Expert Guides for Exploring the Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park Landscape

Mexico's most active volcano protected alongside an ancient volcanic massif in the Sierra de Manantlán

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park occupies a remarkable position in Mexico's system of protected areas, preserving a volcanic landscape of exceptional geological and ecological significance. The park is located in the southern portion of the Sierra de Manantlán, a mountain range that forms part of the broader Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a arc of volcanic activity that crosses central Mexico. The park's dual peaks represent distinct phases of volcanic evolution: Nevado de Colima is an older, eroded stratovolcano that has been inactive for thousands of years, while Volcán de Colima (Volcán de Fuego) is a younger, highly active cone that has been continuously erupting for centuries and remains the most active volcano in Mexico. The park covers approximately 65 square kilometers of mountainous terrain, with elevations ranging from the park boundary at 3,200 meters up to the summit of Nevado de Colima at 4,330 meters. The landscape is characterized by steep volcanic slopes, deep barrancas (canyons), and rocky terrain composed primarily of volcanic ash, basalt, and andesite. The park lies adjacent to the El Jabalí Flora and Fauna Protection Area to the southwest and is bordered by the Bosque Mesófilo Nevado de Colima State Park in Jalisco, which comprises several enclaves that adjoin the national park on the eastern and western flanks of the two peaks. This configuration creates an extended protected landscape that encompasses the entire volcanic complex.