El Chichón Volcano
Active volcano in Chiapas, Mexico with crater lake.
Volcano in Chiapas known for its major 1982 eruption; visitors come for crater viewpoints, hiking routes through secondary forest and to study ash-scarred terrain in nearby rural communities.
El Chichón at a Glance#
Website: https://www.gob.mx/cenapred
About El Chichón#
El Chichón is a volcanic complex in northeastern Chiapas, Mexico, notable for its steep-sided summit and cratered summit area. It is an active volcano within the Chiapas Highlands volcanic region.
The volcano is best known for a major explosive eruption in 1982 that caused extensive damage to nearby communities and injected volcanic gases into the stratosphere, with measurable effects on global atmospheric chemistry. Prior eruptive activity has produced a cluster of summit craters and a rugged caldera landscape.
El Chichón sits in the eastern part of the state of Chiapas amid hilly terrain and tropical highland forest. It is remote compared with major cities and is accessed via local roads from nearby towns in the Chiapas highlands.
- 1982 eruption: The volcano produced a major explosive eruption in 1982 that injected large amounts of ash and sulfur into the atmosphere and caused significant local devastation.
- Summit craters: The summit area contains multiple craters and crater lakes formed by past eruptions and collapse events.
How to Get to El Chichón#
El Chichón is in the Los Altos region of Chiapas; access is via rural roads from towns such as Ocosingo or Palenque. Road conditions vary; coordinate with local authorities and guides and check CENAPRED advisories before travel.
Tips for Visiting El Chichón#
- If planning fieldwork or visits near El Chichón, obtain permissions and local guides-terrain and access are restricted.
- Monitor Mexico's geological service (CENAPRED) for current activity reports and safety advisories.
- The volcano has a crater lake formed after the 1982 eruption-approach only with local authorities' permission.
Best Time to Visit El Chichón#
Visit only with up‑to‑date geological guidance; dry season offers better access when allowed.
Weather & Climate near El Chichón#
El Chichón's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with warm summers (peaking in May) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 14°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (2567 mm/year), wettest in September.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 14° - 25° | 19° | 180 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 14° - 26° | 20° | 135 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 16° - 28° | 22° | 86 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 17° - 30° | 24° | 82 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 18° - 31° | 25° | 133 mm | - | - | 2.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 19° - 30° | 24° | 287 mm | - | - | 2.0 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 18° - 29° | 24° | 262 mm | - | - | 2.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 18° - 29° | 24° | 298 mm | - | - | 2.1 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 18° - 28° | 23° | 367 mm | - | - | 1.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 17° - 27° | 22° | 333 mm | - | - | 2.2 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 16° - 26° | 21° | 216 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 15° - 25° | 20° | 188 mm | - | - | 2.5 m/s | - | - |