Hiking A Live Volcano in Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is a gorgeous town, filled with beautiful buildings and indigenous culture, and surrounded by volcanoes.  Agua Volcano towers about the town, Fuego Volcano spews smoke and lava, Acatenango is a tough hike with glorious views of Fuego, and Pacaya Volcano is still live but a gentler hike.  I was in two minds about whether to hike the Acatenango volcano in Antigua, as I have never been a lover of hiking, but so often the destination makes the hike worth it.  However, I knew Acatenango would be torture, despite the view that awaited me if the clouds cleared.  So, to see if I was up for the challenge, I tested myself by hiking Pacaya volcano, which is an easier hike but on a live volcano all the same!

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Know Before You Go to Antigua Guatemala

Before travelling to Antigua Guatemala make sure you book accommodation and popular attractions ASAP as hotels and tickets can sell out.

🛌 MY FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION IN ANTIGUA GUATEMALA:

$$$ El Convento Boutique Hotel – Stunning hotel in a converted convent

$ Posada San Sebastian: Family-run hotel with a roof terrace with volcano views

$ Maya Papaya – lovely hostel with private rooms or dorms with breakfast included

⭐ TOP 3 ANTIGUA GUATEMALA ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:

1. From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Trek

2. Overnight Volcano Acatenango Hiking Adventure

3. Antigua Guatemala: City Highlights Guided Walking Tour

A Pacaya Volcano Hike Tour from Antigua Guatemala

All hostels in Antigua can arrange the Pacaya hike for you.  Costing 80Q from my hostel, El Hostal, including transport and a guide, but not the 50Q entry fee, it would hardly bankrupt me.  And I wanted to do at least one volcano hike in Antigua Guatemala!

Smoking Live Pacaya Volcano & lava stream near Antigua Guatemala
Smoking Live Pacaya Volcano & lava stream near Antigua Guatemala

I was picked up from my hostel in a minivan which was already rather full.  We still had another couple of stops to collect more people, and more seats appeared, folding down to fill up any available space.  I had taken some travel sickness pills, as the road was windy on parts and I didn’t want to start the hike feeling sick!

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Our group was quite large, maybe 20 people had been crammed into the minivan.  We gradually drove higher, and I was relieved to see we would start hiking already fairly high up.  Everyone paid their entry fee, and there were a few kids around renting out wooden walking sticks for 5Q – I took one, which would be collected again when we came back down. 

Our guide explained how the hike would be, and a few information boards around the entrance explained how the volcano was formed, and how it was still active.

Hiking the Pacaya Live Volcano in Antigua Guatemala

Pausing to admire the view part way up the hike on Pacaya Volcano near Antigua Guatemala
Pausing to admire the view part way up the hike on Pacaya Volcano – and the volcanic steam vent

Our group set off on the hike, and we settled into a rhythm and found our places so we wouldn’t be overtaking each other constantly.  I took up my usual position towards the back of the group, but I actually found the first part of the hike very easy.  We stopped regularly along the hiking trail to allow everyone to catch up, so there were regular rest stops along the way.

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We hiked up the volcano for about an hour until we reached a flat top.  It had been partly sunny on the way up, but now we reached the summit it was cloudy. 

When the clouds cleared I realised that we weren’t actually at the top of the live volcano Pacaya, rather just next to it, as I could see the steam seeping out of the top of Pacaya close by.  We took some photos, and could see the other Antigua volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango in the distance.

The gorgeous view of Antigua Guatemala's other volcanoes - from hIking the Pacaya Volcano
The gorgeous view of Antigua Guatemala’s other volcanoes – from hIking the Pacaya Volcano

We continued our hike, descending a little way to actually reach Pacaya, and descended sharply to reach the lava field.  Pacaya’s last eruption was in 2010, when lava had flowed out of the volcano, covering part of where we were standing in what was now a steaming black river of rock. 

We walked around the edge of the wall of lava, it reached up to waist height, and found a spot to roast marshmallows on the volcano.   A couple of holes went deeper into the volcano, and the heat coming off them was quite shocking. 

The guides offered us long sticks and marshmallows to thread on, and we gathered around the holes and toasted our marshmallows.  It was an interesting campfire!

Toasting Marshmallows on the hot lava on Pacaya Volcano near Antigua Guatemala
Toasting Marshmallows on the hot lava on Pacaya Volcano near Antigua Guatemala

The Shop on the Pacaya Volcano

We turned a corner and climbed onto the lava flow where footpaths crisscrossed the black field of lava.  In the middle of the lava was a shop.  We made our way over, taking care to follow the path.  I had no idea how hot the surrounding lava was, and didn’t want to find out! 

At the little shop, the owner explained that they had decided to open the shop after the most recent eruption in 2010 to help the communities affected by the eruption.  The shop sells beautiful jewellery made from pieces of lava, embedded into silver chains or earrings, keyrings and bracelets. 

I sadly hadn’t brought enough money with me, so if you think you may want to buy something then take plenty of cash with you, or check out their website Mayan Rebirth.  The owner showed us a video he had taken on his camera of the last eruption, as he watched from a safe distance, which looked scarily close to me!

Pacaya Volcano & lava flow with the Lava Store near Antigua Guatemala
Pacaya Volcano & lava flow with the Lava Store near Antigua Guatemala

We left the lava jewellery store and climbed up another ridge to look down on the smoking summit of Pacaya volcano.  We sat for a while, had a snack and took a breather, before heading down the other side. 

The descent for me was actually the worst part, as the path was very steep, and underfoot the shingle was slippery. In places, I preferred to sit down and scramble down on my backside than risk falling and breaking an ankle.  Once we had struggled through the steep parts the rest of the walk down was much quicker, and in no time we were back to the entrance. 

The kids who had rented us the walking sticks ran over and collected them back, and we headed back to the minivan for the ride back to Antigua.

Check other tours in Antigua Guatemala with GetYourGuide:

 

Tips for Hiking Pacaya Volcano

Wear good walking boots – in rainy weather and for the descent, you will be glad of them

It is definitely worth hiring the walking sticks from the local kids

Remember to bring cash for the lava jewellery store

Snacks, plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat are also essential

I had enjoyed the hike and didn’t find it difficult, but by the end of the descent my knees were beginning to hurt.  I decided not to take on Acatenango as I had heard it was a very difficult ascent, but if you got clear views of the smoking Fuego volcano it was totally worth it. 

The other factor in my decision was rainy season, and I’d spoken to a few people who had climbed up, but didn’t see a thing due to the weather!  I made peace with my decision but would have still loved to hike Acatenango too! 

Without that though, Pacaya was a gentler hike, and suitable for kids or those who might struggle on the tough Acatenango hike.  I enjoying hiking Pacaya, and can at least say that I hiked a live volcano!

Have you hiked a live volcano?  I’d love to hear your experiences below!

Where to stay in Antigua

Hotel prices in Antigua vary massively, as there are plenty of well-off tourists who visit Antigua, as well as locals who aim more for mid-range hotels.  However, the backpacker market is exceptionally well catered for too, with every other street housing at least one budget hostel so if you’re backpacking Antigua there are plenty of options to choose from.

Antigua is generally very safe, but the streets can empty at night which makes hostels a little further away from the centre feel more risky.  Noise and vibrations from passing chicken buses can be an issue along the main road of 7a Calle Poniente, although with earplugs you will usually be fine!

The Best Hostels in Antigua Guatemala

Use sites such as Hostelworld to find your hostel accommodation in Antigua, here are a few recommendations for the best places to stay in Antigua Guatemala if you’re on a budget:

Best Hostel For Families & Camping in Antigua Guatemala: Hostel Antigueño

Hostel Antigueño is a bit further out of town, but still easy walking distance to the main square.  Dorms and private rooms are arranged around a large garden and patio area with space for motorbikes and camping, and for the kids to play.  There is also parking for overlanders outside, as well as a ping pong table and a tasty free breakfast.  Although it is family-friendly, don’t discount it for solo travellers or friends either, the welcoming atmosphere and great reviews show that this hostel is a home from home for everyone. Book now>>>

What to do in Antigua Guatemala - Hostels in Antigua Guatemala - Hostal Antigueno
What to do in Antigua Guatemala – Hostels in Antigua Guatemala – Hostal Antigueno

Best All-Round Hostel in Antigua Guatemala: Somos Hostel

Somos Hostel has it all.  A roof terrace, spacious dorm rooms with privacy curtains, your own light & plug, a kitchen area to make your own food, and super friendly staff, this is an excellent hostel in Antigua!  As an extra bonus they have a discount card which gives you money off or freebies at several places around town from food and drink to yoga classes.  Book now>>>

The Best Social Hostel in Antigua Guatemala: Tropicana Hostel

Tropicana Hostel is a friendly and fun place to stay in Antigua, close to plenty of restaurants and bars.  They have a bar onsite where you can have a few beers, a swimming pool to cool off on a hot day, as well as social events like darts and beer pong.  There are dorms and private rooms available, and the hostel offers their own our own Acatenango Volcano trek.  Book now>>>

Best Hostel in Antigua Guatemala with Private Rooms: Maya Papaya

Want the best of both worlds, to stay in a private room in a hostel?  Maya Papaya has private rooms available as well as dorm rooms, starting at around $50 USD per night, so you can get a bit of peace and quiet when you need it.  Prices include a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, fluffy duvet covers on each bed, multiple indoor and outdoor hangout areas, and Netflix!   Book now>>>

BROWSE HOSTELS IN ANTIGUA

Stay in a Hobbit Hole

If you fancy something completely different, a trip to Hobbitenango is a must. It is a pain to get to but this hobbit style village high in the mountains has incredible views of the volcanoes, and you can even spend the night in your own hobbit hole. It isn’t cheap though, so if an overnight stay is out of your budget, it is still worth the trip for those views, and you can have lunch or dinner there. Try the Troll Burger, it is insanely good.

READ MORE: Hobbitenango – Hobbits in Guatemala’s Middle Earth

What to do in Antigua Guatemala - Hobbitenango
What to do in Antigua Guatemala – Hobbitenango

Airbnbs & Homestays in Antigua Guatemala

If you are studying Spanish here then most schools will help you find accommodation, usually with a local family so you can practise your new language skills.  You can find some homestays on Homestay.com, and AirBnB is also an excellent choice, with some families offering homestay style accommodation in a room in their home and with most meals included in the price. 

There are also plenty of ‘normal’ Airbnb rooms and apartments available, like this excellent value private room in a family home (below) or this studio if you want the whole place to yourself.  Check out all the options on Airbnb here

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Antigua Guatemala is a gorgeous town, filled with beautiful buildings and indigenous culture, and surrounded by volcanoes.  Hiking the live volcano Pacaya is one of the easier options to get your volcano hiking fix in Antigua! Read on for the full details of the Pacaya volcano hike. #Guatemala #AntiguaGuatemala #Pacaya #Volcano #Hiking #LiveVolcana #travel #adventure #extremesports

 

16 thoughts on “Hiking A Live Volcano in Antigua Guatemala

  1. Paige says:

    Now this sounds like an adventure! I love that you toasted marshmallows on the side of the volcano. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Also, great tip for bringing cash for the lava jewelry museum!

  2. Sigfrido says:

    Nice article, Claire 🙂 Been there many years ago, in 2008, it is an amazing hike, i remember we fed a lot of stray dogs on the way up and ended up being hungry ourselves! But they were so skinny we couldn’t help but giving everything we got…

  3. Christopher says:

    South America is one continent I have yet to conquer. So much beautiful spots. I’ve been to several places with volcanos, live or otherwise but surprisingly I’ve never hiked up one. The photos you captured are breath talking.

  4. Suruchi Mittal says:

    Hiking a live volcano is on our bucket list. The Pacaya Antigua in Guatemala looks quite thrilling and the views from there look amazing. Toasting marshmallows over a volcano are so cool! Your pictures are just Wow! Lovely

  5. Holly says:

    So beautiful. Glad you had some pills to make you feel better. Toasting marshmallows over a volcano is pretty damn cool!

  6. Hannah says:

    Wow, hiking Pacaya Volcano sounds amazing – getting to see those lava flows and toast the marshmallows – you a right, a very unique bonfire! By the sounds of it, it sounds like you made the right decision not to hike Acatenango – to endure that more difficult hike only to be surrounded by clouds – that would be heartbreaking!

  7. Ghia Lorenzo says:

    Wow! What a cool experience hiking in a live volcano in Pacaya. I really love that marshmallows are being toasted on a lava! Indeed thrilling. The surrounding from there is so beautiful, I just love all of your photos. Thanks for sharing this post!

  8. Efthimis Kragaris says:

    I have never hiked on a steaming volcano before. I guess 8 years from the last eruption wouldn’t be enough for me! I would be horrified! Haha But good for your since you managed to do what you wanted; hike in Antigua Guatemala!

  9. Tala Valino says:

    Those are gorgeous views! I’ve also climbed a volcano once here in the Philippines and what I love about it is that like you toasting marshmallows, our guide brought eggs and he was able to make it into hardboiled eggs fom the hot lavas. So cool! I’ve always find hiking volcanoes (especially dormant ones) extra thrilling!

  10. Natasha Amar says:

    I loved reading about your experience since Guatemala is on my mind for my travels this year and I love hiking. Sounds like a volcano hike is a worthy must-do when in Guatemala. I have bad knees so it’s useful for someone like me to have as much information as possible about what to expect.
    How long did the hike there and back take?

  11. Medha Verma says:

    A shop that sells Lava jewellery? Sounds pretty interesting, doesn’t it? I am glad that you had plenty of time to take it easy and let people in the group catch up because I know if I go for a hike like this, I might be the slower one and I would be struggling to catch up. The experience looks quite amazing though, I’d love to give it a shot!

  12. Jenn and Ed Coleman says:

    We just got back from Arenal in Costa Rica and bemoaned that we couldn’t hike to the summit. It looks super cool roasting marshmallows on hot lava and imagining an eruption. Of course, during the eruption things go from Guatamala to Guatapeor… Sorry dad joke.

  13. LaiAriel Samangka says:

    wow, I’ve been hiking to a lot of mountains already, but never tried hiking in active volcano like this one. I love that you guys were like around 20 hikers, and surely it must be really fun. I also find Toasting Marshmallows on the hot lava on Pacaya Volcano interesting, never tried it before.

  14. Vibeke Johannessen says:

    Haha, I love that you can toast marshmallows on the lava. I have hiked some active volcanoes in Ecuador, but not been close to the active crater or lava. Would love to hike Pacaya in Guatemala 😀

  15. Iuliana Marchian says:

    I have friends that have just hiked Pacaya Volcano. They have told me that Antigua Guatemala was such a great place and that they would like to go there back. Latam is a bit to far from Romania, but I wish I will visit these beautiful countries someday.

  16. Rayssa says:

    This is so cool! I just saw a lady on tv this week that zip lined INSIDE a volcano. It was so amazing, I kept thinking when would I be able to do something like that. I don’t think I’m quite as brave as she was so a hike may be my way of compromise. Thanks for the tips. 🙂

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