Hiking to Cumbre de las Nubes/La Bufa

This hike starts at Presa "El Llano" (El Llano Dam), to get to "El Llano" Dam, you'll have to take a bus from El Rosario metro station (subway station), or get there by car. Once you're there you can ask for directions to get to La Bufa.

The National Park has very few signs and directions, so you have to be very careful not to lose track of where you're going. But that makes a great adventure. Compass and a topographical map comes really at hand. All the way is covered by a thick forest that may not let you spot your goal.

Go to the southern point of the dam, from there you'll see a stream and path that follow the same way. Walk all the way until the stream at your left disappears and becomes a small reforested valley. This small valley has another parallel path on the other side and a path units them in the middle creating an "H". But this is only a reference, you'll follow the path you're following until it forks.

Both choices will lead you to La Bufa, but the one on the left is way easier. You'll find a short heavy slope. Follow the path to the right where another one units with yours. You'll find two trees in the middle of the path not very far from there; that means you're on the right way. Your path connects with a bigger one, you should take it to the left again.

Another path is to be found at your left guarded by an old, big, burnt tree, but you should follow the path you're going on. Your path will fork again shortly after, keep walking in the main path until you find a small triangle with no trees in the middle where three paths connect. Follow the one on your left again. To know you'r on the right way, you should find the 707 tree at your right.

A small area with four paths is ahead. From the path that you're walking on, just turn right and you'll see two thin trees growing taller than the rest around them. Take the right path and you'll get to a place with a big dirt road. From there, you can see La Bufa as shown in photograph 9. A placard stands between the path you're coming from and the road you must take. From there, everything's easy.

The road will fork twice, and twice you have to take the right path. Then the road crosses two small creeks, the second one with logs to help you cross it as you can see in photo 6. The road will bend to the left. Small trails are there, but you should follow the main road that now is becoming a small path. This path will connect another one that you should take to the right. A few yards more and you'll find some bricks at you're left hand where you should take the path on the right. Go all the way up and prepare to be amazed with a great place for sightseeing and camping.

Don't miss the sunset. Don't miss the sunrise, but I recommend to climb La Bufa to enjoy the sunrise better. A small ladder is at the right to help you go up. Eagles can be heard and spotted during the hike. Be silent, you'll be surprised for everything you can find there. At sunrise, from the summit you can see legendary volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccíhuatl looking to the East. Looking to the the South, you'll see Nevado de Toluca.