Trek into the Cloud Forest
Mexico's Top 20 Adventures
Virgin forest that goes on and on: That's why the trip to El Cielo, Mexico's northernmost cloud forest, is worth the trip. Stretching from the eastern to the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental, just south of the Tropic of Cancer and just five hours from the U.S.-Mexico border, this very accessible park holds an incredible diversity of species. Cielo, "sky" or "heaven" in Spanish, is an apt name for the biologically rich forest. The best place to park yourself is in the town of Alta Cima, a 90-minute uphill drive from Highway 85. The community-owned lodge improves with each year, and its success may inspire other lodges in the reserve to open similar services. So hop to it: The trails are excellent and the local guides, who are very proud of showing off their backyard, are first-rate.
