Driving one of the highest roads of Mexico to La Joya-Iztaccíhuatl hut
Mexico, north-america
7.1 km
3,977 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about La Joya! Nestled way up in the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park, Mexico State, this mountain hut sits at a whopping 3,977m (13,047ft). Seriously, it's one of the highest roads you can find in Mexico!
The road? Totally unpaved, baby! You'll start your journey at Paso de Cortés (already pretty high at 3,692m or 12,112ft) and travel 7.1km (4.41 miles) up. Be prepared for a bit of a climb, with some sections hitting a 9% gradient. You'll gain 306 meters in elevation, so your engine will definitely know it's working!
While any vehicle can technically attempt it, I'd seriously recommend a high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Trust me on this. The road gets a little dicey right at the end – a rough cobblestone hill drops about 40 feet, so most people park before reaching La Joya itself. But hey, the rest of the road is generally smooth dirt, so you can still have a blast! If you're feeling extra adventurous, a smaller road north of the summit takes you even higher to La Joyita (4,009m or 13,152ft).
Just a heads-up: the road is only open from 8 am to 6 pm. Near the hut, you'll find a parking lot if you want to hike to the Iztaccíhuatl volcano. Get ready for some killer views!
Where is it?
Driving one of the highest roads of Mexico to La Joya-Iztaccíhuatl hut is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 24.4514, -102.2468
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 7.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,977 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 24.4514, -102.2468
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