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Pico de Orizaba and Mexican Volcanoes
From £2,745 Altitude 5,636m Grade: 2B
Pico de Orizaba and Mexican Volcanoes
This expedition offers the opportunity to climb the highest volcano in the North America, along with two other volcanoes, in just 11 days! Pico de Orizaba is a Volcanic Seven Summit.
Pico de Orizaba and the Mexican Volcanoes - Malinche, Iztaccihuatl
This expedition to Pico De Orizaba (5636m) offers the opportunity to climb the highest volcano in North America, along with two other Mexican volcanoes; Malinche (4460m) and Iztaccihuatl (5260m). Pico De Orizaba is also one of the Seven Volcanic Summits, the highest volcano on each continent. The ascent of Pico De Orizaba is similar to climbing Mt Elbrus and the ideal climbing months are October through to March.
The climb up Pico de Orizaba starts with an exciting jeep ride that takes us from the Mexico city to our camp at the Piedra Grande Hut perched at 4200m. From our camp we make our way through the mountain’s rocky moraine to join the Glacier de Jamapa Glacier. The route climbs the glacier and snow slopes to Orizaba’s summit, a perfectly formed conical shaped crater with a breath taking panorama.
If you are used to regular multi day hill walking you will have the right level of fitness to fully enjoy your time on this expedition. Previous experience of ice axe and crampons skills is a pre-requisite for this expedition for which you are welcome to join one of our Scottish Winter Skills course or Winter mountaineering. We also recommend that you also have experienced walking at over 4000m.
For those with more time you can extend your stay and explore the diverse cultures of Mexico with visits to the Teotihuacan Pyramids and the beautiful crater lakes of Nevado de Toluca for example.
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Dates & Prices
Availability
* A deposit of £400 will be required at checkout.
Extras
Extras can be added per-person when you book onto a date
| Item | Price | Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaxaca extension - per person | £800 | +2 days |
* A deposit of £200 (or the full extra price, whichever is lower) will be required at checkout for each extra added per-person on this trip
What's Included
- International flights from London (Flight inclusive package)
- A qualified Mexican expedition team leader.
- Permits, charges, importation taxes and levies payable to the Local Authorities in connection with the expedition.
- Food, fuel and cooking equipment whilst on the mountain.
- Hotel and other valley/town accommodation on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
- All tents and other communal equipment necessary for the climb.
- Medical safety equipment and supplies
- All team members will receive a free logoed trip T-Shirt with the name of your Expedition on it.
- 24 hour back up and support from UK staff
- 15% off the RRP on clothing and equipment purchases from Adventure Peaks shop
What's Excluded
- Travel to and from UK airport
- Personal climbing clothes and equipment
- Personal insurance, visas, departure tax and inoculations
- Drinks and hotel or guest house meals, unless specified
- Personal medical supplies
- Personal use of communication equipment
- Excess baggage
- Tips for local guides.
- Pyramid entry fees.
- Costs associated with an expedition finishing early
- Costs associated with you leaving an expedition early
- Costs associated with extending a trip due to bad weather or other circumstances
Itinerary
Day 1 | Fly to Mexico City. You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. It’s a good idea to take it easy for the rest of the evening and drink plenty of fluids to aid acclimatisation to the 2200 metre altitude. |
Day 2 | From Mexico City it is a one hour drive to the beautiful colonial town of Tlaxcala where we will have lunch and do some sightseeing. Later that afternoon we will travel for one more hour to Malinche, were we will spend the night in cabins at 3070 metres. Time permitting we will go for an acclimatisation walk in the afternoon. In the evening there will be a briefing with your mountain guide who will check your equipment and go over the plans for the next few days. |
Day 3 | We wake up around 6 am for the ascent of La Malinche. The initial slopes are easy angled through pine forest, before emerging into the open at 3800m as the angle steepens. There is a fair amount of loose ground and boulders to cross as one gets nearer to the summit, from where we are rewarded with great views of Popocatepetl & Iztaccihuatl to the west and Orizaba to the east. The descent back down to the cabins takes about 3 hours. We spend a second night in the cabins. 7 to 8 hours walking |
Day 4 | After breakfast we drive for about two hours to Cholula Pyramid and then later on to Iztaccihuatl base camp 3800m. |
Day 5 | Today we climb and acclimatise to 4500 meters and return to the hut. 5 hours walking |
Day 6 | Today we make our ascent of Iztaccihuatl 5260m. Leaving early we climb our way up the “Sleeping Lady” as it is known, starting at the feet, then knees and finally to the summit at the chest, a big day with 5km over 5000m, which will provide us with excellent acclimatisation for Pico de Orizaba. 10 to 12 hours walking. |
Day 7 | After a restful night in our hotel in Puebla we transfer to Zoapan for lunch before driving by 4x4 up to the Piedra Grande Refuge at 4250m. |
Day 8 | We set off at around 1 am for our ascent. Once we reach the glacier we will be rope up as we progress across the snowfields that lead up to the crater rim. It can take about 6 to 8 hours to reach the summit of Pico de Orizaba (5636m). After some time to enjoy the panorama we descend to Piedra Grande Hut (approx. 5 hours). We then travel back to Zoapan where we can relax in the comforts of a hotel and celebrate over dinner. 8 - 12 hours walking |
Day 9 | Spare weather day or time in Zoapan. |
Day 10 | After breakfast in Zoapan we transfer to México City international airport to catch our overnight flight home. Alternatively you may like to stay on a bit longer on in Mexico and enjoy one of our extensions. |
Day 11 | Arrive back home. |
Insurance
It is essential for a trip of this type that you are adequately insured. When researching insurance options, please ensure the policy covers you for the following:
- Cancellation or curtailment
- Helicopter rescue (most insurance companies will no longer cover for ‘search and rescue’ but providing you stay with the group, they will assist with ‘rescue’)
- Repatriation
- The altitude that you are expected to attain
- The location especially when travelling to Antarctica
- Grade of trek/climb/expedition
- Medical cover
Adventure Peaks partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading travel protection services. Medical and security emergencies happen. When they do, we rely on Global Rescue to provide our clients with medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services. Without a membership, an emergency evacuation could cost over $100,000. More than one million members trust Global Rescue to get them home safely when the unexpected happens. We highly recommend our clients enroll with Global Rescue, in particular for peaks over 7000m:
https://partner.globalrescue.com/adventurepeaks/
We are aware the following provide insurance:
For UK based clients:
Expeditions and Treks under 7000m - Campbell Irvine Direct : http://www.campbellirvine.com/AdventurePeaks
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK) www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
Rothwell & Towler: www.world-first.co.uk Tel: 0345 908 0161 (under 6400m)
J S Insurance: www.jsinsurance.co.uk Tel: 0844 848 1500
Snowcard: www.snowcard.co.uk Tel: 01295 660836
The B.M.C.: www.thebmc.co.uk Tel: 0161 445 6111 (call and speak to Jim. Please note the BMC cannot cover Mt Damavand)
Dogtag: www.dogtag.co.uk Tel: 0800 036 4824 (Check excess etc)
For non-UK based clients:
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK): www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
AXA Worldwide Travel Ins: www.axainsurance.com Tel: +44 (0)844 874 0360
Ingle International: www.ingleinternational.com Tel: (USA) 1.800.360.3234
Insure for Less: www.insure4less.com.au (Australian clients)
You do not have to use any of the above, but if you make your own insurance arrangements documentary evidence of your own policy is required.
Please forward the details of your Insurance as soon as you have it: we need the insurance company’s name, their 24 hour emergency telephone number and your insurance policy number – admin@adventurepeaks.com
Reviews
A great 10 days climbing in Mexico mixed with site-seeing at some truly historical locations. Terrific in country team (OMG are a well run mountaineering team) and a superb guide. The weather was perfect which made it all the more special. I would very much recommend this trip.
Great adventure programme. Mexico Volcanoes itinerary was great, with good acclimatisation schedule and opportunity to climb three volcanoes. One recommendation to the itinerary could be possible inclusion of going for Lucha Libre (local wrestling) - it was one of the highlights!
Fantastic support and organisation as always
Another great expedition led by Adventure Peaks. The trip included cultural highlights with visit to the celebrated pyramids of the Sun and Moon followed by short visit to the town of Tlachichuca. It facilitated preconditioning on an ascent of Malinche. The expedition provided continued acclimatization on Pico de Orizaba which ultimately enabled a successful summit from the Piedra Grande Hut up Glacier de Jamapa to crater rim. The trip was capped by a celebratory dinner in Serdan. In summary - superb planning, flawless logistics, and amiable, competent guiding. John S
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