Mexico

 

High Altitude, South Of The Border

 

 

Ah, Mexico ... you won't find a toilet seat in the entire country (yeah, boggles our minds too), but every day is a fiesta, with fireworks, mariachi bands, and men throwing bags of candy at little kids. It's also a place where hot water is a luxury, and the toilet paper rolls are half the size of those anywhere else.

Then there are the volcanoes. The Volcanoes of Mexico provide an inexpensive primer into the world of expedition climbing in a foreign country, and have long been considered the first step on the road to climbing the higher peaks of South America and Asia. Don’t be misled, however: these big mountains are demanding high altitude climbs in extreme cold temperatures, and they will smite you mightily if you take them lightly.

Citlaltepetl and Iztaccihuatl are the third and seventh highest mountains on the North American continent.

Citlaltepetl is also known as El Pico de Orizaba (Mountain of the Star); it is a beautiful sight, dominating the western panorama from the town of Tlachichuca. Citlaltepetl is an extinct, conical volcano with glaciers covering its upper reaches. It is the highest mountain in Mexico; the third highest in North America after Denali and Mount Logan.

Iztaccihuatl is another extinct volcano, and a unique mountain in its own right. Viewed from east or west you can see “her” clearly: The Sleeping Lady. The north end of the mountain is the head; a low area becomes the neck; another spot the breasts. Iztaccihuatl presents a stellar view from the town of Amecameca, and an even more amazing one at sunrise from the summit of the nearby La Malinche. Iztaccihuatl is the third highest mountain in Mexico and the seventh highest in North America.

Click on the links below to learn more about our Mexico expeditions, view itineraries, prices and dates, and to submit an Online Application. Join us for an exciting mountaineering adventure in Mexico!