Climbing up Pacaya volcano is a must if you visit Antigua or Guatemala City. When we arrived in Guatemala and saw the volcano in the distance, we knew it was definitely something we had to do before leaving.
Pacaya is one of the active volcanoes in Guatemala. It's the closest volcano to Guatemala City and Antigua.
Pacaya rises to an elevation of 2,552 metres (8,373 ft). After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965 and has been erupting continuously since then. The last activity reported was an eruption in March 2014 that caused ash to rain down in Guatemala City, Antigua and other nearby towns. Today, you get to see the residual lava and ash from both the 2014 eruption and prior volcanic activity.
The hike lasts about 6 hours and you have the option of going with a group in the morning (with groups leaving between 6 and 9 a.m.) and in the afternoon (leaving at 2 p.m.). The latter has the added bonus of seeing the volcano at dusk and hiking down the terrain as the day ends. We opted for the early option so that when we were finished, we’d have the rest of the day to hang out in the city. There are plenty of ways to get to the volcano. Booking with one of the local tour groups or your hotel will run you between 70 and 100 Quetzals (about $8-10 USD). The ride will to Papaya is about an hour and will take you from Antigua to San Vicente, which is where the base of the trail is. Once you arrive, you’ll pay the admission fee to the trail, which is another 50 Quetzals (about $7 USD).
The hike is about close to 2 hours up and an hour on the descent. As you begin to progress up the trail, you’ll notice the transition from normal terrain to volcanic ash.
Let us warn you, the hike is no joke! But that’s okay, you can still experience the volcano if you aren’t ready for the challenge. You can rent a horse for either the hike up or the entire hike. There was a woman in our group who started on foot, and quickly jumped on a horse at the first stop we made. You also have the option of buying a walking stick at the base for those moments when your legs feel like they’re about to give out. Halfway up, I longed for one of those sticks, lol. Don’t worry, you will take breaks along the trail to catch your breath and for some great photos.
Lake Amatitlan sits to the side of Pacaya. The water is ice cold during the day, but warmed by the heat of the volcano at night.
You will feel like you’re on another planet once you reach the crater. The steam hissing from beneath you and the black ash crunching under your shoes will feel otherworldly. It’s definitely an experience worthy of bragging about.
Location: Mars --- or at least that's what it felt like once we arrived at the crater of the volcano.
One of the other payoffs for the grueling hike (outside of the gorgeous view of the country), is the marshmallows! Once we arrived at the crater, our guide took us to a section where the steam rising from the lava underneath the ash was hot enough to toast marshmallows.
After exploring the crater, you’ll make your way to the highest point of your hike. Once you make it to the peak, you’ll be overtaken by the breathtaking views of Guatemala. You’ll get plenty opportunities for great photos and a chance to see the other nearby volcanoes. Then you'll start your descent back to the base of the trail, which will take you through a forest before connecting back with the path you used to reach the top of the volcano.
At the peak of the trail, you'll witness this breathtaking view. Not me, the landscape behind me!
Hiking Pacaya is a challenge you should definitely take during a visit to Guatemala. Lovers of nature, this is a perfect activity for you. But honestly, you don't have to be one with the earth to appreciate the beauty of this place, and the calories you burn will make up for all of the great Guatemalan meals you'll have during your stay in the country. Sure, your legs will feel like jelly after you’re done, but you’ll accomplish a feat that most haven’t dreamed of, and isn’t that what travel is all about?
PRE-HIKE TIPS:
- Bring closed-toe shoes you don’t mind getting covered in dirt and black ash.
- The same goes for what you wear that day, you and everything on you will likely be covered in ash!
- Bring water, plenty of water!
- You’ll definitely want to cover yourself in sunscreen, as you’ll be catching heat from both the sun and the ash beneath you.
- Bring a cloth to wipe away the gallons of sweat that’ll pour out of you during the hike!
- Wear a hat or sunglasses, or both!
- If you opt for the evening hike, bring a long sleeved shirt, or a light jacket/sweater. Antigua evenings are cold! You may also want to bring a flashlight
- Don’t forget to bring some extra quetzals to tip your guide.
Make sure Pacaya is on your list of activities for your visit to Guatemala!
Have you ever made the hike up Pacaya or any other active volcano? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
