Guatemala is home to 37 volcanoes, so it’s only right to hike up a few of them. While the most popular volcano hikes are definitely Acatenango, Fuego and Pacaya, the San Pedro Volcano at Lake Atitlan offers some of the most incredible views without the troves of tourists. The San Pedro Volcano sits along the shore of Lake Atitlán along with the Tomilan and Atitlán volcanoes. Collectively, they are known as “The 3 Giants.” Lace up your shoes and read on for a guide to hiking the San Pedro Volcano.
Table of contents
How to Get There
You can grab a tuk-tuk from anywhere in San Pedro La Laguna. It should cost about 15 Quetzales more or less (about $2 USD), although you could get the gringo tax and end up being charged a little more. Tuk-tuks should be easy to find afterwards as well, just hang out on the road for a few minutes and one will pass by. Check out the map below for directions to the trailhead.
What to Bring
- Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen
- Snacks
- Water
- Cash
- Rain Jacket/Poncho/Sweater (it gets chilly at the summit)
- Hiking Boots or Sneakers
- Camera
Safety
In the past there have been reports of robberies on the trail and it was recommended to do the hike with a local guide to keep you safe. However, we believe this is mostly a thing of the past. These days, there are police officers stationed on the trail each day to make sure there’s no funny business. We did the hike alone, without a guide, and had no trouble whatsoever. We even kicked it with the boys in blue for a while and never felt unsafe.
Crime overall is down in San Pedro La Laguna, with cameras all over the town and tourists integrating into the community. As always, proceed at your own risk, but if you don’t feel safe or would rather have the comfort of a local guide, you could grab a guided tour in town from one of the many tour operators. We recommend Benjy tours! Leave your wallet home and bring as little cash as possible to minimize risk.
What to Expect
The San Pedro Volcano hike will take about 5.5 hours round trip (3 hours up, 30 minutes at the summit, and 1h 45m down) and we say it’s doable for the average person. The steep climb is definitely tough on the legs and lungs, but you don’t have to be in top shape to conquer this volcano. The Bros break up each section of the hike below.
First Stretch – 1,800m – 2,200m
The first stretch of hiking the San Pedro Volcano is pretty chill and relaxed. After you check in at the trailhead and pay your entrance fee, you’ll follow the mellow trail and white painted rocks. It will take roughly an hour to climb about 1,300ft/400m. We arrived at the trailhead a little after 10am and there were about 5 people checked in ahead of us. It turned out that we were the last visitors of the day.
At 2,173m/7,130ft you will reach a mirador with a beautiful view of the pueblo of San Pedro La Laguna against the backdrop of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding mountains. This is the perfect time to rest your legs, have a quick snack, hydrate and grab a few photos while admiring the spectacular scenery around you. The middle stretch of the hike is up next and the intensity will kick up a notch.
Middle Stretch – 2,200m – 2,600m
The middle stretch of hiking the San Pedro Volcano sees you navigate past corn fields and coffee plants as you continue the climb up to 2,600m/8,530ft. You will also encounter the police checkpoint at a rest area which offers another opportunity to relax for a minute as the climb intensifies. This portion of the hike should take about an hour or so as the climb gets a bit steeper with more switchbacks. Keep an eye out for the 400+ year old tree.
Final Stretch – 2,600m – 3,020m Summit
The final stretch will take about an hour as you keep up the steady climb. At 2,867m/9,400ft you’ll reach a camping area that looks like it has seen better days. At this point you’re almost there! As you approach the 3,020m/9,908ft summit, you can expect the weather to drop. Keep a warmer layer close by.
The first view at the summit is absolutely breathtaking. For great portions of the hike up, you’ll be in the tree cover and unaware visually of how high up you actually are. This leads to a tremendous pay off at the summit. There will be lots of small flies crawling on your skin, but it’s a small price to pay for the pristine panoramic view of Lake Atitlan that awaits you at the summit. If you’re lucky like us, you’ll be the only one at the top.
The Way Down
After about 30 minutes of soaking in the views at the summit, it’s time to head back down. The way down is always a bit quicker, but also a bit tougher on the knees, so make sure to mind your step. Since we were the last hikers of the day, we were the only ones left on the trail and the police waited for us before packing it up for the day. The way down should take you about 1h 45m or so.
Total Cost
Here’s a breakdown on the costs for hiking up the San Pedro Volcano:
- Entrance Fee – 100 Quetzales (Approx $12.93 USD)
- Transportation – 30 Quetzales (Approx $3.88 USD)
TOTAL – 130 Quetzales (Approx $16.81 USD)
Have you been to Guatemala? Have you hiked up the San Pedro Volcano at Lake Atitlan? Drop a comment and let us know how your experience was!
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