Nevado de Toluca National Park. What should you know to visit it?

In this post “Nevado de Toluca National Park. What should you know to visit it?“, we offer you details of one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Mexico.

As we have already mentioned on several occasions, Mexico is a privileged country since nature has given it incredibly beautiful places, places that you have to visit.

That’s right, we invite you to dare to tour Mexico and discover places you can’t even imagine, even if it’s not something you would choose, go on the adventure of living new experiences and discover the magic of being in contact with nature.

10 Magical Towns, the Zoquiapan National Park with volcanoes such as Popocatépetl and Ixtaccihuatl, the incredible rock formations of the Grutas de la Estrella, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Valle de Bravo, the Pyramids of Teotihuacán, the fireflies in the Ecotourism Park Dos Aguas, are part of the great list of attractions of the State of Mexico.

And of course, you cannot miss the Nevado de Toluca National Park…

Nevado de Toluca National Park

The Xinantécatl, name in Nahuatl of the Nevado, is the fourth highest volcano in the country with 4,680 meters above sea level and an area of ​​53,589 hectares; It is located 3 hours from Mexico City and 1 hour 45 minutes from Toluca de Lerdo, in the State of Mexico.

The place receives its recognition as a National Park on January 25, 1936, but in 2013 it changes its category to a Flora and Fauna Protection Area; It includes the Xinantécatl Volcano and its crater, the Laguna del Sol and Laguna de la Luna, the Pico del Águila, the Pico del Fraile, Cerro Prieto, Cerro El Calvario and Cerro El Faro.

You appreciate the richness of the area in its variety of ecosystems; You will find oak, fir and pine forests, high mountain meadows and pastures, 61 permanent streams, places where more than a thousand species live, some at risk, and much more.

How to get there and how much does the Nevado de Toluca National Park cost?

On your journey to the Nevado de Toluca National Park, you must reach the Raíces town, about 45 minutes from Toluca and from there you will have safe access to the crater; you follow the road about 18 km to the Parque de los Venados. The cost of access is 54 pesos and they put a bracelet on you.

Once there you have the option of leaving your car and walking up, there are two paths, a long one without so much slope and another short but heavier due to its slope.

The other alternative is to go up part of the way in some “taxi” vans, which for about 50 pesos one way and another 50 return, make the journey less exhausting.

Similarly, to get to see the crater and the lagoons, you must walk up the last slope.

On weekends there is no access to vehicles to the Parque de los Venados, so you must pay about 50 pesos for transportation.

The journey is quite tiring, but every step of your journey will be worth it, the beauty of the place promises to dazzle you!

When does the Nevado de Toluca National Park open?

The Nevado de Toluca National Park opens this 2022 from Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Deer Park already receives people from 7 a.m. The allowed capacity is 700 people for the crater area as indicated by Conanp here.

A detail that you should consider is the time in which you visit it and what is the route you are going to take, this is because it will depend on whether you can enjoy what you have in mind.

Such a warning is because, for example, if it is snowy season, it is very likely that they will not let people up to the area near the crater, nor private vehicles, nor the local “taxi” trucks.

This security measure can be extended to get to see the Lagunas del Sol y Luna, limiting the access of visitors who will only be able to see the natural beauty of the surroundings.

What can be done in the Nevado de Toluca?

Visiting this beautiful attraction can be enjoyed in many ways, there are alternatives to get to know it and enjoy it depending on what you want to experience.

One of the options is to take the route as we mentioned before, walk up or take a “taxi” until you reach the access that takes you to the crater and the lagoons.

Activities such as hiking to admire the diversity of its flora and fauna, are the most beautiful things you can enjoy and even more so if they are your first mountain hikes.

For the experienced, there are options such as mountain climbing, mountain biking, deep diving in the crater lagoons, among other practices that require trained personnel and permission to do so.

Another very good proposal is to climb the Pico del Águila, the second highest in the Nevado, it is an activity that takes about 5 hours and gives you impressive views of the whole place.

In the National Park there are also places to spend the day with the family, sites with camping facilities, a glamping alternative, as well as entertaining activities such as horseback riding, ATVs, etc.

What is needed to go to Xinantécatl?

Although the Nevado de Toluca National Park is visited by all kinds of people, it is good to consider that the experience of reaching the crater requires a certain physical condition and to be prepared to climb a high-altitude mountain.

It is not a tour recommended for children under 10 years of age, nor for older adults or people in wheelchairs, since in addition to difficulties in ascent, the height can cause discomfort such as dizziness, pressure, vomiting, etc.

It is also good to take adequate security measures if you go in a group, avoiding leaving the marked areas and trails to avoid getting lost, although it is valid to know that there are park rangers who make tours to protect security.

On the other hand, in the Nevado the average temperature ranges from -2 to 12 degrees Celsius; You will need warm clothes, windbreakers and comfortable shoes (never new), a water poncho if the weather warrants it and a bottle of water plus a healthy snack that replenishes energy, they are also highly recommended.

Added to this, hiring the services of a guide will always be a very good option.

And it is worth remembering that if you are one of the people who cannot climb the crater, do not be discouraged, in the surroundings there are many activities and places to enjoy and spend an incredible day.