Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote Park

Address: Cofre de Perote National Park, Veracruz, Mexico

Website: https://www.gob.mx/semarnat

Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote is a national park in Veracruz that protects the slopes and high-altitude ecosystems of the Cofre de Perote volcanic dome. The park’s defining feature is the Cofre de Perote summit, a prominent volcanic peak rising above surrounding valleys.

Visitors come for high-altitude hiking, montane forests, and birdwatching along trails that access the mountain’s slopes and ridgelines. The park contains areas of pine and fir forest at higher elevations and more open landscapes lower down.

The area was set aside under Mexico’s national park system to conserve the mountain and its forests; it has been managed by federal authorities to protect habitat and regulate recreational use. Over time access and conservation measures have been adjusted to balance recreation with protection of forested slopes.

Geographically it lies in central Veracruz near the town of Perote and forms part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, west of the coastal plain and east of the high Mexican plateau.

• Summit elevation: 4,282 metres above sea level is the commonly cited elevation for the Cofre de Perote summit.

What to See#

• Cofre de Perote summit: The volcanic summit reaches about 4,282 metres above sea level and is the park’s dominant landmark; it is a volcanic dome within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

The park is northwest of the city of Xalapa and accessible via highway from Veracruz and Mexico City. The nearest towns with services are Perote and Xico; from those towns local roads lead to park trailheads. A car or guided tour is the most practical access.

• Check park advisories before attempting the volcano summit - weather and safety rules can change rapidly.
• Hire a local guide for crater-area hikes; terrain can be steep and confusing.
• Bring layers and sun protection - high-altitude conditions can be deceptively cold and sunny.