Guatemala is firmly located along the Pacific Ring of Fire in Central America. The country is home to 37 volcanoes, including 4 active; Volcanes de Pacaya, Santiaguito, Fuego and Tacaná. Hiking up the Pacaya Volcano is a great way to get your legs warmed up for the bigger hikes. Not only is it one of the most active volcanoes in Central America, but it’s also one of the easiest to climb. Here’s everything you need to know to find yourself standing on this active volcano!
Jump to…
When to Go
Guatemala has a dry season and a rainy season. You’ll want to target the dry season from November thru April to give yourself the best chance at beautiful weather while hiking up the Pacaya Volcano. The rainy season runs from May thru October, and although you can still find good weather, it’s much more of a gamble during the rainy season which brings plenty of clouds and fog along with the rain.
How to Get There
If you are staying in a hostel or hotel, it should be pretty easy to coordinate a shuttle/tour to the Pacaya Volcano through the staff. Otherwise, there are plenty of tour agencies scattered throughout the city center of Antigua that can help you book your tour.
The drive should take about an hour to an hour and a half from Antigua to the entrance of the National Park of Pacaya Volcano. An Uber could also be arranged for the way there, but you may want to book the ride home in advance because there are unlikely to be Ubers waiting in the area of the national park.
What to Expect
The hike is easy to moderate, but remember, you are at elevation and will be climbing about 1,500 ft (456m) during the hike. This will lead to some tired legs and shortness of breath, but nothing too crazy. In our opinion, grabbing a walking stick from one of the local children is a smart move. It will help you as you trek, and you’ll be helping to support a local family.
All in all, Pacaya is relatively easy as far as volcano hikes come. You’ll be presented with some spectacular views and miradors where you’ll see the other volcanoes surrounding the area, including Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.
You’ll be sure to have some furry companions on the hike with you looking for scraps. Horses will be on the trail as well and if your legs are giving out on ya, you could hire a horse to take you up for an extra fee. When you get to the top, you’ll be able to roast marshmallows from the stifling heat escaping from the volcanic rock. You’ll be standing on volcanic lava rock that is less than a year old!
The total hike takes a total of 2.5 hours round trip. About 1.5 hours on the way up and about 1 hour on the way down. It’s best to get an early start, especially if you are doing the hike during the rainy season, as the skies tend to be clearer in the earlier portion of the day, with afternoon clouds and rains coming on a near-daily basis.
🌎 BROS TIP: For a truly unique experience, you can eat a pizza cooked on a volcano! Chef David Garcia, the man behind Pizza Pacaya, cooks up delicious pizzas solely using the heat from the volcanic lava rocks. In just 14 minutes, you’ll have a uniquely cooked pizza with a volcanic crunch!
What Should You Bring?
Remember, the sun hits different at altitude, so you’ll want to be prepared. If you’re hiking up the Pacaya Volcano in the rainy season, you’ll want to have a poncho or raincoat ready as well. Here’s a full list of what you’ll need:
- Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen
- Snacks
- Water
- Cash
- Rain Jacket/Poncho
- Hiking Boots or Sneakers
- Camera
How Much Does it Cost?
Here’s a breakdown on the costs for hiking up the Pacaya Volcano:
- Entrance Fee – 100 Quetzales (Approx $12.85 USD)
- Walking Stick – 10 Quetzales (Approx $1.30 USD)
- Transportation + Tour – 150 Quetzales (Approx $19.30 USD)
- Tip for your guide – 25 Quetzales (Approx $3.20 USD)
TOTAL – 285 Quetzales (Approx $36.65 USD)
Have you been to Guatemala? Have you hiked up Pacaya Volcano? Drop a comment and let us know how your experience was!
Pin It!
Heading to Guatemala? check out Some posts!
READY TO GO HIKING UP THE PACAYA VOLCANO?
**Please note, that this post contains affiliate links to products and services. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, which helps us keep the blog up and running.**
