Macuiltépetl — Nahuatl for "five hills" — is the small extinct volcanic cone that rises just north of central Xalapa. It is the highest point in the city, capped by a stone viewing tower that on a clear morning gives a 360-degree view from the Cofre de Perote in the west to the Pico de Orizaba in the south. Best between November and March, when the cloud cover is briefly tolerant.
The cone is preserved as an ecological park with a spiral road leading to the summit and several walking paths through second-growth cloud forest. Joggers and dog walkers populate it from before dawn. Entry is free; allow an hour for the walk up and back.