Parks Manager

National parks near Mata Obscura, Veracruz

Mata Obscura sits inside the Huatusco area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Huatusco for the full write-up.

Cofre de Perote National Park is the closest national park to Mata Obscura, Veracruz — 43.5 km (27 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 58 min behind the wheel.

Cofre de Perote, Pico de Orizaba, Cañón del Río Blanco, Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, La Malinche, and Xicoténcatl make a full day trip — leave early. Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl, Sacromonte, Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl, and El Chico are better with a night booked nearby.

Mata Obscura has a population of about 1,539.

National parks near Mata Obscura

Parks ranked by distance from Mata Obscura
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Cofre de Perote National Park43.5 km (27 mi)58 minDoable as a day trip
Pico de Orizaba National Park48.4 km (30.1 mi)1 hr 4 minDoable as a day trip
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park55.4 km (34.4 mi)1 hr 11 minDoable as a day trip
Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano National Park112 km (69.5 mi)2 hr 6 minDoable as a day trip
La Malinche National Park125 km (77.6 mi)2 hr 17 minDoable as a day trip
Xicoténcatl National Park146 km (90.6 mi)2 hr 36 minDoable as a day trip
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park190 km (118 mi)3 hr 15 minBest as a weekend
Sacromonte National Park202 km (126 mi)3 hr 25 minBest as a weekend
Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park211 km (131 mi)3 hr 33 minBest as a weekend
El Chico National Park225 km (140 mi)3 hr 46 minBest as a weekend

When to make this trip

Cofre de Perote 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 Cofre de Perote National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Mata Obscura 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 Mata Obscura
PairApartEstimated drive
Pico de Orizaba → Cañón del Río Blanco25.6 km (15.9 mi)39 min
Cofre de Perote → Pico de Orizaba52.9 km (32.9 mi)1 hr 9 min
Cofre de Perote → Cañón del Río Blanco74.8 km (46.4 mi)1 hr 32 min
Pico de Orizaba → La Malinche84.5 km (52.5 mi)1 hr 42 min

Planning a trip from Mata Obscura

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 Cofre de Perote National Park guide

Other towns in Totutla

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Mata Obscura?

Cofre de Perote National Park. It is about 43.5 km (27 mi) from Mata Obscura, roughly 58 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Mata Obscura?

Yes — Cofre de Perote National Park, Pico de Orizaba National Park, Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano National Park, La Malinche National Park, and Xicoténcatl National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Mata Obscura?

10 parks are within reach of Mata Obscura, 6 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Mata Obscura?

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