Hiking on Tequila Volcano
Visiting Western Mexico’s Famous Landmark and Climbing its Lava Plug
Dec 8, 2008
One of the best-known landmarks in western Mexico is Tequila Volcano which rises to a height of almost 3000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) above sea level. The volcano is situated 50 kilometers west of Guadalajara and just south of the celebrated town of Tequila, famous for Mexico’s national drink, which has been distilled in the area since the 17th century.
Driving to the Crater Rim
While tourists flock to the town of tequila, few residents of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, have ever seen what lies at the top of this volcano, whose silhouette, with its distinctive tetilla or nipple, dominates the horizon.
A vehicle with high clearance can easily drive from the volcano’s base to the rim of the crater in forty minutes, thanks to a seventeen-kilometer cobblestone maintenance road offering access to the microwave towers at the top.
Pine Trees and Wildflowers
During this drive, visitors can appreciate the changes in vegetation as they climb in altitude, until, at the very top, they come to stunted “dwarf” oak trees, their branches covered with grey lichen. Here it is always cold in the shade and those not used to the altitude will start to breathe faster at the slightest exertion.
While some craters are no more than giant, ash-covered bowls, this one is home to a lush forest of pine trees and oaks, bromeliads and wildflowers of all kinds, including orchids which grow on the ground rather than on tree branches.
Climbing the Lava Plug
Rising up from the center of this woods-in-a-bowl and arresting the visitor’s attention is The Plug. This is a thick monolith with vertical sides, a monsterous column of lava which hardened in the volcano’s throat during its last eruption, 220,000 years ago and was subsequently pushed upwards by tremendous geological pressure.
Although one could happily spend hours hiking inside the crater and around its rim, rock climbers will be unable to resist the challenge of The Plug, which of course is the nipple seen from afar.
Proof of this dramatic spire’s magnetic lure is the fact that the only trail inside the crater (644 meters long) leads straight from a parking spot on the cobblestone road to the base of The Plug.
View of Blue Agaves
Here one finds “permanent” nylon ropes in place. They are meant to aid climbers, but because they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation and weathering, should not be considered reliable. While mountaineers and rock climbers will have no problem with this ascent, the less skillful will appreciate a belay from above, especially over an exposed stretch where there is little to hold on to.
From the very top of The Plug, at 2986 meters, there is a magnificent 360-degree view of a rolling carpet of Blue Agaves stretching off to the far horizon, proof that Tequila Volcano stands at the center of what is now a World-Heritage site commemorating the production of Jalisco’s celebrated liquor.
Getting to Tequila Volcano
Take highway 15 west from Guadalajara for 58 kilometers. The cobblestone road leading to the top of the volcano is found at N20 52.334 W103 50.557 (WGS84), at the south end of the town of Tequila. The trail to The Plug starts at N20 47.370 W103 50.892.
Although Tequila Volcano can be reached by car or bus, it’s not possible to get there by train because the Tequila Express, one of the last two passenger-carrying trains in Mexico, does not go to the town of Tequila.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
