Mexico’s first National Park is a beautiful mountainside forest of oak and pine, with numerous streams and the remains of a fascinating Carmelite monastery to explore. The monastery dates from 1611, and the name, “Desert of the Lions,” refers to the biblical Elijah who lived isolated in the wilderness. Beautiful flower gardens surround the monastery. There are many recreational options, such as hiking and biking trails and on weekends there are trail horses for rent. It is a good idea to speak with a ranger before leaving the well-traveled areas of the park, as sometimes theft is a problem in less popular sections. A restaurant housed in the monastery offers Mexican favorites.

Parque Nacional Desierto de los Leones Cool, fragrant pine and oak forests dominate this 20-sq-km national park (6am-5pm) in the hills surrounding the Valle de Mexico. Some 23km southwest of Mexico City and 800m higher, it makes a fine escape from the carbon monoxide and concrete. The name derives from the Ex-Convento del Santo Desierto de Nuestra Senora del Carmen (Camino al Desierto de los Leones; 10am-Spm Tue-Sun), the 17th-century former Carmelite monastery within the park. The Carmelites called their isolated monasteries `deserts' to commemorate Elijah, who lived as a recluse in the desert near Mt Carmel. The `Leones' in the name may stem from the presence of wild cats in the area, but more likely refers to Jose and Manuel de Leon, who once administered the monastery's francs. The restored monastery has exhibition halls and a restaurant. Tours in Spanish (weekends only) are run by guides garbed in cassock and sandals who lead you through the patios within and expansive gardens around the buildings, as well as some underground passageways. The rest of the park has extensive walking trails. (Robberies have been reported, so stick to the main paths.) On Saturdays and Sundays, buses depart from Metro Viveros for the former convento. During the week, there's no transportation directly to the monastery, but you can take one of Flecha Roja's frequent 'Toluca Intermedio' buses from the Terminal Poniente bus station and get off at the La Venta toll booth. From there, take the footbridge over the highway and follow signs for the Desierto de Leones road.

The Desierto de los Leones National Park is one of the national parks are there in Mexico City in the mountains which is located in the southwest part of its limits and was endowed with an extension of 1,866 hectares; comprising in its territory a wide variety of pines and animal species are protected. The Desierto de los Leones National Park was the first to be declared a national park in the country in 1917 and has been closely linked to the development of the capital because since the time of the Viceroyalty, the waters of its springs were carried through an aqueduct to the city. A monastery of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites settled in its forests due to natural tranquility and peace that reigned here. It serves as recreation and relaxation to the neighboring town and capital.

It includes part of the delegations Cuajimalpa and Alvaro Obregon in the Federal District. The best way to reach the park is by car, to which two options are presented. The first is taking the old road to the Desierto de los Leones which is accessed through the side of the beltway southbound up to the Altavista neighborhood, and San Angel; this road is taken until the national park. The other option is located at the height of the tollbooth of the Mexico - Toluca passing Santa Fe and Cuajimalpa. After San Angel and Altavista is a colony called Tetelpan, which preserves like Desert Santa Rosa and the rustic villages and holds two annual festivals. A third way to get to the Desierto de los Leones, from the south of Mexico City is peripheral. From south to north you take the superhighway Luis Cabrera, this leads to a fork to the right is the route to Santa Fe and the left leads to the Desert Lions.

Inside the park, environmental education activities are carried out and it is remarkable its function as a recreational and leisure center for the inhabitants of Mexico City Some of the recreational activities you can do within the park are: Biking, you can even rent a bike if you do not have; a picnic or a barbecue and spend a good time with your family and friends; or else enjoy the famous quesadillas that are eaten at various food stalls there in the park, walking through the woods and see the flora and fauna that has the park. All these activities are a perfect escape from everyday life in Mexico City but without leaving it; in the park we can take time to reflect, and spend time with family and friends enjoying a landscape full of life and peace. Also the park is used on special occasions for weddings, because with magnificent infrastructure and the perfect landscape monastery forest do an amazing place for such events.

These natural paradises are the ideal places for family recreation and an alternative to enjoy a picnic flying handmade kites or riding bicycle or horse. Also not forgetting the traditional and famous pulque, it is a real attraction for most people who visit this park. And which you can be found in a wide variety. In this park, as is a major tourist attraction as well as for locals and foreigners, enjoying a day off from everyday life, stress, traffic, school, work, etc. They have even cases where people who enjoy this park with its flora and fauna, have come to realize from birthdays to weddings. This suggests that in fact this park is a good way to spend a pleasant moment with family and friends.

Today in this beautiful mountain scenery, the remains of old buildings blend into the surrounding forest amidst the serenity of the gardens, patios, fountains and spaces, allowing delve into the atmosphere of the past and discover with new eyes the richness of the natural environment surrounding Mexico City. Also the Desierto de los Leones houses a museum, exhibition halls and hosts various cultural events such as concerts of sacred music and horticultural fairs. Besides the places that surround it are ideal for diverse recreational activities ranging from mountain biking to hiking and family picnics site. Exhibitions of art and photography, concerts, plays, festivals and fairs, film footage, ecological events, press conferences related to culture, courses and seminars as well as plenary sessions: Inside the park, as performed activities.