On this unique Pico de Orizaba ascent in Mexico, you will have the chance to acclimatize on the lovely Malinche, which will give you all the preparation you need for a truly enjoyable mountaineering experience!
Private
Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
4 Days
All year
High
Beginner
Climbing Pico de Orizaba is not an easy mission, especially if you are arriving from sea level or low altitude. At 5,636 m (18,491 ft), Orizaba is the highest mountain in Mexico and requires acclimatization, whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber. This program will help you improve your summit chances and includes an amazing acclimatization climb on Malinche.
Throughout the 4 days of the tour, you will be guided by a professional team who will make sure to support you every step of the way. We will try to mix the climbing experience with the cultural experience as much as we can. At all times, we will be surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, and friendly locals, while enjoying a true local climbing experience on these two ancient volcanos: Malinche is the 6th tallest in the country and has been dormant for at least 3000 years, and Pico de Orizaba is the tallest peak in Mexico and the tallest volcano in North America, dormant for just 200-300 years.
This 4 days program will allow you to push yourself in order to pursue your goals while allowing you to have enough time to acclimatize and enjoy the trip. If you think even this trip could be too short for you, I also offer a longer 6-day Malinche-Iztaccíhuatl and Pico de Orizaba Program.
The beauty of the Mexican mountains and their culture await you! Contact us today to book this amazing experience!
12:00 – Meeting at the agreed point and makes sure you have everything for the next days experience. 12:30 – Transfer to Malinche Vacational Center. 15:00 – Arrival to Malinche, take our cabin and start prepare the food and gear for the next hours. 18:00 – Last dinner time, so we can rest early in order to be ready for the Malinche climbing early in the morning. 19:00 – Last details preparation and going to sleep.
02:30 – About 2:30am we wake up and get prepare to start our climbing. After a light breakfast we take the packs and just go! (There's also chance to sleep till 6am, with the drawback of not seeing the sunrise closer the summit). 03:30 – Climbing starts, easy and steady, admiring the skies and the light and sound changings of the mountain. 07:30 – After 4 hours in average, but not necessarily, we will be arriving the summit at 4,461m or 14,636ft, where we gonna enjoy our lunch, if the mountain and our bodies allows it. 08:30 – We start the descent which is usually faster by two, to return our cabin in the Vacational Center. 11:00 – Arrival the cabins, where is possible to take a hot shower to rest for a while immediately after. Later we will prepare the lunch and/or dinner and let our bodies recover for the next days challenge.
08:00 – Breakfast time, enjoying the good rest of the previous nights and perfect acclimatization given by our hosting. 10:00 – Time to prepare our bags and be ready for the Pico de Orizaba transfer. 12:30 – Arrival to Pico de Orizaba Park area, where we gonna change our city transportation for a 4x4 one to survey the last part od the road inside the park. 14:00 – Arrival at Piedra Grande hut immediations, where we gonna prepare our camping and have the chance, according to the group mood, of a last acclimatization hiking up to 4,700m or 15,400ft. 17:00 – A delicious mountain Dinner will awaits for us! 18:00 – Time to make sure we have everything ready in our packs for the Pico de Orizaba's summit! 18:30 – Rest and sleep time
00:00 – As early as the day starts we wake up and be ready for our climbing, making a short stop in the kitchen area to take a mountain breakfast. 00:30 – Climbing starts, easy and steady, "pole-pole" as our friends in Kilimanjaro says. The nights in Pico de Orizaba are usually quiet and cold, given the chance to admire the stars or the moon while we go up. Our ascent will provide enough rests to hydrate and take the necessary energy. 07:30 – After 6-7 hours in average, but not necessarily, we will be arriving the summit of the tallest volcano in Northamerica, at 5,636m or 18,490ft, where we gonna enjoy the views, the feeling of being at the top of Mexico and, if the mountian and our bodies gives the chance, our lunch. 08:30 – We start the descent which is usually faster by two, to return our camping. 12:00 – Arrival the camping, where is possible to take a soup before prepare our bags to go down by 4x4 where where we can make a stop and take a celebration lunch in one of the villages, before return the city to rest. 18:00 – Estimate arrival to Puebla City
More info
Please note, minimum number of climbers to apply the group rate (800USD): is 4 climbers.
The expedition may require an extra payment to the group fee in case the minimum number of climbers to contemplate the group rate is not covered. The increase in the fee would be the difference between the following table and the group fee:
1 PAX 1200 USD/each 2 PAX 950 USD/each 3 PAX 950 USD/each
Meeting point
Water bottle
Backpack
Sunglasses
Goggles
Equipment rent on site
What experience and how fit do I need to be to climb this mountain? Is this program suitable for children or older people?
You should be in good physical condition to do this activity.
What is the best time of the year to climb this mountain?
All year is a good opportunity to do this activity.
How far in advance should I start training and what kind of training do you suggest?
Orizaba is the highest mountain in Mexico and requires acclimatization, whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber.
Can I join a group?
Yes, you can join a group. Please note minimum number of climbers to apply the group rate (800USD): is 4 climbers.
The expedition may require an extra payment to the group fee in case the minimum number of climbers to contemplate the group rate is not covered. The increase in the fee would be the difference between the following table and the group fee:
1 PAX 1200 USD/each
2 PAX 950 USD/each
3 PAX 950 USD/each
Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own? Is it possible to rent equipment, and if so, what would be the approximate cost of that?
You should bring a water bottle, a backpack, sunglasses, and goggles. The equipment rent is on site.
How will accommodation and meals be handled on the mountain?
Accommodation and meals will be included in the price of the trip.
What equipment is included?
5.0
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Mountain Guide
I am a Mexican Mountain Guide, part of the Mexican Association of Mountain And Climbing Guides AMGME (standed by Spanish). I love the Outdoors and I dedicate all my life to them. I've been guiding professionally in mountains for the last 6 years, since I began my formation in 2014, providing always certainty and safety to the climbers.
I work side to side with a group of certified guides, so If I am not available to guide you, one of the experienced guides in my team will be your guide. Also, I'm work with many local, professional and friendly people, and being surrounded by many different cultures is one of the wonderful things in my job, giving, all of this, a unique experience in each expedition.
My experience climbing big mountains goes from Canada to different countries in South America, working meanwhile with different guides, people and companies. I´m always looking to get unforgettable trips and adventures. Write for any expedition's question, I´ll be happy to solve it!
Languages
French | English
Sarah
I loved this trip. I will come back!
Michael
Óscar’s a great guy. He cares about his client climbers and shares his wealth of experience along the way. I wasn’t able to summit Orizaba in part due to a boot issue, and in part due to a conditioning issue. However, I still had a great time and look back fondly on my experience with Óscar. I will be back to finish my unfinished business, and I know Óscar will be ready to impress yet again.
Michal
Oscar was perfect guide. Very professional, helpful, friendly.
Florent
Oscar from Epic ascent is an amazing mountain guide who provided us a great experience, from planning the trip to its execution. First, he helped craft a tailored program based on our wishes, his expertise as mountain guide and his knowledge of the region (Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba). Then all logistics aspects were well managed, including transportation, cooking great vegetarian meals and bringing extra gear. More importantly, we always felt in good hands during the summit push of Pico de Orizaba in challenging conditions. We are especially grateful for the help and motivation provided when facing strong winds on the glacier. Cheerful and easy to go along with, you won't get bored with him. Highly recommended :) Cheers Oscar!
SERGUEI
It was unforgettable trip with two summits, Malinche and Pico de Orizaba! My guide on both picks was Oscar Zaldivar, very professional,positive and experienced guide. He checked my gear, helping me to pack and answered to all my questions about our summits. We became friends during of this journey. I would certainly recommend Oscar and Explore-Share for perfect organized trip.
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