$2,695
February 29 – March 6, 2020
Lead Guide: Terray Sylvester
November 27 – December 3, 2020
Lead Guide: Alfredo Chavez Villa
January 16 – January 22, 2021
Lead Guide: Terray Sylvester
February 27 – March 5, 2021
Lead Guide: Terray Sylvester
7 days in Mexico
Grade: Beginner
Summit Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba, the third-highest peak in North America. This trip is a great introduction to high altitude mountaineering and includes breathtaking views of the Mexican high country.
Our Orizaba Express climb first acclimatizes on La Malinche, Mexico’s sixth-highest peak (also known as Matlalcueye) which stands at 4,461 meters or 14,636 feet high and is located near the colonial city of Tlaxcala. The mountain’s position offers amazing views of Iztaccihuatl, Popocatepetl and Pico de Orizaba. On our way, we visit the Teotihuacan pyramids and the city of Tlaxcala. We overnight at the historic Hacienda Soltepec near the base of Malinche, offering fine dining and comfortable accommodations. After summiting La Malinche we head to Pico de Orizaba, locally known as Citlaltepetl and continue our acclimation and ascent of North America’s third highest peak. From Tlachichuca (Zoapan) we travel by 4×4 jeep up the mountain to the Piedra Grande Hut at 14,010 feet. Our express climb often uses a high camp at 15,200 feet to shorten summit day. After an alpine start, our guide leads the group by headlamp through the Labyrinth to the toe of the Jamapa Glacier above 16,000 feet. We rope up and ascend 35-degree slopes to Orizaba’s final summit crater at 18,491 feet / 5,396 meters.
Combine our Orizaba Express and Iztaccihuatl Express climbs and summit four of Mexico’s highest volcanoes (15 days in Mexico).
The ascent of Pico de Orizaba is considered non-technical. Although not required, some previous experience at altitude is beneficial. You will need basic mountaineering skills, including strength, endurance, and good physical conditioning to be successful on North America’s third highest summit. Mountain Gurus offers two distinct itineraries depending on your goals and time commitment.
Our seven-day Orizaba Express itinerary first acclimatizes on La Malinche, a non-technical high altitude hike and then heads straight to Pico de Orizaba for the final acclimatization hike and summit ascent. The alternate nine-day Mexico Volcanoes climb allows more time for acclimatization and recovery between climbing Mexico’s two most prominent mountaineering peaks: Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba.
As with any popular high altitude peak, there are many guide services to choose from, but summiting can be largely dependent on the experience of your guides. Our team of professional guides has years of experience in the mountains, as well as numerous summits of Pico de Orizaba. We routinely have 100% success on Mexico’s highest volcanoes.
Day 1 • Arrive Mexico City
Day 2 • Teotihuacan • Tlaxcala • Soltepec
Day 3 • Summit La Malinche • 14,636 ft
Day 4 • Zoapan • Base Camp • 14,010 ft
Day 5 • High Camp • Orizaba • 15,200 ft
Day 6 • Summit Pico de Orizaba • 18,490 ft
Day 7 • Depart Mexico City
Expedition begins and ends in Mexico City, Mexico
Arrive Mexico City International Airport, Mexico (MEX). Transfer from airport to hotel. We stay in the popular Zona Rosa district near the Plaza de la Reforma.
Accommodations: Hotel in Mexico City
After breakfast we drive east towards La Malinche. On the way we tour the Teotihuacan pyramids as well as the beautiful colonial town of Tlaxcala where we enjoy lunch. We spend the night at the historic Hacienda Soltepec near the base of Malinche.
Accommodations: Hacienda Soltepec
Meals Included: Welcome Dinner (D)
We wake early for our ascent of La Malinche. After reaching the summit we’ll descend the mountain and return to the Hacienda Soltepec where we spend the night.
Vertical Ascent Trekking: 4,500 feet
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours roundtrip
Accommodations: Hacienda Soltepec
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (B, L)
We eat breakfast, organize our gear and then take a four-wheel drive shuttle up the mountain to Piedra Grande Refuge.
Accommodations: Mountainside Refuge at Piedra Grande
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)
Today we climb to the base of the Labyrinth for acclimatization. We return to Piedra Grande Refuge and prepare for an early alpine start. We will review climbing techniques, including ice axe and crampon skills and roped glacier travel. Overnight at the refuge.
Vertical Ascent Trekking: 800 feet
Trekking Time: 2-3 hours roundtrip
Accommodations: Mountainside Refuge at Piedra Grande
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)
If the group is acclimatizing well, we have the option to set up a high camp on Pico de Orizaba at approximately 15,000 feet. High camp requires pre-planning because we will use tents and other group equipment. Porters can be hired at additional cost.
The climb takes 9 to 12 hours round trip. After descending the mountain we meet the 4×4 shuttle at Piedra Grande Refuge and return to Zoapan. After dinner we return to Mexico City in late evening.
Vertical Ascent Climbing: 4,500 feet
Climbing Time: 9-12 hours roundtrip
Accommodations: Hotel in Mexico City
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)
Transport to Mexico City International Airport for flights home.
Itinerary Notes
Mountain Gurus makes every effort to uphold the scheduled itinerary, although our guides are given discretion to adapt the itinerary for reasons beyond our control or due to the needs of the group. Meal schedule: (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner
$2,695
Rates are quoted based on double/twin sharing hotel accommodations while in Mexico City and Tlaxcala. Single room fees apply.
A complete clothing and equipment list specific to your trip will be sent to you in the PreClimb information upon reservation.
Note: Please read our Mountaineering Boot and Crampon guide for more information.
Program Location:
Begins and ends in Mexico City, Mexico
Visa/Entry Information:
A valid passport is required for American citizens to enter Mexico. American citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to 30 days for tourism.
Health & Immunizations:
Immunizations are not required for entry into Mexico
Flight Travel Information:
Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Mexico
International Departures:
Itineraries reflect the date and time you will need to arrive in country for a program. Mountain Gurus programs begin and end in-country in the destination city. When booking your flight, you will need to account for travel time and crossing the international dateline if needed. It is easiest to give your booking agent the day and time you will need to arrive.
Meals and Food:
All meals are provided as per meal schedule. See itinerary.
Gear:
A complete clothing and equipment list specific to your program will be sent to you in a pre-departure information packet upon booking. For your safety and comfort, it is extremely important that you adhere strictly to the equipment list.
Climbing Grade: Beginner
While summitting La Malinche and Pico de Orizaba we will be breathing heavily, moving slowly, and carrying 25-pound summit packs. You must be in top physical and mental condition to succeed on this climb.
Before the expedition we recommend that you climb a Cascade volcano to master the skills essential for reaching the summit.
Here’s a suggested progression of climbs before attempting Pico de Orizaba.
Note: Additional porter services are available to high camp on Pico de Orizaba. However this cost is not included in the price of the trip. Please contact us for pricing.
If the group is feeling healthy and well acclimatized, our expedition offers the option of spending one night at high camp on Pico de Orizaba. This option allows for a shorter summit day, lessening the distance team members must climb during the night. The hike to high camp, which is situated at the base of the Labyrinth at approximately 15,000 feet, takes several hours, ascending more than 1,000 feet over the course of several miles. Team members will be required to carry their personal equipment in packs weighing 35 lbs. or more. Once there, we must sleep in mountaineering tents and use high altitude cooking equipment, which will be carried by porters. The additional cost for round-trip porter service to high camp and the use of mountaineering tents is approx. $100-$150 per team member. Depending on snow conditions, additional porters are often needed to carry drinking water to high camp, increasing the cost. This option requires pre-planning and is dependent on porter availability.
We stay in a variety of accommodations during the expedition, including hotels in Mexico City, an excellent hacienda in Tlaxcala, a climbers’ refuge high on Orizaba, and high-quality mountaineering tents if we choose to spend one night in high camp during the ascent. All accommodations are double occupancy. Single-occupancy hotel rooms are available by request.
