About two hours outside of Mexico City, in the state of Puebla, towers Popocatépetl, the second-highest peak in Mexico at an elevation of 17,880 feet (5,450 m). Popocatépetl, a volcano locally known as “el Popo,” spends part of the year with a snow-covered peak. With more than 25 million people living within a 62-mile (100 km) radius, el Popo is not only the most active volcano in Mexico, it is also among the most studied volcanoes in the world. As far as volcanoes go, it is well within geezer status, at about 730,000 years old. But it hasn’t slowed down, not one bit.
Popocatépetl gets its name from Nahuatl: popōca and tepētl, meaning “smoking mountain”. While el Popo spent much of the 20th century in slumber, its activity kicked up in the 90s, with increasingly common eruptions. Today it is not unusual for a plume of ash to be seen swirling above its peak, or for the vehicles parked on the street in the nearby city of Puebla to be dusted with a film of the volcano’s ash thick enough for an index finger to write, “lávame” (wash me) during the months of winter when rain is not a daily occurrence. Occasionally, el Popo will spew hot rocks and lava in a fiery display that is both magnificent and terrifying at once.
There are currently five evacuation routes for people living in the volcano’s vicinity, although many of the people living in the evacuation zone assert that the evacuation routes are in a dangerous state of disrepair. While authorities keep a close watch on the activity within the bowels of el Popo, the public is kept in a constant state of alert as to the potential for the next eruption. However, it is commonly understood that when a big eruption hits, by the time the warning system has been activated, it will be too late. Popocatépetl is a constant presence, looming over Puebla in ominous majesty.
The best time to visit the Iztaccihuatl and Popocatépetl National Park is in the dryer, winter months from November to March. Unique species of fauna live on Popocatépetl, including the volcano rabbit, lynx, coati, and puma.
The first known descent of el Popo was by members of the Tecuanipan tribe in 1289, although it is likely the volcano was scaled prior. In 1519, the Spanish, led by Diego de Ordás climbed Popocatépetl, reportedly to get sulfur to make gunpowder. The Tecuanipan people almost certainly did not climb the volcano for the same reasons.
While hiking of el Popo has been closed since the volcanic activity kicked up, hiking of the nearby area is allowed, and it is spectacular. In fact, it is not uncommon for people hiking the neighboring peak of Iztaccihuatl to be able to see el Popo erupting.
