Hiking to Chichinautzin Volcano

This hike is really easy to reach from Mexico City. The departure point is a really small roadside town. From there, you can start many different hikes, but one of my favorites is the one that goes to the top of Chichinautzin.

You can get to this town only by the freeway Mexico-Cuernavaca. Once you're there, take the only street that takes you to the superhighway (running parallel to the freeway) and go through the tunnel to cross it. Take the street to the right and a few yards away you'll see a small trail with trees on both sides.

Take that trail and follow it. You'll be passing by Acopiaxco volcano, another extinct volcano from the zone that never erupted. A trail that takes you to it is on the right side of the trail you're walking now.

If it's a clear day, try to spot the greatest volcanoes in Mexico looking to the East: Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl, the second and third highest points in Mexico, surrounded by Aztec myths and history.

Your trail ends abruptly, but the secrets are just to be found. Keep walking to the South a few yards and by your left hand you'll see a small entrance. It's quite hidden, so you got to be looking for it or you'll miss it. Once you find that entrance, a new small trail is ahead that will lead you to the summit of the volcano. At this point you're in the solid lava flow. Rocks of all sizes surround you, enjoy the view. The trees have grown where rock has permitted, but the trail takes to places where trees can't grow and small plants and cactus have found the way to grow on the rocks.

Once the trail arrives to the base of the Chichinautzin, a thick forest welcomes you with its rewarding shadow. The slanted way up might make you miss the view to the North. Take a minute to enjoy the sounds that surrounds you.

The forest ends near the top, and the trail apparently disappears. But you can see the volcanic crater now, at least the secondary one. Walk to the East and the trail that takes you to the summit is on the right of the slope. You gotta be careful not to mistake the summit for the slope on your left. The real summit has a yellow iron cross, and both craters can be seen, plus three or four antennas behind the two craters. Congratulations, you're in the boarder of Federal District and Morelos state.

As in any other hike in Mexico: Keep a low profile!Not everyone wants to kidnap hikers and many people are there to help, but been unnoted as possible is always a good practice.