If we decide to bring all of our food from the US (freeze dried backpacker meals, oatmeal...) Will they let us bring it through customs? Or should we plan on trying to buy all our food once in Mexico?

I agree with bird. If you decide to buy food in Mexico, try to do it in a "super mercado" in Puebla. The food stores in Tlachichuca are pretty basic with a very limited selection.

You can find instant noodles, canned tuna, fruit and cheese but finding light-weight and easily-prepared food can be a challenge.

I bought instant oatmeal and hot chocolate at the super mercado in a big city, and then purchased ham & cheese tortas (sandwiches), cheese and fruit for the two days I was on the mountain.

I did the same as bird. I brought everything. I was able to clear customs with all of my food and my empty fuel bottle. I was more worried about them confiscating the fuel botlle than I was with the food.

Thanks guys for all of your help. I feel alot better now about bringing food in!

I haven’t had any problems taking packaged foods into Mexico. What you can’t take are unpackaged farm products like fresh fruit.

Keep in mind that Mexico has modern grocery stores with most all the same products we take for granted in the US. Also Mexico has large open air markets which are great places to buy fresh fruit and other products.

If you are going to climb from the hut there’s no reason to restrict yourself to dehydrated food. You may as well have things like bread, cheese, packaged meat slices, produce, pop, chocolate milk, potato chips or whatever.

The biggest logistic will be when you buy this stuff during your travels. When I did Orizaba in 06 we hired private transportation so we just had the driver stop at a supermarket. If you are travelling by bus with gear, then it is more of a challenge to figure out when and where you will buy supplies.

I've been to Pico de Orizaba twice....and always brought my food from the US...no problem passing custom.
Worst case scenario, they confiscate it and you can buy some locally...."NO HABLA ESPANOL!"

We brought about half our food in. We bought the other half in Tlachichuca for cheap. We bought beans, avocado, tomatoes, tortillas, and etc. stuff for making burritos. We were were bummed when the fresh stuff ran out...