Parque Nacional La Malinche

La Malinche, also called Matlalcuéyetl or Malintzin, is the dormant volcano whose long, forested slopes rise right behind Ixtenco. Its jagged summit, at roughly 4,400 to 4,460 meters depending on the source, is the highest point in Tlaxcala and one of the tallest peaks in Mexico, and it often carries a dusting of snow in winter. The Otomí of Ixtenco, who call the mountain Mhuy'e in their language, have lived on an old lava flow at its foot for centuries.

The mountain was declared a national park in 1938, protecting tens of thousands of hectares across Tlaxcala and Puebla. The lower slopes are farmland, then pine, fir and oak forest, and above the tree line come grassland and bare volcanic sand. Deep ravines radiate from the summit, and the park is an important source of water for the surrounding valleys. Wildlife includes bobcats, ringtails and many birds, hummingbirds among them.

The classic climb starts at the La Malintzi vacation center on the northeast slope, which has cabins and a campground at around 3,000 meters. From there a marked trail climbs through forest and open slopes to the summit, a long, steep day that rewards you with views of Pico de Orizaba, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl on a clear morning.