Volcano · Mexico
Colima
Mexico's most active volcano in recent centuries.
Status right now
No current reports
Colima is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 4 Nov 2026, 22:36 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Mexico
- Region
- Central America
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 3,850 m (12,631 ft)
- Coordinates
- 19.514° N, 103.620° W
- Smithsonian number
- 341040
What kind of volcano is it?
Colima is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1913 | 4 | 13 | – |
| 5 Feb 1818 | 4 | – | – |
| 15 Jan 1590 | 3 | – | – |
| 1576 | 3 | – | – |
4 significant eruptions near Colima in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- PopocatépetlMexico · 527 km
- Santa MaríaGuatemala · 1,387 km
- FuegoGuatemala · 1,465 km
- PacayaGuatemala · 1,497 km
- MasayaNicaragua · 2,045 km
- PoásCosta Rica · 2,324 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.