Mountain · 2 routes
Pico de Orizaba
18,491 ft · Puebla, Mexico
Photo: panza.rayada, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Summit
- 18,491 ft
- Routes
- 2 ways up
- Managed by
- CONANP (Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba)
Routes up Pico de Orizaba
- Jamapa Glacier (North Route)ExpertFrom Piedra Grande hut · about 4,800 ft of climbingGlacier4.6 mi round tripSee the route
- Cara Sur (South Route)ExpertFrom South saddle, end of the 4x4 road · about 5,276 ft of climbingScramble8.6 mi round tripSee the route
| Jamapa Glacier (North Route) | Cara Sur (South Route) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Piedra Grande hut | South saddle, end of the 4x4 road |
| Climbing | About 4,800 ft | About 5,276 ft |
| Round trip | 4.6 mi | 8.6 mi |
| Difficulty | Expert | Expert |
| Terrain | Glacier | Scramble |
About Pico de Orizaba
Pico de Orizaba, also called Citlaltépetl, is a volcano on the border of Puebla and Veracruz and Mexico's highest peak, rising to 18,491 ft (5,636 m). It lies in Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba. Two routes are standard: the north route from the Piedra Grande hut, which climbs the Jamapa Glacier, and the south route (Cara Sur) from the end of the 4x4 road on the southern saddle, past the Fausto González Gomar hut. Both are high-altitude climbs that start well above 13,000 ft. The usual climbing season is October to March; April to September is the rainy season.
Before you go
Permits and fees
Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba charges entry fees on the way up. Current amounts could not be confirmed from an official source, so confirm them locally before you go.
Forecast on Pico de Orizaba
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and piedra grande hut for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Questions about Pico de Orizaba
How tall is Pico de Orizaba?
18,491 ft (5,636 m).
How many routes go to the summit of Pico de Orizaba?
2: Jamapa Glacier (North Route) and Cara Sur (South Route).
What is the shortest route up Pico de Orizaba?
Jamapa Glacier (North Route), about 4.6 mi round trip.
Where do the routes up Pico de Orizaba start?
Jamapa Glacier (North Route) starts at Piedra Grande hut. Cara Sur (South Route) starts at South saddle, end of the 4x4 road.
Do you need a permit to climb Pico de Orizaba?
Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba charges entry fees on the way up. Current amounts could not be confirmed from an official source, so confirm them locally before you go.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
