality of Huitzilac, up from Tres Marías on the highway to Cuernavaca. Several lakes sit in pine and oyamel forest, above 2,800 meters, so it is cold even when the city is hot. You can walk the shore or take a longer loop between the lakes. Weekdays are much quieter than Sundays.

Paso de Cortés, between the two volcanoes

From Amecameca a road climbs to Paso de Cortés, the pass between Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. It is a high viewpoint, not a summit: Popocatépetl is closed because it is active, and Iztaccíhuatl is not a day trip. Bring a jacket. If the volcano is exhaling, the road can close; ask in Amecameca before you drive up.

On the Puebla side, San Nicolás de los Ranchos is the other gate to the volcano's slopes, quieter and with fewer services.

In Tlalmanalco, on the way to Amecameca, the 16th-century open chapel is a short stop if you want to get out of the car before continuing toward the volcanoes.

Before you leave

• Leave before 8:00. Tepozteco, Zempoala and Desierto de los Leones fill up on Sunday mornings.
• Don't start a climb in a storm. Rain arrives fast on these hills and the rock turns slick.
• Altitude is real. Zempoala and Paso de Cortés are above 2,800 meters. If your head hurts, go down.
• Bring cash for tickets, parking and food.

If you'd rather get in the water, see hot springs near Mexico City. For a meal in the same towns, see what to eat near Mexico City.