Parks Manager

National parks near Alcaraces, Colima

Alcaraces sits inside the Colima area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Colima for the full write-up.

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park is the closest national park to Alcaraces, Colima — 17 km (10.5 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 28 min behind the wheel.

Volcán Nevado de Colima is close enough to visit on an ordinary afternoon. Lago de Camécuaro and Barranca del Cupatitzio make a full day trip — leave early. Insurgente José María Morelos, Rayón, Islas Marietas, Cerro de Garnica, Cerro de las Campanas, El Cimatario, and Bosencheve are better with a night booked nearby.

Alcaraces has a population of about 1,829.

National parks near Alcaraces

Parks ranked by distance from Alcaraces
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park17 km (10.5 mi)28 minRight on your doorstep
Lago de Camécuaro National Park155 km (96.3 mi)2 hr 44 minDoable as a day trip
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park155 km (96.3 mi)2 hr 44 minDoable as a day trip
Insurgente José María Morelos National Park208 km (129 mi)3 hr 30 minBest as a weekend
Rayón National Park225 km (140 mi)3 hr 46 minBest as a weekend
Islas Marietas National Park257 km (160 mi)4 hr 14 minBest as a weekend
Cerro de Garnica National Park290 km (180 mi)4 hr 43 minBest as a weekend
Cerro de las Campanas National Park358 km (222 mi)5 hr 43 minBest as a weekend
El Cimatario National Park360 km (224 mi)5 hr 45 minBest as a weekend
Bosencheve National Park364 km (226 mi)5 hr 48 minBest as a weekend

When to make this trip

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park is generally best December through April, the drier and less humid stretch, with May and November as the quieter shoulder either side.

June to November is the wet and hurricane season — heavy rain, high humidity, and occasional storm closures.

Heat and humidity are constant. Plan activity for early morning and carry more water than feels necessary.

Month-by-month detail for Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Alcaraces are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Alcaraces
PairApartEstimated drive
Insurgente José María Morelos → Rayón36 km (22.4 mi)51 min
Barranca del Cupatitzio → Insurgente José María Morelos52.7 km (32.8 mi)1 hr 8 min
Lago de Camécuaro → Barranca del Cupatitzio53.8 km (33.4 mi)1 hr 10 min
Barranca del Cupatitzio → Rayón76.6 km (47.6 mi)1 hr 34 min

Planning a trip from Alcaraces

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park guide

Other towns in Cuauhtémoc

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Alcaraces?

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park. It is about 17 km (10.5 mi) from Alcaraces, roughly 28 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Alcaraces?

Yes — Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park, Lago de Camécuaro National Park, and Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Alcaraces?

10 parks are within reach of Alcaraces, 3 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Alcaraces?

For Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.