
An epic enthralling road to Cortes Pass
Mexico, north-america
43.7 km
3,692 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Paso de Cortés! This legendary pass sits way up high at 12,112 feet, straddling the line between Puebla and the State of Mexico. We're talking seriously high – one of the highest roads you'll find in Mexico!
You'll find this beauty nestled in Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park, chilling between the majestic Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl volcanoes, just southeast of the bustling Mexico City.
The road itself, also called Tlamacaxco, is paved the whole way. Get ready for a twisty, uphill climb that's pretty darn steep, winding through forests of trees. It's about 27 miles from the town of Amecameca de Juárez (in Mexico State) on the west side, all the way to San Nicolás de Los Ranchos (in Puebla) on the east.
Give yourself about 1.5 to 2 hours to soak it all in. Once you reach the top, there's a big parking lot, a bar (hello, celebratory drink!), and an info center. Plus, it’s the jumping-off point for a hike to Estación de Altura Altzomoni, a crazy-high weather station sitting pretty at 13,074 feet!
Where is it?
An epic enthralling road to Cortes Pass is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 22.0013, -103.3055
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 43.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,692 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 22.0013, -103.3055
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