GUNUNG · Mexico

Popocatépetl

Don Goyo

Information

Elevation: 5.452 m
Country: Mexico (MX)
Location / Range: Sierra Nevada / Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
Mountain type: Volcano
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 19.0234, -98.6234
Difficulty: N/A — official climbing has been CLOSED since December 1994
Best Season: Not applicable (active exclusion zone)
Hazards: The most active and dangerous volcano in Mexico: toxic gas emissions (SO₂, CO₂), volcanic ash, lahars, and unpredictable explosive eruptions. A 12 km exclusion zone around the crater is enforced by Mexican authorities.

Description

Popocatépetl (5,452 m)—known as 'El Popo' or 'Don Goyo'—is Mexico's most active stratovolcano and one of the world's most dangerous. Its Nahuatl name means 'Smoking Mountain', a name it earns every day. Situated just 70 km southeast of Mexico City, it straddles the Puebla–México–Morelos state borders and, alongside twin peak Iztaccíhuatl, forms the UNESCO World Heritage Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park. Since December 1994—when a major eruption broke 70 years of dormancy—all climbing to the summit has been officially prohibited. The volcano constantly emits smoke, ash, and sulphurous gas; periodic moderate eruptions have repeatedly closed Puebla airport and affected millions of residents.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Las Cruces (Jalur Normal) — via Tlamacas / Paso de Cortés

Sedang–Berat (medan vulkanik + salju)

+1450 m 1 hari panjang (pra-penutupan)

Historic normal route: from Paso de Cortés (~3,400 m) to the Tlamacas huts (~3,950 m), traversing the north side up to Las Cruces (~4,900 m), then scree and snow to the crater rim. NOTE: climbing has been officially CLOSED since December 1994 due to the 12 km exclusion zone—this route is historical reference only.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Popocatépetl (~5,393 m), an active volcano in Mexico beside Iztaccíhuatl. The historic normal route runs via Las Cruces from Tlamacas/Paso de Cortés, but climbing has been officially CLOSED since December 1994 due to eruptions and a 12 km exclusion zone. Available footage is pre-closure ascents, scientific expeditions, and climbers reaching the crater—highlighting gas, ash and volcanic-terrain hazards.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.