Mexico city: Hiking tour to Desierto de los leones

Mexico City’s Desierto de los Leones is a fine change of pace from traffic, museums, and busy streets. This forest hike to a former monastery gives you fresh air, local legends, and a look at an unusual colonial site far from the city center.

I like the practical setup: hotel pickup, water, a road snack, transportation, entrance fees, and photos are included. I also like the small group limit of six, which should make it easier to ask questions and keep a comfortable walking pace. The main drawback is the long drive, often one to two hours each way, and lunch is not included in the $163 price.

• A former monastery in the woods: Walk to an ex-convent surrounded by the high forest of Desierto de los Leones.
• Three hours of walking: The route includes a warm-up, an approach hike, a monastery visit, and a return through the forest.
• Food with local flavor: Stop for regional food after the monastery, with a chance to taste pulque if available.
• Small-group format: No more than six participants join the English- or Spanish-speaking guide.
• Useful extras included: Transportation, tickets, water, a snack, and photos are covered.
• Bring cash: There are no ATMs, and card payments are not accepted in the park.

Why This Forest Park Makes a Good City Break

Desierto de los Leones National Park lies within Greater Mexico City, but it feels far removed from the capital’s hard edges. The appeal is not one grand viewpoint or a single famous monument. Instead, you get a steady change of scene: city streets give way to mountain roads, then to trees, trails, and an old religious complex.

The main target is the former convent, often called the ex-convent. It sits in the middle of the wooded park, which gives the visit its unusual character. You are not simply touring a church in a town square. You are walking through the forest to reach a place built for religious retreat and seclusion.

Your guide explains the site’s history, myths, and legends during the walk. That timing matters. The information comes as the setting unfolds, so the monastery feels connected to the woods rather than like a separate museum stop.

The park is also a practical choice if you want nature without arranging a long independent trip from Mexico City. Pickup is included from your lodging, and the operator confirms the exact pickup place and time after booking. Leave a WhatsApp number so that communication is easy.

The Ride Out From Mexico City

The drive takes roughly one to two hours. That is a major part of the day, so think of this as a full outing rather than a quick half-day walk.

You receive water and a snack for the road. The vehicle ride also gives you time to rest or ask your guide questions. If you have already spent several days walking around Mexico City, the quiet travel time can be useful. If you dislike sitting in traffic, the drive is the clearest weakness of the trip.

Pickup is included, but the information does not give a fixed departure time. Starting times depend on availability, so check before booking. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and the small group size should help keep the ride more personal than a large bus excursion.

The price is $163 per person. That is not a bargain if you compare it with simply arranging your own transport and paying for a park visit. The value comes from the package: return transportation, a guide, entrance tickets, water, snack, photos, and a planned route are all covered. You also avoid the work of figuring out how to reach the park and where the trail begins.

Lunch is separate, so budget for it. Bring cash, since there are no ATMs and cards are not accepted.

Warming Up Before the Three-Hour Hike

The walking portion begins with a warm-up. This is a small but welcome detail, especially because the route is described as beginner level rather than effortless.

You need some basic physical condition, but the trail is not presented as a steep or technical trek. One detailed account describes it as beautiful and not exactly easy, though not too steep either. That is the right way to picture it: expect sustained walking through the forest, not a casual stroll from a parking lot to a monument.

The first guided walk lasts about 1.5 hours. During this part, the guide talks about the park’s past, its myths and legends, and the reason a monastery was built in such a remote setting.

Wear closed-toe shoes with a solid, comfortable feel. The operator specifically advises clothing that can get dirty, which tells you to expect ordinary trail conditions rather than polished paths throughout. Comfortable clothing, biodegradable sunscreen, and biodegradable insect repellent are also sensible items to pack.

The altitude may matter. This activity is not suitable for people with altitude sickness, and the operator also excludes people with several medical conditions, including heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, recent surgery, back problems, and other pre-existing conditions. Pregnant women and children under eight should not join.

Reaching the Ex-Convent in the Forest

The former convent is the day’s main reward. Once you arrive, you enter its spaces and gardens with your guide.

The setting does much of the work. Mexico City is famous for its urban scale, yet this visit shows a quieter side of the region. The convent’s location helps explain why religious communities once sought remote places. You can connect the building to the forest, the silence, and the old legends your guide has discussed on the way.

Entrance tickets are included, and the activity advertises skip-the-line access. That keeps the visit focused on the site instead of ticket arrangements.

Allow about 1.5 hours for the first guided walk and the monastery visit together, based on the published schedule. The exact flow may depend on trail pace and conditions, but you should have time to see the interior spaces and gardens rather than only take a quick look from outside.

Bring a charged smartphone and a camera. Photos are included as part of the tour, but having your own phone lets you record the forest, gardens, and monastery at your own pace.

Regional Food and a Possible Pulque Tasting

After leaving the ex-convent, the group stops for regional food. The food period lasts about one hour, but lunch is not included in the tour price.

That arrangement can work well because you choose what to order and pay directly for your meal. The nearby restaurants are described as offering typical local food at affordable prices, so this should not be treated as a luxury dining stop. Bring cash and expect to pay for food separately.

There may also be a chance to taste pulque, a traditional Mexican drink. The wording matters: this is an opportunity, not a guarantee. If available, it adds a local touch to the meal, but you should not book the tour solely for the tasting.

This stop breaks up the walking day. You can sit down, eat, and rest before the final forest section. It also gives you a better sense of the place as a local recreation area, not just a historical site arranged for visitors.

The Return Trail Through the Trees

After lunch, you begin another guided walk of about 1.5 hours. The route returns through the forest to the vehicle rather than ending at the monastery.

That return makes the outing feel like a real hike instead of a one-way transfer to a monument. You get more time among the trees, and the guide can continue explaining the area’s stories and details. The exact trail conditions are not specified, so keep your footwear practical and be ready for dirt or uneven ground.

The park’s peaceful setting is the strongest part of the day, but the walk still requires energy. The operator calls the route beginner level, while the more detailed account describes it as moderately demanding without being very steep. I would plan for a steady outing and avoid scheduling another strenuous activity that evening.

Once you reach the vehicle, the return drive to Mexico City takes another one to two hours. You can rest during the ride, but the full day may run close to the stated seven hours, with traffic affecting the timing.

What the $163 Price Really Covers

At $163 per person, this is a guided nature and history outing with transport, not a low-cost park admission.

The included items are:

• Pickup from your lodging
• Transportation to and from the park
• English- or Spanish-speaking live guide
• Entrance tickets
• Water
• A road snack
• Photos

You still pay for lunch and souvenirs. Since the local restaurants may accept cash only, carry enough Mexican pesos for your meal, drinks, and any small purchases.

The price makes more sense for visitors who value convenience. Getting to a mountain park outside the central city can take time and planning, especially if you do not speak much Spanish. A small group of no more than six also gives this trip a more personal feel than a large coach outing.

If you are comfortable arranging transport yourself and only want a short walk, the cost may feel high. If you want a full day with a guide, forest access, a historical site, and a meal stop handled in one plan, the package is easier to justify.

Who Should Book This Hike?

I would recommend this experience to you if you want a break from Mexico City’s museums and neighborhoods, but still want history and local context. It suits adults and older children over eight who can walk for several hours on a beginner-level trail.

It is also a good match if you prefer a small group rather than a crowded bus. The six-person limit can make a real difference on a forest path, especially when you want to ask about the monastery, local legends, or pulque.

You should think twice if your schedule is tight. The drive can take up to two hours each way, and the tour includes several hours of walking. It is not the right pick for anyone with the listed medical restrictions, altitude sickness, recent surgery, or a need for fully accessible terrain.

Pack closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothes, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera, a charged phone, and cash. Clothing that can get dirty is wise. You do not need to bring water or a road snack, but carrying extra water may still be useful if you prefer to drink more while walking.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mexico City plans are still shifting.

Should You Book the Desierto de los Leones Tour?

Book it if you want a forest hike with a real historical destination, not just a nature walk. The former convent, local stories, small group, and regional food stop give the day more variety than a simple trail outing.

The best value comes from the included transport and guide. The largest cost is the long travel time, and you must add lunch to the budget. For a first visit to Mexico City, I would choose this over another urban activity only if you are ready to give up most of a day and want quiet woods, moderate walking, and a less familiar side of the region.

FAQ

How long does the Desierto de los Leones tour last?

The activity lasts about seven hours. The drive from Mexico City can take one to two hours each way, and the walking portions total about three hours.

Is transportation from Mexico City included?

Yes. Pickup from your lodging and transportation to and from Desierto de los Leones are included.

Is lunch included in the $163 price?

No. Food is not included. You pay for your own regional meal at the restaurant stop.

Are entrance tickets included?

Yes. Entrance tickets are included, and the activity advertises skip-the-line access.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

Is the hike suitable for beginners?

Yes, the route is described as beginner level and requires only a little physical condition. It is still a several-hour walk, and one account describes it as not exactly easy, though not too steep.

Can I taste pulque?

You may have the opportunity to taste pulque, a traditional drink, if it is available during the food stop. It is not presented as a guaranteed part of the tour.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothes, biodegradable sunscreen, biodegradable insect repellent, cash, a camera, a charged smartphone, and clothes that can get dirty.

Can children or pregnant women join?

Children under eight and pregnant women should not join. The activity also excludes people with several medical conditions, including heart problems, back problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, altitude sickness, recent surgery, and other pre-existing conditions.