The huge and majestic volcano Xinantécatl, better known as Nevado de Toluca, is the only one in the world whose crater can be reached by road, but in order to protect the ecological environment, some years ago the arrival was banned in vehicles to top. It is located southwest of the state capital, mainly in the municipalities of Toluca and Zinacantepec. To visit can be traced from the city of Toluca Highway 134 to Temascaltepec, 18 kilometers ahead take the deviation towards the town roots and from this point the road to the top of the volcano. In its crater there are two lagoons, the Sun and the Moon, water tanks in which, during the pre-Hispanic era, residents deposited copal offerings and cult objects. The Nevado de Toluca National Park covers an area of 51,000 hectares and is one of the most attractive and visited the country; in addition, on the slopes of the volcano, a recreation area called Deer Park, where picnics are held it is distinguished. Professional climbers, can climb "El Fraile" of 4,558 meters, and the "Eagle Peak" of 4,518 meters. Other services offered are mountain lodge, which offers accommodations in bunks, stoves self, stay with chimney, sanitary services, sale of food and surveillance as well as a family inn. The crater of the extinct Nevado de Toluca (Xinantécatl; 4690m), rises high enough above the surrounding plain for it to rank as Mexico’s fourth highest peak. A rough dirt road leads all the way to the crater rim, from where there are numerous trails leading down to the sandy crater floor and two small lakes, right in its heart. From its jagged lip the views are breathtaking: below you the lakes; eastwards a fabulous vista across the valleys of Toluca and México; and to the west a series of lower, greener hills ranging towards the peaks of the Sierra Madre Occidental. If you do hike down into the crater, remember to take it easy in this thin, high-altitude air.

The Nevado de Toluca National Park covers an area of 51,000 hectares, inclusive of Deer Park; Visitors advantage there for camping and eating, because later there are no food areas, unless a merchant came up; however it is not very usual to happen. Currently, the use of shelters is in a program to put it back on track. The services available are health, bunk beds, a stove and fireplace; as the weather in the volcano can change from one moment to another. More adventurous visitors roam next to the last record pen register an incredible evening in the mountains between the atmosphere of oaks, grasslands and pine trees, under the starry sky. It is advisable to be prepared with all the necessary tools which can happen; from food supplies, sleeping bags for freezing temperatures, waterproof, warm clothes and a good attitude to enjoy one of the most natural views.

It is seen from above one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Valley of Toluca to acquire the most diverse tones, with shades that blend the colors according to the season. To the east, the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes can be seen and, on the southern peaks that adorn the crater, the mountainous Hospital, San Gaspar, Zacualpan and Sultepec are contemplated. Thousands of years ago ceased trading when a huge plug sealed his eruptive mouth, resulting in leading to the formation of two beautiful crystalline lagoons. In both you can fish rainbow trout and activities like diving tall with permission. It is said that in ancient times the natives came to the lagoons on religious grounds depositing in them, offerings of incense and ceramics, of which numerous examples are drawn. The Nevado de Toluca is located southwest of the state capital and occupies several municipalities of the State of Mexico. To get there you can go from the city of Toluca Highway 134 according to Temascaltepec, 18 km below the deviation towards the town Roots is taken; from this point the road leading to the crater is 21 km.

The last major eruption of Nevado de Toluca occurred about 10,500 years ago (10.5 ka BP), as the volcano erupted a total estimated volume of 14 km3 for a VEI strength of 6 (comparable to the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo). The eruption emplaced 1.5 m (5 ft) of pebble-sized pumice in the City of Toluca region and ~50 cm (2 ft) of medium to fine sand in the Mexico City region. Distal lahar deposits derived from the Upper Toluca Pumice event incorporated mammoth bones and other mammals in the basin of Mexico. A future event of this magnitude would disrupt the lives of 30 million people now living in these cities and their surroundings. From the southeast, Nevado de Toluca looks flat-topped, like shoulders without a head. A Nahuatl legend (recounted as part of the legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl) provides a mythical explanation.

Near the summit, Nevado de Toluca has a cold alpine climate (Köppen climate classification ET) with cold temperatures year round. There is little variation in the temperatures and frost and snow can occur in any month. The dry season covers from November to March and precipitation is low, averaging 12.4 millimetres (0.49 in) in March, the driest month. Temperatures during this time are cold, averaging 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in January. The wet season spans from May to October and precipitation is very high, averaging 243.5 millimetres (10 in) in July. The summit is often foggy, averaging 110 days with fog, most of it during the rainy season. The wettest record month was July 2008 when 513.5 millimetres (20 in) of precipitation fell and the wettest recorded day was July 16, 1999 when 90.5 millimetres (4 in) of precipitation fell. The highest temperature ever recorded was 23 °C (73.4 °F) on August 16, 1993 and the lowest temperature recorded was −10 °C (14.0 °F) on February 2, 2004.

There are 18 registered archeological sites in the park, as this was a ritual center during pre-Hispanic periods. Bernardino de Sahagún wrote about the lakes as a place where the indigenous held ceremonies and sacrifices. The lakes themselves are considered to be two sites, as a large number of offerings, especially copal, were deposited in the lakes. These deposits can be found all over the lakebed as the burning copal was set adrift on the lakes’ waters until it sank. Other objects have been found such as ceramics and sculpted stones. Divers used to sack many of the pieces found here but now authorities carefully monitor those who dive.

Most of the other sites are found on the crater's walls and peaks. One of the sites is called Xicotepec which is at the top of the Cerro de Ombligo (Spanish for belly button). Principally green obsidian blades and multicolored ceramic has been found here. On the north side of the crater is Pico Sahagun, with ceramic pieces, Picos Heilprin North and South in which various types of objects have been found, and El Mirador, which is thought to be related the marking of the zenith of the sun. A stele found here seems to indicate this. The site at the highest altitude is Pico Noreste at 4,130 meters above sea level. It is a small platform with drainage on which has been found highly deteriorated ceramic pieces. On the west side is the Cerro Prieto Cave, which is really a rock shelter which is more than 60 meters high. Not only does it contain evidence of pre-Hispanic visits but also has been a shrine to the Archangel Michael since the colonial period. There have been intermittent archeological excavations here with the most recent occurring in 2010 sponsored by INAH which found artifacts dating from the Epi-Classic (650-900 AD) and Post-Classic (900-1200 AD) periods and showed that the crater was a meeting place for astronomer priests to predict the growing season.