Parks Manager

National parks near La Punta, Jalisco

La Punta sits inside the Guadalajara area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Guadalajara for the full write-up.

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park is the closest national park to La Punta, Jalisco — 125 km (77.7 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 17 min behind the wheel.

Volcán Nevado de Colima, Lago de Camécuaro, and Barranca del Cupatitzio make a full day trip — leave early. Rayón, Insurgente José María Morelos, Islas Marietas, Cerro de Garnica, Gogorrón, Cerro de las Campanas, and El Cimatario are better with a night booked nearby.

La Punta has a population of about 4,889.

National parks near La Punta

Parks ranked by distance from La Punta
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park125 km (77.7 mi)2 hr 17 minDoable as a day trip
Lago de Camécuaro National Park128 km (79.5 mi)2 hr 20 minDoable as a day trip
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park172 km (107 mi)2 hr 59 minDoable as a day trip
Rayón National Park202 km (125 mi)3 hr 25 minBest as a weekend
Insurgente José María Morelos National Park207 km (129 mi)3 hr 30 minBest as a weekend
Islas Marietas National Park248 km (154 mi)4 hr 6 minBest as a weekend
Cerro de Garnica National Park272 km (169 mi)4 hr 27 minBest as a weekend
Gogorrón National Park278 km (173 mi)4 hr 32 minBest as a weekend
Cerro de las Campanas National Park291 km (181 mi)4 hr 44 minBest as a weekend
El Cimatario National Park297 km (184 mi)4 hr 49 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 La Punta 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 La Punta
PairApartEstimated drive
Rayón → Insurgente José María Morelos36 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 La Punta

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 Tonalá

Common questions

What is the closest national park to La Punta?

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park. It is about 125 km (77.7 mi) from La Punta, roughly 2 hr 17 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from La Punta?

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 La Punta?

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

When is the best time to visit the parks near La Punta?

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.