La Malinche, also known as Matlalcueye or Malintzin, is an inactive volcano (dormant for the last 3,100 years) located in the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla in Mexico.

The Tlaxcaltecs named the peak Matlalcueitl, which translates to "[Lady of the] Blue Skirt", a goddess of rain and song, believed to be the local equivalent of Chalchiuhtlicue.

[4] The current name, Malinche or Malintzin, became popular during the 17th century, and honors the woman who helped Hernán Cortés as an interpreter during the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

[5] Located within the Parque Nacional La Malinche at the border of Tlaxcala and Puebla states, this volcano is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

La Malinche is an active stratovolcano which began to form in the middle of the Paleogene period, 30–35 million years ago.

On lower slopes are farmlands which grow mostly field "dent" corn and forests which transition from alders and various types of oak to Montezuma pines and sacred firs with increasing elevation.

From La Malinche streams flow in all directions forming small gorges in places which fill and run rapidly when torrential rains occur.

According to the most famous legend, Matlalcueye was a virgin girl engaged to Cuatlapanga, a warrior who had to go to battle in a remote place.

Eventually the beast was killed, according to legend, and its head was mounted above the entrance to a house in Puebla that still stands at 201 East Third Street in the historical district of that town.

Crampons and an ice axe are absolutely necessary whenever it has snowed recently – which typically happens a few times each year from December to March.

[9] On September 14, 1968, a group of mountain climbers mainly consisting of employees of the Autonomous University of Puebla was infamously lynched in San Miguel Canoa, after they planned on staying in town overnight because of the adverse weather.