Women+ Mexico Volcanoes Trip
Unleashing adventures through Mexico’s highest peaks
Join our 9-day women+ trip to the beautiful peaks of Mexico with a group of inclusive and empowering folks. We spend time enjoying Mexico City, the small village towns, and climbing two large peaks. Standing at 18,491ft Pico de Orizaba is our final climb. This trip is great for those looking to expand their experience in high altitude environments.
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Prepare to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Mexico's iconic volcanoes as you scale the majestic heights of Pico de Orizaba (18,491ft) and La Malinche (14,636ft). Join us for an unforgettable nine day expedition that will challenge you, ignite your passion for exploration, and leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Acclimating to climb two high altitude volcanoes in just nine days might sound ambitious, but we assure you, it's not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. Our expert team at Upward Transitions is committed to providing you with a safe and unforgettable experience. We have meticulously designed this journey to challenge you, while prioritizing your wellbeing.
Our adventure begins in Mexico City. One of the most wonderful aspects of an International trip is having the opportunity to engage and participate in a new and different culture. We will spend the day visiting markets, eating local foods, and exploring the bustling streets of Mexico City. Standing above 7,000ft, this is a great way to passively let our bodies adjust to higher altitudes.
After visiting the pyramids of Teotihuacan, we embark on our journey to La Malinche, a stunning stratovolcano that stands at 14,635 feet. This awe-inspiring peak is a wonderful way to begin to acclimatize to the mountains of Mexico. We will camp at the base, and climb on day three.
On day four, we will begin our journey to Pico de Orizaba, Mexico's tallest peak at an impressive elevation of 18,491 feet. We will spend a night at a beautiful lodge in a town nearby the mountain, take an off road vehicle to the base of the mountain, and sleep under the stars at 13,700ft. We spend several days based out of our camp, doing additional training sessions and hiking to neighboring areas. We we are ready, we embark on our summit push and navigate the glacier-covered terrain and finally reach the apex of this dormant giant.
Our trip concludes in Mexico City where we will celebrate, debrief, and depart.
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Two weeks prior:
Two weeks in advance, we will have Zoom meeting together, which will begin with introductions and address any needed equipment, questions, and any other topics of interest before going into the trip.
Day 1: Travel day / Cultural experience in Mexico City together in the evening
Day 2: Discover Mexico City - Several different options for cultural immersion, such as museums, art galleries, markets, dances, and events
Day 3: Early morning to climb La Malinche. Drive to the town of Zoapan to stay in a lodge and sleep at 10,000ft
Day 4: Recovery day / skills training
Day 5: Take a 4x4 vehicle to our base camp on Pico de Orizaba. Go for a hike up to 15,000ft (1,300ft of elevation gain from camp)
Day 6: Acclimatization hike to optimize acclimatization before our summit push (Hike to 16,500ft)
Day 7: Wake up around midnight for our summit day on Pico de Orizaba / sleep at base camp
Day 8: Travel out of base camp back to the town of Zoapan, and back to Mexico City.
Day 9: Debrief in Mexico city / Rest or Travel Day
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This trip serves as a great introduction to high-altitude mountaineering. Individuals must be able to meet certain fitness requirements to promote safety on these mountains:
Ability to hike/climb 1-2 hours, punctuated by 10-minute rests, for up to 12 hours.
Capability to ascend 5,000 vertical ft with a backpack weighing at least 20 pounds.
Please feel free to reach out to our office if you would like to discuss if this trip is a good fit for you.
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Expert-led climbing session, training, and guidance
Dinner and Breakfasts except for 2 nights in Mexico City
Hot Beverages at camp and drinking water
Shared climbing essentials (tents, ropes, cooking devices, and more)
Wilderness and climbing Permits
Entry fees into the parks
Drivers for the duration of our trip
Accommodations
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Travel (Flights) to and from Mexico City
Transportation from the airport to the hotel on Day 1
Food: 2 Dinners in Mexico City, lunches and snacks
Trip and medical evac insurance
Price: $3,390
December 1 - 9, 2026
Review from Jessica P. Mexico 2025:
I had the BEST time on the Mexico Volcanoes Trip in January 2025 with Victoria and Bri. The trip was well planned & structured, but they both were adaptable and flexible whenever the need arose (weather changes, an urgent care visit, etc.). This was my first ever mountaineering trip and I felt safe & well prepared to attempt a Pico de Orizaba summit once the time came. It was abundantly clear that both guides had excellent rapport with every local team we came into contact with, from drivers to hosts at the locations we stayed. I cannot recommend Upward Transitions enough to anyone (especially women) looking to gain mountaineering experience in a supportive, fun, and educational environment. I feel like this adventure helped me gain the momentum, confidence and hands-on skills needed to tackle future mountaineering objectives. And if you go to Mexico specifically, expect to pet a ridiculous number of cute dogs, eat all the tacos, speak a lot of Spanglish, and fall in love with Mexico City. If you're considering signing up for a trip, take this as a sign - JUST DO IT!