A shorter, quieter climb on the western side of the valley opposite Cerro de la Bufa, reaching the departure station for the teleférico cable car and giving views back over the historic centre from a different angle.
Cerro del Grillo sits on the opposite side of the historic centre from Cerro de la Bufa, and the two hills are linked by the teleférico, the cable car that has carried visitors across the intervening valley since 1979 using Swiss-built technology. Walking to the Cerro del Grillo station rather than driving or taking a taxi gives a quieter, shorter climb than the Bufa side, about 3 km round trip with roughly 130m of gain, starting from streets a little more than ten minutes' walk from the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral.
The path climbs through a mix of paved street and stepped walkway before reaching more open hillside near the summit ridge, where the teleférico's Cerro del Grillo terminal comes into view. From the ridge, the perspective on the city reverses what is seen from La Bufa: the cathedral and Palacio de Gobierno sit below to the east, with the pink quarry-stone rooftops of the centre spreading out and the bulk of La Bufa itself visible across the gap that the cable car spans.
Many visitors combine the walk with a teleférico crossing, riding across to La Bufa and either walking back down that side or taking a taxi to close the loop. The ridge itself sees far fewer visitors than the Bufa side, since most tourists arrive directly by cable car or taxi rather than walking up, which makes it a reasonably peaceful option for anyone wanting the same aerial perspective on the city with less company. There is no fee to walk the hillside itself; only the teleférico crossing and any museum visits on the far side carry a charge.
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Cerro del Grillo, Zacatecas city
- Best season
- Year-round; October to April for the clearest views across the valley
- Trail type
- Out and back
- Terrain
- Mixed paved street and stepped hillside walkway leading to an open summit ridge
What to bring
- Walking shoes
- 1 litre of water
- Sun hat
- Camera for the teleférico and city views
Location
Cerro del Grillo teleférico station, Centro, 98000 Zacatecas, Zac., Mexico
22.7735, -102.5795 View on map
Highlights
- The departure terminal for the historic teleférico cable car, running since 1979 on Swiss technology
- A reversed perspective on the historic centre compared with the view from Cerro de la Bufa
- A quieter climb than the Bufa side, since most visitors arrive by cable car or taxi rather than on foot
- Views across the valley gap that the cable car spans, with La Bufa visible on the far side
- A short walk of roughly ten minutes from the Plaza de Armas to the base of the climb
Tips for visiting
- Combine the walk with a one-way teleférico crossing to La Bufa, then walk or taxi back down the other side.
- Arrive by mid-morning if planning to ride the cable car afterward, since queues build later in the day at weekends.
- The path mixes paved street and stepped sections, so grip-soled shoes help more than sandals.
- Check current teleférico operating hours before planning the crossing, since the schedule extends into the evening only during holiday periods.
- Bring a jacket if crossing by cable car afterward, since wind over the valley gap is noticeably cooler than street level.
- Photograph the city from the ridge in the hour after sunrise, when the pink stone rooftops catch warm side light.
When to visit
Year-round, with October to April giving the clearest long-range views across the valley. Early morning brings the softest light for photographing the historic centre from the ridge.
Accessibility
The route mixes paved street with stepped walkway sections near the summit and is not wheelchair accessible on foot, though the teleférico station itself is reached by a more level access road for visitors arriving by vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same hill as the teleférico station?
Yes. Cerro del Grillo is the western terminal of the teleférico cable car, which crosses the valley to Cerro de la Bufa on the opposite side.
Is there a fee to walk up Cerro del Grillo?
No fee applies to walking the hillside itself. A separate ticket is required only to ride the teleférico across to La Bufa.
How does the view compare with Cerro de la Bufa?
It offers a reversed perspective, looking back across the valley toward La Bufa and down onto the cathedral and Palacio de Gobierno from the western side rather than the eastern side.
How long is the walk from the historic centre?
About ten minutes on foot from the Plaza de Armas to the base of the climb, with the full round trip to the summit ridge taking roughly an hour to an hour and a half.