Orizaba & Izta_9-day

Day One: Arrival in Mexico City. We spend the night on our comfortable hotel near the Zocolo in the heart of the cities historic district. Everyone is responsible for their own airport transfers, which is very easy (see our Mexico City travel page). If you arrive early enough there is much to see within walking distance of the hotel such as the National Cathedral and the presidential palace and the famous Diego Rivera murals. For those arriving before dinner time, you will meet your guides for dinner this evening

Day Two: We will have a breakfast meeting at the hotel, meet our local driver, and leave Mexico City by private van transportation for Izztacihuatl. On the way, we may visit the famous pyrmids of Teotihuacan and the Pyramide del Sol, the world's 3rd largest pyramid (depedning on traffic conditions). Late in the afternoon we arrive at a fun "trout resort" at 11,000 ft on the slopes of Iztacihuatl to begin our acclimating. The resort has a trout pond and on-site trout hatchery and the good restaurant serves very fresh trout and other Mexican specialties. We stay in comfortable rustic cabins alonside a rushing creek.

Day Three: Today we move higher up the mountain to overnight at the Altzomoni climbers lodge (13,000 ft). with . Along the way, we go for an acclimating hike on the lower slopes of Izta. Altzomoni lodge provides basic accomodations with bunk beds and spectacular views of the smoking volcano Popocateptl just across the way.
(Dinner)

Day Four: We take an acclimating day hike up to around 14,500 ft on the slopes of Izta and then rest up for our summit attempt. We overnight back at the Altzomoni lodge
(Breakfast, Dinner)

Day Five: Izta summit day. The climb is a long one, but with no real difficult sections. After a very early alpine start we hike on trail, then off-trail and then just a little scrambling. We then begin a long easy ridge traverse and cross the relatively flat Ayoloco glacier on the way to the summit. We may or may not need crampons, depending on conditions. All the while, the views of smoking Popo are staggering. On clear days we also have distant views of Orizaba, Nevado de Toluca, La Malinche and Mexico City. After we descend we drive down to the historic town of Cholula or Puebla to overnight and enjoy a fine dinner.
(Breakfast)

Day Six: A day off to explore Cholula, site of the worlds largest pyramid (at it's base) and neighboring Puebla with it's fascinating archetecture. Usually we go out to a good restaurant in Puebla this night. Puebla is home to "Poblano" cuisine which is some of Mexico's finest such as the famous Mole Poblano. There's also many markets to explore.

Day Seven: Morning drive to the small farming town of Tlachichuca at the base of Orizaba and an exiting four wheel drive trip to our base camp at the Piedra Grande hut (14,000 ft) on the flanks of Orizaba. On the way we make a brief visit of the highest village (at around 11,400 ft) in North America. The afternoon is spent resting and acclimating. We may set up our own camp (the hut can be noisy) utilizing tents while using the hut for meals and socializing. (Dinner)

Day Eight: Our acclimating complete and all rested up, we awake for another very early for our Orizaba summit attempt. The climb involves steep (up to 40 deg), but crevasse-free glacier travel with ice axe and crampons. At the top of North America's third highest peak we are rewarded with spectacular views of central Mexico. A strenuous, but very rewarding climb! We then descend all the way back to Tlachichuca and then drive back to Cholula or Puebla for a well-deserved dinner and rest. (Breakfast)

Day Nine: Travel back to Mexico City airport for aftertnoon flights home. We will drop you off at the terminal at the airport or in central Mexico City if you plan to stay longer. Please don't schedule any flights before 1pm.

Itinerary subject to change