Why go
A map of Mexico becomes more useful when you look for valleys and mountain ranges before tracing a route. The central cities share a highland setting beneath major volcanic peaks, while the country stretches far beyond them. This perspective helps you build a regional trip instead of treating nationwide distances as a minor detail.
The full story
The Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental run broadly north to south, framing much of Mexico’s elevated interior. Across the center, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt runs from west to east. Another range, the Sierra Madre del Sur, extends through the south toward Oaxaca. Together these systems help explain the prominence of highland landscapes across the country. The volcanic belt contains peaks including Pico de Orizaba, Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl and Nevado de Toluca. Mexico City, Puebla and Toluca occupy valleys among these elevations. Their relationship is geographical as well as urban: the surrounding relief is part of the setting of each city. Mexico’s territory extends for more than 3,000 kilometres between its farthest land points. A central-valley journey therefore represents one part of a much larger country. Start with the landscape you want to explore, then decide which other regions justify a separate stage of the trip.