How To Hike The Cerro Zapotecas Reserve (Cholula, Mexico)

For nature-loving visitors of Puebla, Mexico, there aren’t many true hiking options. Granted, some of the city parks have very nice green spaces and are quite large. But sometimes what you want to do is to get into the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life!

So what can you do?

Well, it turns out that the Cerro Zapotecas Reserve is an easy day trip from Puebla, and you can get there cheaply by public bus. The trails of Cerro Zapotecas (= Zapotec hill) are well-groomed, offer gorgeous elevated views of the local area (including Volcan Popocatépetl), and will introduce you to some landscapes that you may find surprising.

And assuming you have a reasonable degree of hiking fitness, the trail difficulty is manageable.

So if taking a countryside hike sounds like the antidote to city life, let us show you how you can hike Cerro Zapotecas Reserve yourself!

What Is The Cerro Zapotecas Reserve?

Near the town of Cholula, is Cerro Zapotecas, a hill of volcanic origin. It, and the surrounding area, form the Cerro Zapotecas Reserve.

In 1994, Cerro Zapotecas was declared an ecological reserve and in 2008 became a protected natural area. The reserve spans 536 hectares, is the only forested area in the surrounding region, and is an important recharge site for local aquifers. Cerro Zapotecas Reserve has several environments uncommon in the area, including woodlands, craters, and geologic plateaus.

Historically, this area served as a refuge for the Cholulteca population when, in 600 CE, the settlement at the Great Pyramid of Cholula was abandoned. Remains of temple foundations, houses, and even a ball court have been discovered in the area.

Recreationally, an extensive network of trails is found here. This makes Cerro Zapoteca a great place to hike, jog, mountain bike, picnic, or decompress from urban life.

Bottom line, it is absolutely worth the time and effort to visit.

Preparing For The Cerro Zapotecas Reserve Hike

The 5-mile (8-kilometer) trail route we recommend is of moderate difficulty for the most part, but can be challenging in spots with significant elevation gain.

Here is the trail route:

This is what we recommend you do to prepare:

• Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen: There is little shelter from the sun on this hike, so be prepared.
• Bring plenty of water: Again, there is little shelter from the sun and heat, although the temperatures aren’t too bad. But you need to stay hydrated in the arid climate.
• Wear hiking shoes/boots with decent tread: The trail is not too steep for the most part. But in the areas of elevation gain, you’ll be thankful for extra ankle support! And good tread is essential for inclines and declines with less solid ground.
• Download the maps.me (free) OR alltrails (freemium) app: You’ll need guidance on the trails due to a lack of signage. These apps will keep you on the right trail!
• Download our Cerro Zapotecas Circuit trail data: Download the trail data HERE and then upload it to the trail app of your choice.
• There are no facilities at Cerro Zapotecas Reserve: So be prepared to do your business behind a bush if needed!

Getting To Cerro Zapotecas Reserve

Getting to Cerro Zapotecas Reserve is actually quite simple, thanks to the dedicated bus route between the city of Puebla and the town of Cholula.

In Puebla city, you first want to go to the bus station for the Puebla – Cholula bus route located here:

Buses leave every 15 minutes and a one-way ride costs only $10 MEX ($0.60 USD).

You pay the driver directly IN CASH.

Now just stay on the bus until it gets to the end terminal in Cholula!

You’ll be getting off here:

This is also where you will pick up the bus to RETURN to Puebla, so be sure to mark this location in Google Maps!

From here, you will walk to the trailhead location we recommend (= “Estacionamiento”):

And here is the walking route from the Cholula Bus Terminal to the trailhead:

This route takes you through some safe local neighborhoods, sometimes with sidewalks, and sometimes not.

It is about a 20-minute walk to the estacionamiento (= parking area) next to the trailhead, where you theoretically can park a car.

But in reality, You’d just be parking (unattended) by the side of the road. So make sure you are comfortable with that if you choose to drive.

Two Travel Turtles Hit The Trail!

The hike is extremely enjoyable if you are prepared.

And you’ll see some spectacular views, depending on the weather and the activity level of Volcan Popocatépetl.

Closing Thoughts

What a nice hike!

The hike was difficult enough in spots to give your legs and butt a good workout, but nothing too tough if you are in decent hiking shape.

And the views and solitude were a nice change from city life. Too bad that Volcan Popocatépetl is still so active as the views would have been 10 times better!

It really was peaceful on the trails. Aside from the occasional shepherd and mountain biker, it felt like we had the trails to ourselves.

The hike is highly recommended!

Until next time…

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