Epic UFO Sighting at Popocatépetl Volcano: Alien Base or Optical Illusion?
A New Day, A New UFO Over El Popo
It’s been a while since Popocatépetl—more affectionately known as El Popo to locals—made headlines for UFO activity. This towering volcano near Mexico City has long intrigued UFO enthusiasts, who swear they’ve seen crafts slip into its steaming crater and emerge seconds later. Now, another amateur snapshot adds fuel to the fire, reigniting debates about secret extraterrestrial bases beneath the fiery peak.
The Amateur Astronomers Turned UFO Spotters
Meet Karla García and Luis Guerra, a Mexican couple whose passion for photographing Popocatépetl is more hobby than obsession—until now. One recent evening, as the volcano rumbled under a brilliant full moon, Guerra aimed his camera at the skies. He captured a stunning shot of the Moon’s silvery glow resting beside the volcano’s plume. Excited, he sent the image to García via WhatsApp. Little did they know the photo held a surprise: a mysterious, perfectly round object hovering just above the rim.

Viral Sensation on Social Media
When García woke the next morning, her phone exploded with messages. Friends had spotted the UFO: a small, disc-shaped speck glowing against the dark volcanic plume. Hesitant but curious, García posted the photo to her WhatsApp Status and tagged a local reporter on Twitter. Within hours, the image went viral across Mexico, then around the world. Headlines proclaimed: “UFO Over El Popo: Proof of an Alien Base at the Summit?”
Why Volcanoes Attract UFO Theorists
Popocatépetl isn’t the only volcano linked to UFO lore. Underwater caves and mountain interiors top the list of alleged alien hideaways. Why? Two reasons:
- Secrecy: Active volcanic terrains offer natural camouflage—smoke, steam, and no-fly zones deter human exploration.
- Geothermal Energy: Imagine tapping Earth’s molten core to power interstellar crafts. For an advanced civilization, volcano-based energy generation might outstrip solar or nuclear options.
With multiple volcanic UFO encounters on record—from Japan’s Mount Fuji to Ecuador’s Sangay—Popocatépetl’s activity seems to fit a global pattern.
Analyzing the Photo: UFO or Camera Artifact?
Not all experts agree on Karla and Luis’s find. Let’s unpack the evidence:
- Disc Shape & Consistent Brightness: The object appears nearly perfect in circular form and maintains uniform luminosity, unlike random sparks or lens flares.
- Relative Scale & Distance: Positioned beside a clearly visible plume, the UFO’s estimated size—several meters across—seems too large for drones or fireworks.
- Lack of Motion Blur: Despite a slow shutter speed to capture moonlight, the disc remains crisp, suggesting deliberate hovering instead of rapid transit.
Yet skeptics suggest:
- Camera Glare: The volcano’s incandescent glow can reflect inside the lens, creating phantom orbs.
- Pilot Light or Balloon: Nighttime activities near the volcano—tourist balloons or maintenance lights—could mimic UFOs.
- Image Compression Artifacts: Heavy social-media compression sometimes warps pixels into circular blurs.

Scott Waring’s Bold Claims
UFO hunter Scott Waring was quick to weigh in. In 2020, after another El Popo sighting, he claimed the volcano hides a city-sized alien base 5–6 km beneath the surface. He points to frequent live camera feeds showing crafts darting in and out of the crater. Waring argues that this latest photo cements the case: “Only something non-human could traverse molten rock and emerge intact,” he wrote, dubbing Popocatépetl “the Roswell of volcanos.”
Other Recent Sightings
Karla and Luis’s photo isn’t an isolated incident. In early 2024, hikers filmed a triangular formation of lights swirling over the volcano. Weeks later, a rancher recorded a glowing orb plunging into the crater—only to reappear moments later above the clouds. These recurring anomalies leave both believers and skeptics hungry for more data.
What Does Science Say?
Volcanologists and astronomers urge caution. Dr. Elena Ruiz of the Mexican Institute of Geophysics notes that:
- Plumes Contain Charged Particles: Volcanic ash can generate static electricity, forming luminous “St. Elmo’s fire” at the vent’s edge.
- Atmospheric Phenomena: Temperature inversions near the crater can refract distant lights, bending them into eerie shapes.
- Psychological Factors: Expectation bias plays a role—after decades of UFO lore, observers anticipate strange lights, shaping ambiguous visuals into “UFO evidence.”
Yet, Dr. Ruiz concedes that Cuboid and disc‐shaped artifacts in high‐resolution footage remain unexplained, urging further multi-sensor monitoring.
The Path Forward: Combining Tech and Tradition
To unravel Popocatépetl’s mysteries, experts propose:
- 24/7 Multi-Sensor Surveillance: Infrared, ultraviolet, and radar arrays around the summit to triangulate anomalies.
- Citizen Reporting Network: Local guides, farmers, and tourists equipped with standardized apps to log time–stamped sightings.
- Volcanic Drone Flights: UV–visible drones to sample plumes and search for hidden caverns deep inside the crater wall.
By blending grassroots observations with cutting-edge instrumentation, we might finally confirm whether those silver specks belong to distant worlds—or to Earth’s own electrifying volcanism.
Conclusion
The recent UFO photo over Popocatépetl, snapped by Karla García and Luis Guerra, adds another chapter to the volcano’s storied reputation as a potential alien enclave. Disc-shaped objects emerging from the crater and racing beneath a full moon fuel endless debate. Are these advanced extraterrestrial scouts, static-charge illusions in ash plumes, or man-made lights warped by atmospheric quirks? As sightings multiply, from viral photos to live‐stream videos, the quest continues. With coordinated research, open minds, and a dash of healthy skepticism, we may soon uncover the true nature of these celestial visitors—or find that El Popo’s greatest mystery lies closer to home, in the fiery heart of Earth itself.