El Bosque del Ocotal

What it is. El Bosque del Ocotal belongs to the Desierto de los Leones national park. The name comes from the trees planted across it —ocote pine, oyamel fir, ash and other pines— and the forest sits above three thousand metres, which is the point for runners: it is one of the places in the city used for altitude training, with four circuits on natural surfaces.

Who it suits. Runners and cyclists looking for thin air and soft ground, and families wanting to get children outdoors: the trails are wide, the shade is constant and the temperature is noticeably cooler than in the city below. Bring a jacket even on a sunny day, because at this altitude the shade is cold and afternoon rain is common in summer.

Getting there. On Calle Santa Rita, Loma del Padre, in Cuajimalpa, on the road up to the Desierto de los Leones. There is no metro nearby and public transport is limited: come by car, or take a bus up from Metro Barranca del Muerto or San Jerónimo and allow extra time.