National Parks to Visit in 2026: Desierto de Los Leones, Mexico

The park’s focal point is the 17th-century Ex Convento del Desierto de los Leones, a former Carmelite monastery rebuilt after earthquake damage and now partially restored. Visitors can walk its cloisters, walled gardens, and subterranean corridors, visit small museum spaces, and experience the Capilla de los Secretos chapel where the acoustics carry whispers across curved walls. On selected evenings, theatrical “legends” tours dramatize the convent’s history and folklore, adding a cultural layer to a day otherwise focused on trails and forest. Beyond the convent, signed paths range from short streamside loops to steeper routes climbing toward Cerro San Miguel, where clear days bring wide views back over the Valley of Mexico. Mountain biking, trail running, and horseback riding are permitted on certain trails.

Around the main parking area and convent entrance, the atmosphere shifts to something closer to a classic weekend outing for Mexico City families, with picnic lawns, grills, children’s play areas, and simple food stalls serving quesadillas, sopas, and other local staples. That mix of basic infrastructure and wilder trails is what makes Desierto de los Leones particularly compelling for travelers seeking outdoor experiences from Mexico City: some members of a group can take on longer hikes or rides, while others stay closer to the convent, gardens, and picnic zones. Practically, the park typically opens around 6 AM and closes by late afternoon, while the ex-convent generally operates on a shorter schedule and is often closed on Monday. It’s worth confirming hours before planning a visit. And if you’re a Spanish speaker, don’t let the name confuse you: the park is neither a desert nor home to lions. The name is probably a holdover from early settlers from Spain, who would have encountered pumas (though they’re now extinct in the area).

How to reach Desierto de los Leones National Park

Desierto de los Leones is an easy national park to reach. From Mexico City, the simplest way is by car or rideshare via the Mexico–Toluca highway to the La Venta exit.