Macuiltepetl is a forested volcanic hill rising within the city limits — an urban ecological reserve of 37 hectares with cloud forest and a network of hiking paths. It is one of the few places in Mexico where you can walk through genuine cloud forest without leaving a city, and the diversity of birds and plants reflects the unusual climate of the Xalapa region. The hill reaches about 1,550 metres and the views from the summit take in the urban sprawl of Xalapa and, on clear mornings before the clouds build, the Cofre de Perote volcano.
The paths are well maintained and clearly marked; the main circuit takes about an hour. Entrance is free. Go early — the forest fills with birdsong from dawn, and the mist and light are at their most atmospheric in the first hour after sunrise. The park is a short taxi or bus ride from the centre.