The Nevado de Toluca is a kind of mountain set near Mexico City, to which you walk up a long winding path and end up standing in front of this ‘lake’ that has formed in the ‘hollow’ centre of the mountain set.

To be honest, I can’t remember exactly who told me about the Nevado de Toluca. All I know is that I thought it was cool and wanted to go there. And in my enthusiasm, I infected a mate from my hostel, who quickly joined me.
As the Nevado de Toluca is a bit further away, we got up early, packed plenty of water, food and snacks and travelled to the bus early in the morning.
You can get to the Nevado de Toluca by bus, which then winds its way along a winding road and you tell the bus driver at a tiny little village that you want to get out. To be honest, I don’t even know if you can call the little spot on the map that I had marked a village. It was just a short stretch of road with a few houses and a few places to buy something to eat. Nothing more.

Once we arrived, we found the entrance to the path to Nevado de Toluca quite easily. To be honest, there was only one. So you can’t miss it. Well, and then we set off to the hike. Although hike is the wrong word. The path is not really steep. So very easy to walk. And the surroundings are really great. There’s a bit of pine forest and just beautiful nature to walk through.
We had only underestimated one thing: the length of the journey to Nevado de Toluca. And no, we didn’t realise that ourselves. 😀 At some point, an open wagon with Mexican workers drove past us and asked where we were going. I was really happy because I could reassure myself that we were on the right path. We were, but found out what route was lying ahead of us. Like Mexicans are, they invited us to hop on and drop us off where they had to go. So then we were sitting in the back of that open wagon and altogether jolted up this long, winding road to the Nevado de Toluca. And honestly: it would have been quite a bit more, as we then realised. I was honestly glad that we happened to get a lift, because it would have been a bit tight on foot, as the sun would have been gone at some point and we also had to walk back and then take the bus back to Mexico City. After we got dropped off we walked the last stretch – again in beautiful nature – and were really happy when we finally reached the Nevado de Toluca.
A little different than expected, of course, but still really mystical and beautiful. It was cloudy that day, which gave the whole thing a mystical atmosphere. We then climbed up a kind of slope by the lake and chilled out there, ate something and enjoyed the view. A truly perfect and happy moment. 😊

And before you start wondering how we got back – because walking all the way back wouldn’t have been an option, as we had already found out. We were actually taken by another car quite a distance back again. Someone drove past us and gave us a lift up to a certain point. As far as that goes, Mexicans are really incredibly nice, helpful and friendly and… really not one bad experience. Neither when I was travelling alone.
As a surprise highlight at the end, we saw a small snake just before the exit to the street. Really cool! I’ve never seen one like in reality and right in front of me in the wild before.
Finally, we went to eat delicious tacos at a stall on the street. And guys, so incredibly tasty! I mean, of course we were hungry, but they were green tacos with things in them that you don’t necessarily get everywhere. Really good. And the dog that waited with us for the bus and got cuddles… Soooo cute! 😊 A truly wonderful day!

Go or not? Safe. Of course it shouldn’t rain if possible and I would only do it if I have time, but the hike itself is great. The nature is beautiful, the Nevado de Toluca itself is absolutely worth it and if you’re worried about the way, don’t worry, someone will come along and give you a lift. Like it shouldn’t be a problem.