Two-day summit expedition. Camp at La Joya. Midnight start. Long ridge work and rock scrambling. The mountain that tells you whether you're ready for Pico.
Iztaccíhuatl is a long mountain. The summit push is 8–10 hours from camp at La Joya (3,930m) to the summit at 5,230m. The route follows a series of ridges and rock formations — what climbers call the "Sleeping Woman" silhouette: knees, belly, chest, head.
About the ice. Three small glaciers still exist on Izta — Panza, Pecho, and Suroriental. They're significantly smaller than they were even a decade ago. Conditions vary by season: winter brings ice and snow that require crampons and ice axe; summer is mostly rock scrambling with small ice patches near the summit ridge. Your guide assesses conditions the morning of and decides what gear to bring.
The two real challenges are endurance and altitude. The scrambling isn't technical, but doing it for 8 hours at 5,000m+ is what makes Izta hard. Most climbers who've spent a few days in Mexico City and done a warm-up like Malinche or Ajusco will summit. The ones who don't almost always underestimated the length of the day.
From CDMX pickup at 2,250m to the summit ridge at 5,230m — the altitude curve of a typical Yacana Izta expedition.
For Izta, gear matters — long days at altitude punish you for missing layers or worn-out boots. Two columns: yours, ours. Need to rent personal items? We'll arrange it.
// Personal gear rentals · Need to rent boots, a puffy, gloves, or a sleeping bag? Tell us when you book and we'll arrange it through our partners in CDMX. Reserve 7+ days out so sizing works.
Modeled summit conditions, refreshed when this page loads. Rounded estimates — we use this same data alongside on-site verification to call go/no-go each morning.
Shot by Yacana guides during recent Izta expeditions. No stock, no models. The ridge, the rock, the people who made it.
Verified reviews from Yacana climbers across our expeditions. 50+ five-star reviews on TripAdvisor — here are three.
We had an amazing time. Cristino goes above and beyond — just a genuinely warm person. Super well-organised: transport, food, technical gear. Everything is arranged perfectly. We would definitely do it again.
The company was always very quick to respond to all my questions, and helped me with everything I needed. Our guide was the best we could have wished for: knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. He knows lots about the history of Mexico.
Cristino took great care of us, helping set up tents, cooked, and more importantly motivated us even when we felt discouraged halfway. Wonderful experience overall. I would recommend doing it with this company.
Izta isn't technical, but the length and altitude punish unprepared climbers. The ones who summit almost always built up to it. Here's the ladder.
Most Izta expeditions run 2–4 climbers. Bigger groups get the same rate at 3 and above.
Deposit — 35% secures your guide and date.
Balance — 65% due at the END of your trip.
Cancel — 14+ days out: full refund. Inside 14 days: no refund.
Cards — +5% bank fee on remainder. Cash welcome.
Tell us when you're coming. We'll handle the rest.
