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Visitor Information

Due to the volcanic emergency, the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) has restricted visitor access to the volcanoes. Climbing Popocatépetl is now prohibited, but you may visit the Paso de Cortés and surrounding slopes and also climb Iztaccíhuatl. Since CENAPRED changed the Yellow Alert status from Phase 3 to Phase 2, it's possible to go from the Paso de Cortés to Santiago Xalixintla or else continue on to La Joya at the foot of Iztaccíhuatl, the trailhead for climbing the volcano and for other excursions through the zone. Before going to La Joya, you must fill out a registration form obtained from this website (available in Spanish, English, or French ), request a form and register by fax, or register directly at the Park offices in the town of Amecameca.

As of March 1, 2003, the entrance fee for all Park visitors is $ 10.00 pesos per person per day. For further information call 01-(597)-978-3830 or 01-(597) 978-3830; write or visit the office at Plaza de la Constitución Nº 9 B planta baja, C.P. 56900 Amecameca de Juárez, Estado de México; or request information by e-mail: iztapopo@conanp.gob.mx

At the present time, persons interested in staying at the Altzomoni lodge (4,000 m asl) can register at the Park office in Amecameca. The cost per day is $20.00 pesos per person, over and above the park entrance fee. The lodge has three rooms with four bunk beds each, so that eight people can stay in a room. Electricity, restrooms, and running water are provided. It is recommended that you bring sleeping bags, warm clothing, and drinking water.

Warm clothing is also recommended for visits to the Paso de Cortés due to its altitude of over 3,600 m asl and its exposure to winds from the Valley of Puebla. This pass between the two volcanoes is an excellent spot for observing Popocatépetl and the slopes identified as the feet of the reclining woman, Iztaccíhuatl. On clear days, you can see the Malinche volcano and the Pico de Orizaba to the east, as well as the hills of the Ajusco and the Sierra de las Cruces to the west of Mexico City.

In order to climb the Iztaccíhuatl volcano from the trailhead at La Joya, you must obtain permission and register in the Park office at the Paso de Cortés lodge, 7 kilometers away.

Climbers need high mountain equipment as well as experience; if this is not the case, they should be accompanied by someone who does have experience. For purposes of sightseeing and short walks, you can get to La Joya by automobile, but a high clearance, 4 WD vehicle is recommended because the road from Paso de Cortés is unpaved.

To visit the area called the Cabeza (Head) of Iztaccíhuatl, you need a high clearance vehicle for driving on the dirt road in regular conditions. You also need to ask permission of the officials of the Tlalmanaco Ejido at their registration stand on the outskirts of the town of San Rafael. This trip is not recommended for visitors without an adequate vehicle or for those who are not in the habit of hiking.

In the Llano Grande area, it's common to see people setting out to climb the Telapón or Tláloc volcanoes. The climb is not particularly difficult, technically speaking, but it does require you to be in good physical condition. Camping is also popular at Llano Grande; campsite shelters are available, as are horse rental services. The altitude at Llano Grande is 3100 m asl, so warm clothing is recommended. During the rainy season (from June to September), afternoon showers or downpours are common.

In the city it is customary for people to seek out both wild and domestic animals. Many people are fond of their pets, not only because they protect them but also because they keep them company. Canines and felines abound, and the most common house pets are dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes.

These domesticated species, however, cannot share spaces with fauna living in the wild because wild animals have not learned how to compete and protect themselves from domestic animals. This presents a problem for many wildlife species; human beings and their pets are gradually displacing them, constantly forcing them to move to areas where it is more difficult for them to subsist.

This situation prevails at the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park, where one of the main obstacles to conserving species endemic to the Park is the presence of dogs. They have spread diseases affecting the native species including the squirrel (Ciurus aureogaster), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor), which have no defenses against them. For this and other reasons, their numbers have diminished.

Another problem is that animals abandoned by tourists compete by hunting animals that are food sources for wild animals. Those most affected are rabbits and rodents in danger of extinction. Some of these are only found in the volcano zone and do not exist in any other part of the world, such as the teporingo, also known as the zacatuche or volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) and the volcano mouse (Neotomodon alstoni).

For these reasons, we kindly request that you leave your pets at home inasmuch as possible. In the event that it is absolutely necessary to bring them to the park, we ask that you take responsibility for them and their excrement. Please do not allow them to destroy the lairs of wild animals or kill any of the aforementioned species. We are sorry to say that house pets are extremely dangerous to animals that have inhabited the volcano zone for thousands of years. We also ask you not to leave scraps on the ground after eating because they lure more dogs and cats to the park.

We appreciate your cooperation in the conservation of species that belong to our children and to future generations of Mexicans.

See access routes

See area map

Routes for climbing Iztaccíhuatl. (Courtesy of Rodulfo Araujo)

Mountain Climbing Guide

Rock Climbing Guide