Overview

An adventurous journey into the land you thought you knew...this will prove to be the best of Mexico.

This is surely the most unique trip we offer on several different levels. You think you know Mexico? We are ready to give you a completely different taste of this "familiar" land. We combine the physical challenge of ascending one of Mexico's highest volcanoes with the thrill of descending on if it's most amazing gorge rivers. And to top it off, we will share the remarkable Dinner In The Dark experience...where we will enjoy a delicious meal served in a room completely void of light...with a remarkable blind wait staff providing guidance.

An overview...

The Ascent:
Malinche, 4,480 meters high is an extinct volcanoe that rises 2,000 meters above the Puebla altiplano. The ascent is physically demanding, primarily due to the altitude gain, however the terrain is not exceptionally difficult. It is mostly done on a trail that winds it´s way through the forest up to 4,000 meters and then cruises up a loose ash, scree slope. A hundred meters below the summit there is a boulder section that requires some scrambling. The summit provides a remarkable view of the other 3 surrounding vocanoes and the sprawl of Mexico City below. In all, a 3 day ascent to almost 15,000ft.

Alter descending from the summit of Malinche we drive down for an overnight stay at a picturesque 17th century hacienda...Jalcomulco Veracruz.

The Descent:
Jalcomulco Veracruz is a picturesque village amidst the Veracruz rainforest, our take off point for a descent of the beautiful Río Pescados. This fun and exciting moderate river rafting experience takes you through the core of the jungle ecosystem, passing just under 300 ft cliffs, waterfalls and various flora and fauna typical of the region. The river runs narrow and swift through a combination of mango plantations and tropical forests. From the river source of Descabezadero, where springs gush out of a fern covered natural limestone amphitheatre to the take out, 20 km downstream, the river offers almost nonstop Class II and III whitewater. The rapids are perfect for first timers as well as technical and challenging enough for experienced river runners to enjoy.

Once you have completed the 3 hour raft journey through the jungle we continue with our theme of "descent" as we head off to do some rappellingl in the heart of the Veracruz jungle. Several rappel lines will be set up for a slow, controlled desecent into some of the stunning limestone caves that are found in the Veracruz region.

The descending continues as we begin our canyoneering section of the trip. We will hike and slide down a wonderfully polished and dramatic canyon that has sevearal optional jumps ranging from 10 to 30 ft. into crystal clear pools.

Then, to top it off we let the day "soak" into us as we participate in a local custom...a Temascal (steam bath) to unwind from it all.

Dinner In The Dark:
After all of that excitement...this is quite possilby the highlight of the trip.
The taste is EVERYTHING in the dark! Imagine eating an entire, exquisite meal with not the slightest bit of light.

With the complete loss of vision — and the resulting heightening of the other four senses — an evening at Mexico's first-ever dark restaurant is an extraordinary culinary adventure. As taste buds work overtime to discover fresh nuances in well-known flavors, even simple, everyday foods like potatoes or plain yogurt morph into nouvelle cuisine.

Your waiters play a particularly important role — all of them are either visually handicapped or completely blind, and they not only serve the meals but also act as guides to you, the stumbling diner. Once they have shepherded the clientele through a "light lock" to their table in the pitch black dining room, the specially trained staff offer reassurance to the nervous and instruction on how to best to tackle the food and drink.

This meal always provides the diners with endless conversation topics..."my senses were so heightened". "I made such a mess". "The wait staff was incredible". A dinner in the dark experience will forever change how you perceive the world around you.

All of this in just 7 days! An amazing journey into Mexico...from the one of highest points to one of the lowest...we take you on a trip through the land of enchantment.

Join Us and Share the Vision

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart home, fly to Mexico City
Arrival at Mexico City Interntional Airport. Transfer to Hotel Maria Cristina

Day 2 Mexico City to Tlaxcala
After an early breakfast we drive (2 hours)  to the colonial town of Tlaxcala and have
lunch there . After our meal and a short break we continue for one more hour to the Malinche Cabins (3,200 meters). Dinner and discussion.

Day 3 Climb Malinche
Hike time: 8-9 hours
Altitude gain: 1,300 meters
Altitude reached: 4,480 meters
Estimated Distance: 6 kilometers
Early wake up, breakfast and climb Malinche (14,800 ft.)
Aproximately 6 hours up and 3 hours down. Mostly a trail through the forest the first part and some scree, rock scarmbling near the top. After coming down and loading the vehicles, we drive down to Hacienda La Malinche 30 mins away  for the night. Dinner and discussion.

Day 4 Hacienda La Malinche to Jalcomulco
After breakfast we take a stroll through the quaint Hacienda La Malinche followed by a late morning drive (3 hours) to Jalcomulco. Overnight at Hotel Alcatraces. Dinner and discussion.

Day 5 River descent, jungle rappel
After breakfast we will start our river descent. The entire paddle will take approximately 3 hours. After a rest and some lunch we will do a stunning rappel down into the jungle. Return back to Hotel Alcatraces for dinner and discussion.

Day 6 Canyoneering and return to Mexico City for Dinner in the Dark
After an early breakfast we will begin our canyon descent, hiking through narrow slots and polished canyons...with the occasional dip into the crystal clear pools found along the way. The entire descent will take approximately 5 hours. A four hour drive will have us back in Mexico City in time for our Dinner in the Dark.

Day 7 Depart for home
After breakfast we will have time to do a bit of sightseeing around the city, then off to airport and depart for home.

Gear List

Our suggestions in parenthasis.
Use as a guide for alternative brands.

• Day Pack 
  (Mountain Hardwear Sortie)
  1,500-3,000 c.i.
  3 Liter water bladder included (Camelback).
• Duffel Bags
  (Mountain Hardwear Large Expedition Duffel) 
  Large expedition size duffel. Made from either sturdy vinyl or canvass. This is the bag that will be carried on the trek with all of your gear that is not on your back. It must be sturdy. *Also have 1 other less sturdy duffel to leave street clothes at hotel while on trek
• Boots
  lightweight hikers or cross trainers (La Sportiva Zodiak) 
  sturdier hiking boots (La Sportiva Thunder GTX)
  *Optional...may wear just cross trainers if your feet typically stay warm. If your feet typically get cold or you have weak ankles, bring boots as well.
• Warm Hat 
  (Mountain Hardwear Dome Perignon)
• Sunglasses 
  (Costa Del Mar Frigate)
  A second spare pair strongly recommended.
• Trekking Poles 
  Optional, but recommended.
• Glove and Liner Combo 
  1 pair of liners (Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch) 
  1 pair of windstoppers (Mountain Hardwear Gravity) 
• Weatherproof Pants 
  (Mountain Hardwear Typhoon)
• Weatherproof Jacket 
  (Mountain Hardwear Typhoon)
• Pile Jacket 
  (Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket)
• Insulated Jacket 
  (Mountain Hardwear Subzero)
• Cotton/Linen long sleeved shirt
• Lightweight Trekking Pant
  2 pairs (Mountain Hardwear Convertable Pack Pant) 
  Convertible pant/short are the best.
• Capelin/Polypro top/bottom
  1 set each light and medium
• Socks 
  (2)Light, (1)Medium (Smartwool)
• Bathing suit
• Hygiene/toiletry kit 
  Only the basics
• First Aid Items 
  Only the basics. Tylenol, Motrin, Cipro, Moleskin...etc. We provide the main medical kit with critical meds.
• Headlamp
• Nalgene bottle (1 liter)
• Snack foods to supplement standard meals. Make sure to bring items you really enjoy, not just lame energy bars.
• Spare batteries
• Hat/visor
• Ear plugs
• Insect repellant with Deet
• Sunscreen 30 – 45 SPF
• Plastic Bags
  (garbage bags) 
  1 to 2...many uses. Big enough to hold critical items in your mountain duffel to add rain protection. Also a few small sandwich bags.
• Hand sanitizer (pocket size is best)
• Baby wipes for mountain bath
• Bandana
• Music player 
• Knife or multitool (if you think you might use it)
• Duct tape (put a few wraps around trekking pole for access)
• Journal
• Items you might want to give to donate to the Chilipaua school kids…shoes, shirts, socks, sunglasses, school materials.
• Tip money. This is optional of course... but if you feel the service was exceptional from the Mexican staff, the usual guideline is approximately $80-$100 for the entire adventure..

Don’t forget to:

• Label your gear (including trekking poles)
• Make copies of your passport (2)

Fees

Standard Mexico Adventure Fees - $1,800

Grand Trek Guided by Jeff Evans - $2,800

Nonrefundable deposit guarantees spot. Pay $500 with check using instructions on application or pay with credit card below. 3% processing fee will apply to all credit card purchases.

Payment Options

Trip Deposit $515.00 Standard Mexico Adventure Fees $1,800.00 Grand Trek Guided by Jeff Evans $2,800.00

Cost of Trip Includes

• All land travel
• Lodging - rates based on double occupancy. Single supplement of $100.
• Team welcome dinner. Team farewell dinner
• National Park gate fees where applicable
• Rescue fees / Park Commission fees where applicable
• Guides and drivers salaries
• All meals while on the adventure.. Note ‘snack food’ on Gear List
• All equipment excluding personal gear for Malinche climb.
• 1 Western leader (On Grand Expedition), 1 Mexican guide, Mexican assistant guides.
• Grand Expedition includes Leadership Expedition Curriculum

Additional Benefits

• We offer a pre-trip Colorado 14er training weekend (additional charge) 
• We offer on-going training advice
• Participation in our live dispatches, including group photos and trip stories (On Grand Expedition)
• There is a sat phone available for emergencies during the climb
• The food is outstanding as we lodge only in top tier hotels
• The client/guide ratio is low

Trip Cost Does Not Include

• International airfare
• Additional tips for guides and hotel staff
• Single room specific request
• Personal drinks, snacks, food, and gifts
• Subsequent lodging and food beyond the nights stated above.
• Alcohol and deserts
• Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of MountainVision Expeditions

Travel Details

Trip resources

The MountainVision Trip Resource Page is a list of valuable resources for your upcoming trip...weather forecasts, gear, health links, travel insurance, world clocks, etc...

Flights

You are welcome to work with your own travel specialist, however we at MountainVision highly recommend Dana Welch at The Travel Society. Dana has many years of expedition travel experience. She can be reached at 303.563.6225 or dana@travelsociety.com

Traveler’s Insurance

We highly recommend everyone purchase travelers insurance before leaving the country. There are many companies that provide the proper insurance and approximate cost will be $100-$350. Our team travel agent, Dana Welch, will assist you with this. Several for you to consider are www.travelguard.com, www.sevencorners.com and www.ihi.com.

Note: If you plan on obtaining trip insurance for your MountainVision Expedition, you will have to obtain your coverage within 2 weeks of making your initial trip deposit only if you expect to be covered for any PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. Otherwise, you are able to obtain the insurance up to one month prior to departure.

Health Issues

Consult your doctor, travel clinic or Jeff @ 303.80.8707 for professional advice concerning inoculations and precautions you should consider.

Immunizations we recommend for Mexico:

• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus (up to date)

Check out the CDC guidlines for Mexico.

Great care is taken to insure the food is prepared safely and in a healthy manner. If concerned, avoid salads, ice cubes in drinks, and eat only fruits with skins, which have been peeled. Ethnic foods are naturally tempting and should not be completely disregarded. Pay attention to the preparation if possible and enjoy the opportunity to be adventurous in trying the array of unique foods offered in Mexico.

It is prudent to rely basically on bottled water or drinks although the water in many towns and cities is purified and safe to drink. A sealed bottle will ensure the bottle has not been refilled. Don't swallow water while showering and remember to use bottled water for brushing your teeth. You will discover bottled water is readily available.

All water on the climb will be filtered and provided.

Pre-Climb Training

We are happy to give advice on training prior to the climb. In addition we will be holding one to two optional training days in the Colorado Rockies. Each day, held over different weekends, will allow team members to get to know each other as well as test new equipment and talk through the climb with your trip leader.

We recommend all MVX clients join us for our 14er Fitness program here in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. A great way to prepare for your upcoming adventure.

Also, please print out and follow our Pre Trip Training and Conditioning Guideline.

Passport and Entry Requirements

A valid passport is now required to enter Mexico and can be obtained from governmental agencies or a consulate in your own country. For U.S. citizens a passport expiring no less than six months after your return to the U.S. is required.

No travel visa is required for tourists staying in Mexico for less than 90 days.

Currency, Credit Cards & Traveler's Checks

We recommend that you take US cash in small bills as well as credit cards. You can change US$ fairly easily in Mexico City as well as several of the villages we will be visiting (local currency is the peso). Many places will also accept US$. The Mexican guides will accept US$ for tips.

There are ATM’s in Mexico City and Veracruz.. Some larger stores will take credit cards, but not all. Do not assume that you will be able to buy everything with plastic. You can change travelers checks in banks but this is generally very time consuming

Payment Schedule

A $500 deposit will secure your place on the team. Deposit due 4 months prior to departure date. Balance due 6 weeks prior to departure. If paying by check, please follow instructions on the MounainVision Expeditions Application Package. For payment with credit card please follow instructions on the Mexico Adventure Fees tab above.

Please email info@mountain-vision.com with any questions regarding payment.

Any Questions?

MountainVision Expeditions 
Office- 303.880.1930

Contact us at info@mountain-vision.com to learn more about our Mexico Adventure Trip.