Citlaltépetl hosts glacier project from 16 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 04:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Citlaltépetl is the setting for Cartas al glaciar Jamapa, a mountaineering and community project that began on 16 October 2026 in Mexico. The group planned to carry a mailbox to the summit, then follow the Jamapa river towards communities and the coast.
The journey connects the mountain above Orizaba with a public programme about the future of its remaining ice. It gives visitors a dated opportunity to encounter the project around the national park and in Coscomatepec on 18 October 2026.
Cartas al glaciar Jamapa reaches the summit route
Journalist Rodrigo Soberanes Santín is leading the project with mountaineers Alejandro Montano and Rodrigo Laza. The initiative collects letters, audio messages and drawings from climbers, residents near the volcano and people living along the Jamapa river basin.
The team began from the Puebla side on 16 October 2026. The plan was to start the foot ascent around midnight and reach the summit during the early hours of 17 October, carrying a mailbox for farewell messages to the Jamapa Glacier. The project and its summit plan were reported by the reported summit expedition.
After the ascent, the group planned to descend by another route and follow the river's source and course. The mailbox was intended to gather more contributions from families, children, mountaineers and other communities connected with the waterway.
Citlaltépetl puts the glacier project in context
Citlaltépetl National Park protects Mexico's highest mountain, whose summit reaches 5,610 metres above sea level, according to Mexico's National Commission for Protected Natural Areas. The protected area extends across Puebla and Veracruz, making the mountain a natural link between high-altitude routes and settlements farther down the river basin.
CONANP lists Orizaba as the most important nearby locality on the south-eastern side, while Tlachichuca and Coscomatepec provide other approaches. The park has several trails and recommends an authorised guide for movement within the protected area. These physical links explain why the project combines a summit ascent with meetings in river communities. The park's official visitor information describes the routes and access arrangements.
The Jamapa Glacier is central to the project's message. The organisers are not presenting a routine mountain excursion, but a travelling record of what the glacier means to people living above and below the river. The mailbox makes that connection tangible: it starts at the summit and continues towards the settlements that depend on the basin.
Visiting Citlaltépetl: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Cartas al glaciar Jamapa began on 16 October 2026, with the summit objective planned for 17 October 2026. The public community activity was scheduled for 18 October 2026 in the central park of Coscomatepec.
- The project is not a change to park access. Its mountain ascent follows the Puebla side, while the public letter-gathering activity takes place in Coscomatepec.
- Orizaba is the main reference town on the south-eastern side. CONANP lists routes from Tlachichuca, Coscomatepec, Atzitzintla and Orizaba, and says there is no public transport into the protected area.
- The terrain is high mountain terrain. The park includes trails and routes for hiking and mountaineering, and CONANP recommends using established paths and an authorised guide.
- The national language used locally is Spanish, and the currency is the Mexican peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Citlaltépetl
When does Cartas al glaciar Jamapa take place at Citlaltépetl?
The journey began on 16 October 2026, with the summit ascent planned for 17 October 2026 and a public activity in Coscomatepec on 18 October 2026.
Where is Citlaltépetl and how do you get there?
The national park lies across Puebla and Veracruz. CONANP lists approaches from Orizaba, Tlachichuca, Coscomatepec and Atzitzintla, but says there is no public transport into the protected area.
What is Citlaltépetl?
It is a 5,610-metre volcano protected within a national park and Mexico's highest mountain. The area includes high mountain trails, alpine routes and several recognised approaches.
