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    De camino al Nevado de Toluca 09, Raíces, Estado de México

    Photo by Avecus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Raíces

    Village Zinacantepec, Estado de México Municipality of Zinacantepec Toluca Valley

    Mountain hamlet on the slopes of the Nevado de Toluca, above 3,500 m; the road to the volcano's turn-off goes through it.

    From Toluca: 40 min by car (29 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

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    Plan your visit to Raíces

    Where to stay near Raíces

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Raíces.

    Hotels in Raíces Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Raíces

    Day trips and guided outings from Metepec often include Raíces; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Tours from Cuernavaca 3hr Cooking Class in Cuernavaca 8 Recipes and Bottomless Drinks From US$59
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Raíces

    • From Toluca: about 40 min by road (~29 km)
    • Nearest airport: Toluca (TLC), 17 min by car to Metepec
    Rent a car at TLC Flights to TLC

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    Tours from Cuernavaca, near Raíces

    3hr Cooking Class in Cuernavaca 8 Recipes and Bottomless Drinks 4 h From US$59
    3h Cuernavaca Food Tasting with 32 Authentic Mexican Flavors 3 h From US$69
    Xochicalco Archaeological Guided Tour 5 h From US$84

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Raíces

    Raíces is a tiny settlement in the municipality of Zinacantepec, strung along the slopes of the Nevado de Toluca at roughly 3,530 m. English Wikipedia gives it 571 people in 2020 and, in its own text, about five hundred, so everyone knows everyone. The climate is cold mountain weather, and a warm layer is worth packing even when Toluca is hot.

    The volcano is the reason to come. Raíces has no attractions of its own: it is the last village before the turn-off for the Nevado de Toluca park, and anyone driving up to the crater goes through it. The park's access booth controls the entrance, and from there a dirt road of about 18 km climbs to the crater lakes, the Sol and the Luna. What to do up there is covered on the Nevado de Toluca page.

    For a quiet weekend, set off early and reach the volcano before 12:00, which local press recommends to avoid traffic; the park has cabins and camping areas. English Wikipedia calls Raíces the highest settlement in North America, but that claim is tagged as unsourced, so we do not repeat it as fact.

    How to get to Raíces

    Drive from Toluca: 40 min, 29 km

    By car, leave Toluca on the Toluca-Sultepec road, which runs through Raíces; the turn-off to the volcano is just past the village and is the only authorised entrance to the Nevado de Toluca park, through the Cepanaf booth. From there it is about 18 km of dirt road to the upper part. Toluca is about 21 km away in a straight line and the Nevado is roughly 43 km by road, so allow about an hour from Toluca, more on weekend traffic; Metepec, the nearest pueblo, is about 24 km in a straight line (roughly 30 minutes by the draft's estimate, unsourced). From Mexico City: the México-Toluca highway (15D) to Toluca and then the road to Sultepec; the El Insurgente train reaches the Zinacantepec terminus (opened 15 September 2023), but from there you need a taxi or local transport, since we found no published bus or combi times to Raíces; ask at the Toluca terminal.

    Directions to Raíces on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Where to stay Hotels in Raíces Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Raíces. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Raíces

    • Toluca · 29 km by road, 40 min
    • Taxco · about 90 km by road, ~1 h 20 min
    • Zitácuaro · 100 km by road, 1 h 30 min

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Raíces: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    The access to the Nevado de Toluca, reached through Raíces, is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 am to 3 pm (Protección Civil, January 2025). Milenio · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Arrive before 12:00 to avoid weekend traffic on the road toward Raíces. Milenio · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    Snow may not appear until early January; when there is too much, access is limited or closed. MVS Noticias · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Warm and waterproof clothing, gloves, mountain boots, sunscreen and a cap. Milenio · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Raíces: what to see and do

    Look at the Nevado de Toluca head-on from its slopes: it is the reason to come, and the village is its gateway.
    Walk through the hamlet, the last one before the volcano turn-off on the Toluca-Sultepec road.
    Continue to the park turn-off (access booth) and climb toward the Sun and Moon lakes; see the Nevado de Toluca page.
    If weather and access allow, go up to the park area, which has cabins and signed trails.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Raíces

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Raíces.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
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    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Metepec often include Raíces; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at TLC (Toluca): about 17 min by road to Metepec, then 24 km more to Raíces, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Toluca (TLC), about 17 min by road from Metepec, the base for Raíces.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Metepec: download a map of the way to Raíces before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    When to go to Raíces cool

    Raíces shares the climate of Metepec, 24 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.

    See the month-by-month climate of Metepec

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Metepec

    Red Calvario chapel at the top of its long stairway, Metepec, Estado de México cool
    Estado de México Metepec

    Metepec is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Raíces, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

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    Closest to Raíces

    Near Raíces

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.