At CTSS, we offer a variety of different climb options to customize your Pico de Orizaba experience to your climbing style and ability:

Allowing you to customize your expedition to suit your needs is a huge priority for us.

As mountaineers ourselves, we understand that it’s the little things that can make the difference. Comfortable, well-rested climbers are successful climbers, and climbers who have objectives that are suited to their skill level are happy climbers.

What is a good fitness and training program for this climb?

• Climbing conditioning – pack-loaded uphill hiking, walking, and stair climbing
• Strength training – for the lower and upper body
• Cardiovascular training – including both aerobic and anaerobic workouts without pack weight
• Flexibility training – yoga and stretching to increase and maintain flexibility

Will there be blog updates?

Yes, we will be posting regular updates to the Climbing the Seven Summits blog. Make sure your family knows that no news is good news. If a few days pass between updates, it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong; it simply means that we might be busy climbing.

What’s the deal with food and water?

CTSS recommends that you stick to bottled or treated water throughout your expedition in Mexico. While eating out, we recommend being careful around fresh vegetables as they may have been washed in poor-quality water. Use discretion when purchasing food from restaurants and street vendors.

What is the acclimatization schedule like?

Our entire expedition is slow in order to allow our bodies ample time to acclimate. We will be at moderate-to-high altitudes on our climbs, and this slow process will allow us to avoid altitude sickness and improve the chance of success on the climbs. There will be some downtime because of this. Bring a Kindle/book and be patient. Make sure to communicate with your guides directly if you are experiencing any altitude issues or symptoms.

Will I need to share a room and tent?

Yes, both hotels and tents on the mountain will be shared accommodations due to limited tent space and the weight of carrying extra tents. We do offer a single rooming option for an additional $1,000 USD if you would prefer your own hotel room. Please note that tent accommodations on the mountain are double occupancy for safety and warmth.

How heavy will my pack be?

By the time you depart, you should be comfortably able to do multi-day hikes with strong elevation gain carrying a 50-lb pack. While you won’t necessarily always have a pack that heavy, it is a great way to build your power and strength in the areas where you will need it. The average pack weight on Orizaba is 40lbs – 50lbs (18kg – 24kg).

Will I need to purchase trip insurance?

Yes. Trip delay and cancellation, rescue, repatriation, and medical insurance are mandatory for this program for your own benefit. We have seen too many times people need to cancel their trip either before or during the expedition for reasons such as injury, health, family, and business matters. With such a long trip and so much at stake, climbers need to be prepared for contingencies.