Volcan Pacaya is an awesome trek for all levels of hikers. While still a challenge, it’s a lot less strenuous than other volcano hikes I’ve written about such as Acatenango or TacanĂ¡. With an elevation of 8,373ft (2,552m), Pacaya is the 15th tallest volcano in Guatemala. Hiking out and back is around 6k (3.7 miles) and takes you close to the active crater. Along the route, you get views of lava flow. And from the top, you get beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Reasons to Hike:
- It can be hiked in a few hours. This makes it a perfect day activity and easy to fit into an itinerary when you’re short on time.
- It’s conveniently close to both Guatemala City and Antigua. We drove from Antigua and it only took about an hour.
- You can roast marshmallows on the lava rocks! And some days, you can actually view lava trails from the volcano.
What You Should Know Before Hiking:
- Weather changes very quickly! We hiked in May, during rainy season in Guatemala. Over the course of our hike, temperatures were warm with sunny blue skies one second and cold wind and rain the next. Luckily we avoided heavy rain, but I’m glad I packed a rain coat all the same.
- Rent a walking stick! We got them from local kids in the parking lot for 5q and found them really helpful on the way down. There’s a lot of deep sand and the sticks added stability.
- There are 2 parking lots. We didn’t know this when doing the hike and stopped at the first one, where they charge you 25q (around $3). I later found out that if you keep driving up to the official park entrance, you don’t have to pay for parking. Still, I am not that upset about getting scammed for this as the money wasn’t a lot and went to people who live around the volcano.
- You can rent a horse if you find this hike too challenging or are unable to hike but still want to see the view. The cost is 100q (around $13).
- The park entrance fee costs 50q per person ($6.50). Make sure to bring cash.
- Check if it’s safe to hike! Some days Pacaya is too active to climb. In 2021, ash fall was so severe for several months that entrance wasn’t allowed.
- Hire a guide! As it’s an active volcano, you must remain a certain distance from the crater. Guides are helpful for safety reasons. We didn’t have one in advance but hired someone from the parking lot. Our guide was from the San Vincente de Pacaya village and told us a lot about life at the base of a volcano and also about years with serious eruptions. She also showed us where to warm our hands up on the rocks and roast marshmallows. She charged us 200q ($26) as a group of 4.
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