Lake 7 km southwest of Orizaba
A spring-fed lake in the town of Nogales, clear and cold, where locals swim, row, and stroll under the trees.
Laguna de Nogales is a small lake of clear, cold spring water in the middle of the town of Nogales, a few kilometers west of Orizaba at the foot of the mountains. Locals say its water comes from snowmelt on the Pico de Orizaba that travels underground before welling up here, and it is certainly cold enough to believe it.
The lake is surrounded by a public park with big old trees, walking paths, and food stands, and on weekends it fills with families. You can swim in the clear water, rent a rowboat, or take a ride on a trajinera, the flat, colorful boats better known from Xochimilco.
Nogales sits in the same valley as Orizaba and was, like its neighbors, a textile town. Around the lake you can also look up at the cliffs of the Cañón de la Carbonera, where Piedra del Águila is used for rappelling. In December the lake is often decorated with lights for the holiday season.
What to see and do
Swim in the cold, clear spring water.
Rent a rowboat or take a trajinera ride around the lake.
Walk the shaded paths of the park and try the snacks at the stands.
Ask locally about rappelling at Piedra del Águila above the Cañón de la Carbonera.
Getting there
Nogales is about 20 minutes west of Orizaba by car or taxi on the old federal highway toward Ciudad Mendoza and Puebla. Local buses run frequently between Orizaba, Río Blanco and Nogales and stop near the center. Entry to the lake park is generally free; boats and other activities cost extra.
7 km southwest of Orizaba
Directions from Orizaba on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Laguna de Nogales
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Laguna de Nogales.
Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Laguna de Nogales.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Weather mild
Laguna de Nogales shares the climate of Orizaba, 7 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec.
Make Orizaba your base
Laguna de Nogales is an easy trip from Orizaba, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Córdoba · 26 km away
More around Orizaba
-
Cañón del Río Blanco
· Nature reserve · 4 km away
A national park since 1938 around Orizaba, with pine-covered peaks, waterfalls on the Río Blanco, and trails above the valley. -
Cascada El Elefante
· Waterfall · 5 km away
A waterfall deep in the Río Blanco canyon, reached by a stairway of 500 steps, with a turquoise swimming pool next door. -
Ciudad Mendoza
· Town · 9 km away
The old textile town of Santa Rosa, with a community history museum in a former factory warehouse and the gateway to the Sierra de Zongolica. -
Barranca de Metlac
· Viewpoint · 12 km away
A deep, misty ravine with 19th-century railway tunnels, an old track you can walk, and some of Mexico's tallest bridges. -
Fortín de las Flores
· Town · 13 km away
A flower-growing town on the road to Córdoba, with gardenia and orchid nurseries and a large bonsai museum. -
Sótano de Popocatl
· Cave · 19 km away
A river that plunges about 80 meters into a sinkhole in the Sierra de Zongolica foothills; rappel down with guides or look from the rim. -
Acultzingo
· Town · 25 km away
A mountain town below the Cumbres de Acultzingo, the steep, winding pass on the old Puebla road with sweeping valley views. -
Pico de Orizaba
· Mountain · 26 km away
Mexico's highest peak, the snow-capped volcano that towers over Orizaba; its national park has forests and high trails.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.