Discover the Desierto de los Leones, near Mexico City, one of Mexico’s amazing secret spots where most of foreigners don’t go.
Located on the edge of Mexico City, the Desierto de los Leones National Park is a former convent founded in 1606 by the order of the Carmelites as a retreat for meditation, contemplation and silence. It covers an area of 4500 acres, so it is a great choice to escape the noise of the city without leaving it.
The main attraction of the park is the monastery, which offers guided tours where you can see the underground tunnels, the orchard, the museum, the cells, the mail chapel, the Garden of Secrets and the Fountain Garden.
Around this monastery, the park offers a variety of activities, there are tables with grills for a picnic, hiking trails in the forest, and there are events like cross country competitions, chess tournaments, bike paths, educational environmental classes, artistic exhibitions and concerts.
You can find shops with traditional Mexican sweets, regional food like the famous quesadillas and mushroom soup and local handmade textiles and pre-Hispanic crafts.