Today, we ascend into the ancient high-country cloud forest of the Sierra Norte.
Our destination is La Cumbre / Santa Catarina Ixtepeji, perched at an elevation of 3,200 meters (10,499 feet), one of the highest points in the region.
We embark on a 4-hour loop hike through a dreamlike landscape: towering agaves, pink-barked madrones, moss-draped fir trees, and panoramic vistas of valleys, ridges, and remote pueblos. In this sacred forest, something is always in bloom—wildflowers grace the trails year-round.
After the hike, we descend to the village of Las Ánimas, known as the heart of the traditional chocolate qwirl craft. A lovingly prepared local lunch here is a well-earned and unforgettable reward.
