Climb Pico de Orizaba & Iztaccíhuatl | Guided Expeditions

Recommended

Flagship Expedition

Climbers on the Pico de Orizaba glacier at golden hour

Flagship · Most Popular

Advanced 9 days 3 summits Oct–Mar

Mexico Triple Crown

Iztaccíhuatl 5,230m + Pico de Orizaba 5,636m

The complete Althara experience. Nine days. Three summits — two above 5,000m. You acclimatize on Iztaccíhuatl, then push to the summit of Pico de Orizaba — the third highest peak in North America. Glacier crossing, pre-dawn departure, crater rim at sunrise. This is the expedition most of our clients come back for. Professional expedition photography included — every summit, every sunrise, documented.

Duration

9 days

Price per person

From $3,900 USD

Max altitude

5,636m · 18,491 ft

Group size

4–8 climbers

Season

October – March

Level

Advanced

Plan This Expedition → See Full Itinerary

Individual Summits

One Volcano. Full Commitment.

Climber silhouette at sunrise on Pico de Orizaba

Advanced

2 days Glacier terrain

Pico de Orizaba — Express

5,636m · 18,491 ft · Veracruz

Mexico's highest peak. Crampons, ice axe, 12am departure. The glacier starts at 5,200m. The crater rim at dawn, Veracruz coast 200km below, clouds still dark. Requires prior altitude experience.

Recommended for climbers who have recently been above 4,000m or have completed La Malinche with us.

Guided group ascending the Pico de Orizaba glacier at golden hour

Advanced

5 days Glacier terrain

Pico de Orizaba — Full

5,636m · 18,491 ft · Veracruz

The complete Orizaba experience. Built-in acclimatization on La Malinche on day one, followed by a full summit push on Pico de Orizaba. Designed for climbers arriving from sea level who want the best possible chance at the summit.

Climber on the Iztaccíhuatl summit with Popocatépetl in the background

Intermediate

3 days No glacier

Iztaccíhuatl

5,230m · 17,159 ft · Puebla

The Sleeping Woman. An achievable route for strong hikers with no technical experience. Summit views include Popocatépetl venting steam just 12km away. A serious objective in its own right.

Acclimatization Routes

Build Your Altitude Base

Not ready for Orizaba yet — or just want to add more Mexican summits to your list? Mexico has more high-altitude objectives than most people know. These are serious summits in their own right — and a solid starting point if Orizaba or Iztaccíhuatl is on your radar.

Trail through golden meadow toward the volcano — acclimatization day

Entry Level

La Malinche

4,461m · 14,636 ft · Tlaxcala

The classic acclimatization objective. A full-day summit push on solid trail, good for testing your altitude response and building confidence before tackling the higher peaks.

Group hiking through valley with volcano in the background — Mexico expedition

Entry Level

Nevado de Toluca

4,680m · 15,354 ft · Estado de México

Drive to 4,200m, hike to the crater lakes. An accessible introduction to real altitude with a dramatic volcanic crater as the payoff. Ideal first day for any Althara expedition sequence.

Compare

Althara vs. The Alternatives

Feature	Althara · Mexico	Kilimanjaro	Cotopaxi · Ecuador	Mt. Rainier · WA
Max altitude	5,636m	5,895m	5,897m	4,392m
Flight from US	Direct · 3–5 hrs	Connecting · 16–20 hrs	Connecting · 6–10 hrs	Domestic
Visa required	✓ No visa	Visa on arrival	No visa	No visa
Starting price	From $3,900 USD	From $3,000 USD	From $1,600 USD	From $1,000 USD
Summits in one trip	2 above 5,000m	1	1	1
Glacier terrain	✓	✓	✓	✓
Max group size	8	12–16	8–12	12

Every Expedition

What's Included

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Lead Guide

Certified lead guide with 200+ summits on these specific volcanoes. Not a generalist — someone who knows every weather pattern on this mountain.

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Accommodation

Mountain huts and base camps included. Logistics handled end to end — transport from Puebla, meals on the mountain, everything.

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Technical Equipment

Crampons, ice axes, ropes, and safety gear provided. You bring your personal clothing and boots — we handle the technical hardware.

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Expedition Photos

Edited photo set delivered within two weeks of your expedition. Shot on the mountain by your guide. Yours to keep and share.

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Pre-Trip Prep

Training protocol, gear checklist, altitude guide, and a pre-trip call with your lead guide. You'll arrive prepared.

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Ground Transport

All transport from Puebla city center to trailheads and base camps included. You fly in — we handle the rest.

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Not Included: Flights

International flights to Mexico City or Puebla are not included. Direct flights available from most major US cities.

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Not Included: City Hotels

Pre and post expedition accommodation in Puebla or Mexico City is not included. We recommend partners on request.

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Not Included: Personal Gear

Personal clothing, boots, and layering system not included. Your gear list will be sent after booking.

The Expeditions

Flagship Expedition

One Volcano. Full Commitment.

Build Your Altitude Base

Althara vs. The Alternatives

What's Included