13 Nature Parks in Estado de México, Mexico: Map & Photos

13 parks and reserves

Estado de México has 13 parks and reserves with their own page on Puebloteca, near the Pueblos Mágicos of Valle de Bravo, El Oro, Malinalco, and Metepec. The closest to a pueblo is Xochitla Parque Ecológico, 2 km from Tepotzotlán; the farthest out is Santuario El Capulín, 26 km from Valle de Bravo.

Parks and reserves are best on weekdays and early in the day. Bring water, and check the opening hours, since some close one day a week.

Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.

The Nature Parks 13

Xochitla Parque Ecológico · Nature reserve · 2 km from Tepotzotlán
A 70-hectare ecological park on Tepotzotlán's edge with a botanical garden, bike rentals, boating and camping.
Desierto del Carmen · Nature reserve · 7 km from Malinalco
A forested national park around a secluded Carmelite convent, with clifftop lookouts over the Malinalco valley.
México Chiquito · Nature reserve · 11 km from Villa del Carbón
Red and orange eroded mounds reflected in a pond at the edge of Chapa de Mota, a landscape that looks almost Martian.
Santuario Piedra Herrada · Nature reserve · 18 km from Valle de Bravo
The monarch butterfly sanctuary closest to Valle de Bravo, on the road to Toluca, open roughly November to March.
Parque Nacional Molino de Flores · Nature reserve · 20 km from Teotihuacán
A small national park around the ruins of a colonial mill hacienda in a wooded ravine east of Texcoco.
La Marquesa · Nature reserve · 24 km from Metepec
Pine-forest valleys on the Toluca–Mexico City highway, popular on weekends for horseback rides, trout and quesadillas.
Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca La Mesa · Nature reserve · 24 km from El Oro
A monarch butterfly sanctuary in the forests of San José del Rincón, open in winter, with cabins, guides and horseback rides.
Parque Nacional Bosencheve · Nature reserve · 25 km from Valle de Bravo
A national park of pine and fir forest on the Toluca–Morelia highway, with a lagoon, camping and quiet trails north of Valle de Bravo.
Santuario El Capulín · Nature reserve · 26 km from Valle de Bravo
A quieter monarch butterfly sanctuary in Donato Guerra, reached by a forest trail of about 4 km on foot or horseback.
Bosque de Agua · Nature reserve · Xalatlaco
The forest corridor between Mexico City, Toluca and Cuernavaca that feeds all three cities' aquifers; visit it at Zempoala, La Marquesa or Ajusco.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos · Nature reserve · Toluca
1,255 hectares of wooded hills and lakes on Toluca's northern edge: trails of up to 9 km, picnic shelters and an axolotl house under repair.
Parque Nacional Sacromonte · Nature reserve · Amecameca
A 45-hectare sacred hill above Amecameca, a national park since 1939: the black Christ's cave shrine, a hilltop chapel and views of both volcanoes.
Sierra de Nanchititla · Nature reserve · Luvianos
A protected Tierra Caliente range in Luvianos, near Guerrero and Michoacán: a waterfall of about 105 m, rock towers, canyons, cabins and paragliding.