Ajusco
Mexico City has on its outskirts some fine national parks where people can go ahead and practice their favorite outdoor activities, or just spend a day (or two) with the family in the middle of a beautiful green natural setting. The Cumbres del Ajusco national park is one of many national parks that’s accessible from Mexico City and is a cool getaway when the noise and smog just become too much to bear, this park is the third oldest national park in the country (only Desierto de los Leones and Popocatepetl-Iztaccihuatl are older) and it was designated as such in 1936 and it’s so large that it makes up half of the area known as the Mexico City Federal District, there is no doubt this park is massive and is really the place if you want to get lost in the woods, for a little while at least.
If you have a passion for hiking then this park is packed with hiking trails that offer spectacular views of the natural surroundings and of the city itself (that is if the view of the city isn’t covered with smog). Your best option to get to the park is to take an Uber or Taxi ride and preferably ask the driver beforehand if he knows how to get to the park or at least knows how to use GPS. Since hiking is already one of your preferred activities, this probably won’t be anything new to you, but as a friendly reminder please include sunscreen, water, hiking boots, extra layers in case it rains or the weather changes, and cash for transportation and/or food. There are a couple of restaurants right outside the main entrance of the park that offer inexpensive food items like beef sopes and barbacoa tacos for around $25 pesos for each item.
The transportation situation back to the city might be trickier on your way back, as it might be difficult calling Uber or a cab from this remote location, so hopefully, you can hire a hiking guide, maybe as a part of a tour, that will include transportation and save you the hassle of having to figure this out on your own.
Cumbres del Ajusco park is located at 12,795 meters above sea level so you might feel a little tired sooner than you expected, that’s ok, you don’t need to summit the Ajusco mountain itself, but you can enjoy the journey up the mountain amidst such beautiful and peaceful views. The park also has trails designed for mountain biking, horseback riding, or you can even rent a cabin in the woods. Cumbres del Ajusco national park is a pleasant day trip that’s only a short distance away from the big city, you can make it a part of your itinerary if you’re going to be in town for a while.
