The Walk to Mirador Quetzal
The magic of the Juluapan Peninsula
You don’t have to climb difficult trails or exhausting paths to enjoy the beauty of the ocean from above. There are many people with disabilities or otherwise who are unable to climb difficult trails. Today I want to spell out some options for walking up the Juluapan that almost anyone can take to enjoy two miradors on the Pacific, one looking east over Santiago Bay and one to the west.
The walk starts on the beach at the Oasis Ocean Club, Club Santiago. I will point out other places to join the walk, especially for those who may have a disability or want to come by taxi.
Leaving the Oasis behind me, I walked to the right, ocean on the left towards La Boquita. La Boquita is a collection of small “restaurants” with tables on the beach. At high tide you may have to wind your way through the tables as some of them go right down to the waterline. The distance from the Oasis to the bridge, Puenta Boquita, is 3/4 of a mile, or a bit more than one kilometer.
The bridge is safe to cross. On weekends there are usually kids jumping off the bridge. Once over, turn right as directed and follow the signs to Casa Abandonada. The distance to the Mirador Quetzal from here is almost exactly one mile.
Stay on the road leaving the Hotel Palma Real on your left. When the road forks, go left, up, not down back towards the lagoon. The road here enters the wooded peninsula. In about ten minutes you will come to a steep path to the left, with ropes. This shortcut saves about ten minutes but is quite difficult and not recommended unless you are strong and fit. The path goes up vertically, then rises sharply for 100 meters before rejoining the roadway.
Passing the rope shortcut, continue on the road until you come to another road. Turn left here onto this road.
If you are coming by car or taxi, follow the signs to El Risco off the lagoon road. Go past the turn to Vida Del Mar staying along the lagoon until you get to the sign for El Risco, then leave the lagoon road and start up the hill.
At this point the trail joins the car path. Here we proceed another 50 feet to the sign for Casa Abandonada.
Turn left here. While the road is not as good, it is still passable for most motor vehicles
The hike here continues steadily up, but the path is not difficult. Soon on the left the trail from the rope shortcut rejoins the road. A kilometer after leaving the bridge we come to the Mirador “Puerta Xoloapan.
We are at the gate to the park here. Even someone in a wheelchair can enjoy this view.
If you can continue for another 1/4 of a mile, continue through the gate up the mountain. If there is anyone at the gate, pay them 20 pesos. If no one is there, do not be afraid. Continue up. You can pay the 20 pesos on the way down if someone is there then.
Now we are walking on the west side of the peninsula with the Pacific on your right. The noise from La Boquita is gone. Watch for hawks and osprey soaring on the wind as the Pacific air lifts over the mountain. Soon we come to a sign for the Mirador Quetzal.
Leaving the main trail, a short walk takes us to this view:
If you are still feeling frisky, enjoy some water from your water bottle and keep going up to Casa Abandonada. But the trail becomes more difficult here. Steeper and hotter
Let the music of the mountain disolve your anxiety, calm your fears, and restore your mental health and well being. Take a deep breath. (Unauthorized translation).
Thanks for reading!