Monkey Mountain via Camino Patzcuaro Sur is a 5 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and running.
Great fun trail. Def download map, can get lost in a few spots. The no trespassing area. Two dogs. The one not chained will chase you a bit. We were scared to pass him and went back to gate. The owner drove up then and offered to walk us by, my friend was still scared so he showed us the way around. At gate, walk up hill to the left. Watch the barbed fence for an opening. Walk the barbed fence up and around the back of the property, it’ll come out on the other side. When we returned the gate was locked and people were trying to figure out how to get around, so this is good to know anyway. Many people passed the dog with no bites, he just sounds mean. If you’re coming from sayulita, you can connect with another trail and walk the whole thing from cassa amor, no taxis. 11 miles total
Great hike and totally doable on your own. In fact the review for the trail from Haguiera Blanca gives perfect directions for how to get there and where to go. I suggest reading that even though it’s for this trail route. Follow the ropes to find the right path up when you’re at the incline. Enjoy the sunset but make sure you have a ride back set up - there’s no service at hacienda Jacqueline
Go from Higurea Blanca; much more visible and frequented trail; we had few times where we had to look for the trail plus you have to pass through the private property. If you want adventure with machete going through lush environment and clearing out occasionally thorns then this trail is for you
great hike. take a taxi to hacienda Jacqueline - that is the trail head. you will go through a gate that says do not enter. it's okay! then you will go through two barbed wire fence gates. also okay. download this route to your phone as the signal is sketchy. if you do all these things you can totally do this hike on your own. tell the taxi driver to pick you up at hacienda Jacqueline 2-3 hours after he drops you off, depends how long you think it will take. it took us just under 2 hours.
the trail is not marked in many places. Parked at Jacqueline Hacienda. went across Creek and between towel and horse fields for about a mile. Road curves to left and goes up steep hill and a sign in English and Spanish says no trespassing to the right. You have to go through the gate that says no trespassing LOL. Then that Trail is fairly obvious but those for couple miles maybe that least a mile and a half. Fairly steep with some ropes. View is excellent and worth the hike. Definitely ask every local you see which way to go LOL
The trail was extremely unclear. We did not get to Monkey Mountain due absence of trail markings and hitting a fence that said no trespassing. It turns out we may have been able to pass but as we were unfamiliar with the area we turned around. We went back a few days later with a local guide who actually took us in a different entrance and it was a lovely hike. For first time I recommend going with a guide. Once you are familiar you could do on your own no problem.
Aside from a bull and a tiny lizard there was no wildlife to speak of, however, there were frigate birds and many colorful long-tailed songbirds. Most of the climb occurs in the last mile which means it's quite steep but the view of Punta Mita is quite beautiful. Finally, there are a couple of livestock gates to pass through and just before the road transitions to trail a metal gate warning "No Pasar". A trail to the left will take you around the fenced area.