Photo: Jakub Hejtmánek · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mexico's most active volcano (5,426 m) often trails a visible plume of gas and ash. Its snow-capped cone dominates the skyline southeast of Mexico City.
185Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
🌋 MountainType
Routes that pass it185
LAX → MEX
Both Sides
MEX → LAX
Both Sides
MEX → NRT
Both Sides
NRT → MEX
Both Sides
MEX → MXL
Both Sides
MEX → TIJ
Both Sides
MXL → MEX
Both Sides
TIJ → MEX
Both Sides
MEX → OAK
Both Sides
MEX → OAX
Both Sides
MEX → SFO
Both Sides
MEX → UIO
Both Sides
OAK → MEX
Both Sides
OAX → MEX
Both Sides
SFO → MEX
Both Sides
UIO → MEX
Both Sides
OAX → SFO
Both Sides
SFO → OAX
Both Sides
GRU → MEX
Both Sides
MEX → GRU
Both Sides
QRO → TIJ
Both Sides
TIJ → QRO
Both Sides
LMM → MEX
Both Sides
MEX → LMM
Both Sides
LAS → MEX
Left
MEX → LAS
Right
MEX → PHX
Right
PHX → MEX
Left
HUX → MEX
Right
LIM → MEX
Right
MEX → HUX
Left
MEX → LIM
Left
EZE → MEX
Right
MEX → EZE
Left
CUU → MEX
Left
MEX → CUU
Right
MEX → SJO
Right
SJO → MEX
Left
MEX → PDX
Right
PDX → MEX
Left
BOG → MEX
Left
LAX → OAX
Left
MEX → BOG
Right
OAX → LAX
Right
MEX → PEK
Right
MEX → SEA
Right
PEK → MEX
Left
SEA → MEX
Left
EOH → MEX
Left
MEX → EOH
Right
MEX → MDE
Right
MEX → PXM
Left
PXM → MEX
Right
LAP → MEX
Right
MEX → LAP
Left
MEX → PTY
Right
MEX → SCL
Left
MEX → YVR
Right
PTY → MEX
Left
SCL → MEX
Right
YVR → MEX
Left
OAX → TIJ
Right
TIJ → OAX
Left
MEX → SJD
Left
MEX → SLC
Right
SJD → MEX
Right
SLC → MEX
Left
PTY → SJD
Right
SJD → PTY
Left
GDL → MEX
Right
MEX → GDL
Left
MEX → YYC
Right
YYC → MEX
Left
MEX → PVR
Left
PVR → MEX
Right
DEN → MEX
Left
MEX → DEN
Right
MEX → MTY
Right
MTY → MEX
Left
MEX → CTM
Right
AEP → PHX
Right
PHX → AEP
Left
MEX → ZLO
Left
ZLO → MEX
Right
MEX → SAT
Right
SAT → MEX
Left
DEL → MEX
Left
MEX → DEL
Right
AUS → MEX
Left
CZM → MEX
Left
DAL → NLU
Left
MEX → AUS
Right
MEX → CZM
Right
MEX → REX
Right
NLU → DAL
Right
REX → MEX
Left
TLC → CUN
Right
CUN → MEX
Left
DFW → MEX
Left
MEX → CUN
Right
MEX → DFW
Right
MEX → MID
Right
MEX → MSP
Right
MID → MEX
Left
MSP → MEX
Left
HAV → MEX
Left
MEX → HAV
Right
HOU → MEX
Left
IAH → MEX
Left
MEX → HOU
Right
MEX → IAH
Right
MEX → ORD
Right
ORD → MEX
Left
FLL → MEX
Left
MEX → FLL
Right
MEX → MIA
Right
MIA → MEX
Left
DTW → MEX
Left
MEX → DTW
Right
MEX → PER
Left
PER → MEX
Right
CPH → MEX
Left
MCO → MEX
Left
MEX → CPH
Right
MEX → MCO
Right
MEX → TPA
Right
MEX → YKZ
Right
MEX → YTZ
Right
MEX → YYZ
Right
TPA → MEX
Left
YKZ → MEX
Left
YTZ → MEX
Left
YYZ → MEX
Left
AMS → MEX
Left
FRA → MEX
Left
IST → MEX
Left
MEX → AMS
Right
MEX → FRA
Right
MEX → IST
Right
MEX → SAW
Right
MEX → YUL
Right
MEX → ZIH
Left
SAW → MEX
Left
YUL → MEX
Left
ZIH → MEX
Right
ATL → MEX
Left
BCN → MEX
Left
BOS → MEX
Left
BRS → MEX
Left
BWI → MEX
Left
CAE → MEX
Left
CDG → MEX
Left
CLT → MEX
Left
EWR → MEX
Left
FCO → MEX
Left
IAD → MEX
Left
JFK → MEX
Left
LBG → MEX
Left
LHR → MEX
Left
MAD → MEX
Left
MEX → ATL
Right
MEX → BCN
Right
MEX → BOS
Right
MEX → BRS
Right
MEX → BWI
Right
MEX → CAE
Right
MEX → CDG
Right
MEX → CLT
Right
MEX → EWR
Right
MEX → FCO
Right
MEX → IAD
Right
MEX → JFK
Right
MEX → LBG
Right
MEX → LHR
Right
MEX → MAD
Right
MEX → MUC
Right
MEX → PDK
Right
MUC → MEX
Left
PDK → MEX
Left
CHC → CHS
Right
CHS → CHC
Left
NEC → PDX
Left
PDX → NEC
Right
DEN → PXM
Right
PXM → DEN
Left
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Popocatépetl from a plane?
Yes — 185 flight routes pass within 80 km of Popocatépetl. The closest routes include Los Angeles to Mexico City, Mexico City to Los Angeles, Mexico City to Tokyo. The landmark is visible from both sides, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Popocatépetl?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Popocatépetl: on a Los Angeles to Mexico City flight, visible from both sides; on a Mexico City to Los Angeles flight, visible from both sides; on a Mexico City to Tokyo flight, visible from both sides.