Saltillo, Mexico is situated at an elevation of 5,210 feet, in the Anahuac region ("country by the waters" in the Aztec language), a term describing the great central plateau of Mexico. The climate is dry and hot, with mild winters, with lots of sunshine, rainfall at approximately 16 inches per year, and an annual average temperature of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Two mountain chains border this region, the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Occidental. Saltillo is located on the plateau of the Sierra Madre Occidental, near Monterrey.

The city is located near the Arteaga, and area of pine and oak forests, mountains, and green hills. These natural areas include the Forest Park, "El Chorro," "Canon de la Carbonera," and other scenic mountain, forest, and valley tour destinations.