Category: The Volcanoes of Mexico

The normal route of this beautiful volcano is relatively easy, although rather long, so you should be in excellent physical condition and sufficiently acclimatized. The vertical gain is 1,260 meters, and the total distance is 14 kilometers. As preparation, we recommend that you do five hours of physical exercise per week. It is also convenient to climb a four-thousander in the previous weeks. From Amecameca we take a nice mountain road through the forest, and arrive at the Pass of Cortés, which the Spanish conquistadors used to enter the Valley of Mexico in 1519, on their way to Tenochtitlan, then the capital of the Aztec Empire. We register at the park’s office for our two-day adventure.

This is a fascinating route, which will take us to the summit of the Feet of the Iztaccihuatl, also known as Amacuilécatl in náhuatl. The approach route is the same as for the Iztaccihuatl: Amecameca, Pass of Cortez, and La Joyita. From the parking lot we follow the normal route (“Los Portillos”), and climb to the Third Portillo, at 4,600 meters.