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    Shady walk beside the Laguna de Nogales, Veracruz

    Photo by Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Swimmers in the turquoise spring water of the Laguna de Nogales, Veracruz

    Photo by Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Footbridge and the clear lagoon at Nogales, Veracruz

    Photo by Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Visitors around a pool of the Laguna de Nogales, Veracruz

    Photo by Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Swimmers in the Laguna de Nogales below tall trees, Veracruz

    Photo by Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Laguna de Nogales

    Lake Nogales, Veracruz Altas Montañas (Orizaba and Córdoba)

    A spring-fed lake in the town of Nogales, clear and cold, where locals swim, row, and stroll under the trees.

    From Orizaba: 10 min by car (9 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Laguna de Nogales

    Where to stay near Laguna de Nogales

    Estacion Alameda Hotel · ★★★ · 6.6 km from the center Prices Tres79 Hotel Boutique Orizaba Hotel · ★★★ · 6.6 km from the center Prices
    Hotels in Orizaba Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Laguna de Nogales

    Day trips and guided outings from Orizaba often include Laguna de Nogales; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide Tours from Orizaba

    How to get to Laguna de Nogales

    • From Orizaba: about 10 min by road (~9 km)
    • 7 km southwest of Orizaba
    • Nearest airport: Veracruz (VER), 1 h 42 min by car to Orizaba
    Rent a car at VER Flights to VER

    Route, map and directions ↓

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    About Laguna de Nogales

    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.

    How to get to Laguna de Nogales

    Drive from Orizaba: 10 min, 9 km

    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.

    Best with a guide Tours to Laguna de Nogales on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Laguna de Nogales

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

    Before you go to Laguna de Nogales: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    Open in daytime; there is no posted gate schedule, so plan to visit between morning and late afternoon. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Entry
    Walking around the lake is free or costs a token amount; boat rides and other activities are paid separately, so carry cash. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Time needed
    An easy day trip from Orizaba, 11.7 km away; plan on a full day if you want to swim and take a boat. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    Good all year; the cold spring water is a relief in summer, and in December the shore is lit up with music and dance. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    You can explore on your own; boat rides and the La Nahuala trajinera are offered at the lake if you want to get on the water. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Swimsuit and towel, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent and cash. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Laguna de Nogales: 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.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Laguna de Nogales

    Estacion Alameda Hotel · ★★★ · 6.6 km from the center Find on Expedia Tres79 Hotel Boutique Orizaba Hotel · ★★★ · 6.6 km from the center Find on Expedia Gamma Orizaba Grand Hotel de France Hotel · ★★★ · 7.1 km from the center Find on Expedia Silmar Hotel Motel Hotel · ★★ · 4.5 km from the center Find on Expedia Base Camp México Hotel · ★ · 6.8 km from the center Find on Expedia Hotel La Laguna Hotel · 230 m from the center Find on Expedia
    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Orizaba often include Laguna de Nogales; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at VER (Veracruz): about 1 h 42 min by road to Orizaba, then 7 km more to Laguna de Nogales, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Veracruz (VER), about 1 h 42 min by road from Orizaba, the base for Laguna de Nogales.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or kayaking at Laguna de Nogales, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

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

    Airalo

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.

    Photos

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    When to go to Laguna de Nogales mild

    Laguna de Nogales shares the climate of Orizaba, 7 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and December.

    Laguna de Nogales is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (April, May, and June); in the rainiest ones (June, August, and September) expect storms in the afternoon.

    See the month-by-month climate of Orizaba

    Make Orizaba your base

    Gardens and red-roofed pavilions of the Orizaba botanical garden below the mountains, Veracruz mild
    Veracruz Orizaba

    Laguna de Nogales is an easy trip from Orizaba, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Laguna de Nogales

    All 9 towns and sights around Orizaba →

    Near Laguna de Nogales

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

    Lists with Laguna de Nogales

    Lakes and Lagoons in Veracruz · 5

    Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.