Hoya de la Luz
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| | Difficulty:Pit 4A IV (v4a1 IV) Raps:1, max ↨617ft
Red Tape: Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 2 Jan 2016
"We spent the night before at the cabins in La Trinidad the night before the pit and drove down to Xilitla after visiting the pit. Our hike in took 2.5 |
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| Best season: | Nov-Mar (avg for this region)
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21.4142, -99.0911
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Introduction
This pit located near Xilitla is very unique, having a jungle with 100ft tall trees at the bottom and a couple waterfalls around the walls. The waterfalls are usually low flow, but would be absolutely spectacular to watch after rains. The jungle floor is traversed by several deep arroyos, usually dry, but proof that when it rains big rivers flow through this cave.
The cave is near the farmer settlement of La Trinidad and access to the area is controlled by the farmers. As of 2015 La Trinidad had limited electricity and no phone service. So you will have to get to La Trinidad first and then make arrangements with the "Jefe" Maximino. As a reference, in 2015 a local guide to take us to the cave took $200 Pesos, a porter to carry the rope took another $200 Pesos. We spend one night in the cabins for $250 pesos per person and had homemade dinner and breakfast for $60 pesos per person each.
Due to its remoteness and the logistics required to get to it, this pit was seldom visited. But in recent years they have paved the access road to La Trinidad where they now have modern wood cabins up for rent. Some cabins even have attached bathrooms with flush toilets and woodfire hot showers. The farmers will also provide soap, towels, candles, mattresses, blankets, linens and such.
To visit La Hoya de la Luz is best to drive to Xilitla and spend the night (possibly also visiting Las Pozas (Edward James Garden)). Then drive up to La Trinidad early the next day, visit the pit and spend the night in La Trinidad. If you do spend the night in Xilitla, Pastor Perez rents an apartment near his home on the way to La Trinidad -- it can fit 7 people and it was a mere $50 pesos per person in 2015.
Contacts:
- Pastor Perez Morales (Mi Huastequita Tours) Tel: +52 489 365 0357, +52 489 100 0053 [email protected]
- Paco (Tourist Office Xilitla) Tel: +52 489 112 1661
Approach
You will need to hire a guide to take you to the cave. The hike is usually 1.5h each way.
Descent
The main anchor is an overhanging rock with several bolts as backups (you will need to bring your own hangers). A properly rigged 600ft rope should reach the bottom of the pit -- if it doesn't, move the anchor to a lower spot.
Exit
After hiking back to a hot shower and warm homemade dinner, spend the night in the cabins.
Red tape
Beta sites
- http://www.amcs-pubs.org/maps/0095.pdf Cave Map
- http://www.visitxilitla.com/#!las-pozas/cl3g La Trinidad (Official Page)
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Trinidad-Xilitla/274383899420059 La Trinidad (Unofficial Page)