The 7 Best National Parks To Visit From Mexico City
Nevado de Toluca | © truebacarlos/Flickr
Mexico City may well be a sprawling metropolis that extends into the mountains which surround it, but there’s still a wealth of open, green spaces that you can take advantage of on your next trip, whether you want to walk your dog, go for a run or just enjoy some fresh air. All easily accessible from the
city centre, here’s our list of the seven best national parks to take advantage of next time you’re in the Mexican capital.
Parque Nacional La Malinche
Park
Named for the volcano which lies within its boundaries, which was in turn named for the translator of conquistador Hernán Cortés,
Parque Nacional La Malinche is split across the bordering states of
Puebla and Tlaxcala. The perfect park to visit if you’re planning on doing altitude acclimatisation on the eponymous mountain, it also holds more generalised appeal due to its proximity to the capital and the gentle slope which takes you to the top of the volcano. Perfect for families.
Parque Nacional La Marquesa
Officially known as Parque Nacional Insurgente Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the national park better known as La Marquesa is situated in the State of Mexico. Full of walking paths and trails that can be taken on by any age and fitness level, you can even rent horses and take a horseback stroll through the Valle del Silencio. This park is, however, perhaps most famous for being the site of the 1810 Mexican War of Independence battle, the Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Parque Nacional La Marquesa, Observatorio, Estado de México, México
Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca
Located in the State of Mexico capital, Toluca, Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca is named for and is home to the Nevado de Toluca volcano, Mexico’s fourth highest peak. Originally created as a conservation site, it’s now most famous for the shallow lakes which take up home in the inactive volcano’s crater. As well as the crater, there are many archaeological attractions, hiking trails and mountain biking tracks that are worth the visit, plus opportunities for horseback riding.
Carretera Temascaltpec Km. 18, San Antonio Acahualco, Estado de México, México
Bosque de Chapultepec
Technically not a national park, the Bosque de Chapultepec is one of Mexico City’s biggest attractions (with around 15 million annual visitors) and also the largest inner-city park in the Western Hemisphere, up there with Central Park in New York. Stuffed to the brim with museums, squirrels and food stalls, you’ll never be short of things to do in this breath of fresh air which distances you from the surrounding city. Check out the Museo Nacional de Antropología or the Museo Tamayo which call the ‘lungs’ of Mexico City their home.
Bosque de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, México
Viveros de Coyoacán
A public park located in the southern Coyoacán region of Mexico City, Viveros de Coyoacán is also a tree nursery which was originally developed to replenish Mexico City’s damaged forest areas. It now produces over a million seedlings annually and has over 2,000 daily visitors. Squirrel fans should – right after popping in to Bosque de Chapultepec – head straight to Viveros de Coyoacán as the tame squirrels love to be hand fed by the public (not in the nursery area, though).
Viveros de Coyoacán, Av. Progreso 1, Coyoacán, Del Carmen, Ciudad de México, México
