Available Exploration Guides for Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park in Mexico

Protecting Mexico's iconic twin volcanic peaks and the source of water for millions

Iztaccíhuatl, Popocatépetl National Park

Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park represents one of Mexico's most significant natural and cultural landmarks. The park occupies a strategic position in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a mountain range that traverses the country from coast to coast and serves as a natural boundary between the Valley of Mexico and the Puebla-Tlaxcala valley. The protection of this landscape was prioritized not only for its ecological value but also for its hydrological importance, as the snowmelt and precipitation that collect in the park's upper watersheds feed aquifers and rivers that supply water to over 20 million people in the Mexico City metropolitan area and surrounding cities. The park's boundaries were originally defined at the 3,000-meter contour line in 1935, though they were later adjusted to 3,600 meters in 1948, reducing the protected area but maintaining core conservation zones around the volcanic peaks. Today, the park functions as the core zone of the larger Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve, with a surrounding buffer zone managed for sustainable forestry and compatible human activities.