Tour Guatemala's Volcan Pacaya near Antigua
Touring an Active Volcano Adds Excitement to a Guatemala Vacation
Oct 24, 2009
Antigua, Guatemala is surrounded by volcanoes. Some are still volcanically active. A tour to Volcan Pacaya is well worth the time and will make a Guatemala vacation very memorable.
Pacaya Volcano
After a dormant period of about a century, Pacaya Volcano became active again in 1965. Pacaya has been fairly continuously active since that time. Pacaya's volcanic activity is not, however, in the form of extremely violent eruptions. Rather most of Pacaya's activity takes the form of viscous lava flows. Rivers of red hot lava flow out vents on the side of the volcano.
Because Volcan Pacaya's activity is flowing lava rather than violent eruptions tourists can safely visit the volcano and get fairly close to the flowing lava. The vents are often on the side of the mountain, so tourists do not need to hike to the summit to see lava.
Visitors to Pacaya can in fact get close enough to the lava to roast marshmallows on hot vents near the lava flows. After eating marshmallows roasted on a volcano, campfires will never be the same. Bring a bag of marshmallows and a long wire to roast them.
Touring Volcan Pacaya
Visitors to Guatemala's national park at Volcan Pacaya need to pay a small fee when they enter the park. When tourists arrive at the trailhead they should, for safety, hire a local tour guide. The trails do not have clear signs and it is easy to take the wrong trail. The tour guides also know where the lava flows are currently active and where it is safe to go. Look for the badge to make sure the tour guide is properly licensed.
Visitors to Pacaya Volcano should come prepared for a hike of a few kilometers up a steep mountainside. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring water. There is a small snack shop at the trailhead where tourists can purchase a drink or snack either before or after their hike.
Tourists who are not prepared or conditioned for a steep hike can ask the tour guide to hike slowly with frequent rest breaks. The guides at Pacaya Volcano are quite willing to hike as slowly as the tourists need. To ask a guide to stop in Spanish, say: "Párese por favor." "Camine lentamente por favor" means walk slowly please.
It is also possible to ride a horse. Men with horses will inundate groups of visitors and try to sell them rides. At least one of the horse men will follow groups of hikers in the hope that someone in the group will tire enough to hire a horse. Visitors who want to hike should not be afraid to be firm in declining offers to rent a horse.
Young boys will also try to make some extra money by offering to sell walking sticks to tourists. Again don't be afraid to firmly decline the opportunity to buy a walking stick. However pyromaniacs might enjoy buying a stick to throw on the hot lava river.
Getting to the Pacaya Volcano from Antigua
It is possible to drive a rented car from either Antigua or Guatemala City, however the roads are not well marked and a visitor unfamiliar with the local roads could easily get lost.
Bus tour packages to Volcan Pacaya, and other nearby attractions, are easy to find in Antigua. The tour bus drivers know the way and can take care of details. That way visitors are free to enjoy the volcano.
While arranging transportation to Volcan Pacaya, tourists should also consider visiting Biotopo del Quetzal.
Touring Volcan Pacaya and witnessing nature's fiery fury up close will add an unforgettable adventure to a Guatemala vacation.
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