Mountaineering: Nevado de Toluca, Mexico

Summit elevation: 15,354 feet / 4,680 meters

South Rim: 5 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing

West Rim: 6 miles with 2,900 feet of climbing

Nevado de Toluca, also known as Xinantecatl, is the fourth highest of the Mexican volcanoes (after Pico de Orizaba, Popocatépetl, and Iztaccíhuatl). The mountain has two main summits, Pico del Aguila in the north (15,223 feet) and Pico del Fraile in the south (15,354 feet). Inside the caldera are two lakes, Laguna del Sol and Laguna de la Luna. A dirt road which leads to the crater lakes makes Nevado de Toluca the most accessible of the volcanoes. Several ascent options are popular, to either one or both of the summits.

South Rim

Route Profile • South Rim

This route leads up the South Rim to Pico del Fraile. It leads down the east side of the volcano into the caldera and then heads north towards the dirt road and back to the starting point.

West Rim

Route Profile • West Rim

This route leads up the West Rim to Pico del Aguila and then continues to Pico del Fraile. It leads down the west side of the volcano and then heads north towards the dirt road and back to the starting point.

Nevado de Toluca • Interactive Map

Nevado de Toluca • Pictures

Approach

West Rim

Pico del Aguila

West Rim

Pico del Fraile

South Rim

Nevado de Toluca

View from Nevado de Toluca

By: B. Straehle