Paso de Cortés

It is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, at a point where the southeast-trending continental divide turns north for over 16 km (10 mi).

The pass is located in the municipality of Amecameca in the State of México, about 90 km (56 mi) southeast of Mexico City.

After the battle of Cholula, the Spanish continued northwest into the Valley of Mexico and the city of Tenochtitlán to confront the Aztecs and their emperor Moctezuma.

It is claimed that while crossing the pass, some of Cortés' men climbed Popocatépetl, lowered into the crater, and brought back sulphur for making gunpowder.

There is a paved road from Amecameca on the Mexico City side to Paso de Cortés, and from there south to Tlamacas towards Popocatépetl or north to the area near the base of Iztaccihuatl.