Up for a hike? Climbing Pacaya volcano is something you definately don’t want to miss while you are traveling in Antigua, Guatemala.
Pacaya is an active volcano about an hour north of Antigua. It is a popular destination and your hotel should be able to get you transportation and a guide.
When you get to the base of the volcano there is a small store selling snacks and drinks. There are also several children there who would like to sell you a walking stick and a poncho if it is raining. You can also pay them to have them lead you on horseback about half way up the volcano. At first I bought the stick and poncho, but didn’t get the horse because I wanted to experience the hike. However, the climb is quite steep, and I ended up getting the horse after all.
After you reach the point where the horses have to stop you will see meadowland and trees. I saw a couple of wild horses running around in this area. As you climb higher you will start to see large streams of black, cooled lava. The higher you climb, the rocker and warmer the ground gets.
Be sure to have good shoes. The sole on my right show melted off from the heat of the volcanic rocks. You can bring marshmallows and a stick with you. They will cook right over the steam. It is very likely you will see red lava in the distance. Your tour guide didn’t take us right up to the lava. However, he did offer to take our camera and go right up to the lava and get great pictures. We booked through a very reputable company who knew this tour guide so we gace him the camera. He came back with AMAZING photos. You can also see other volcanoes from where you stand.
For me the hike back down was more difficult than the climb up. However, that is probably because I was missing the sole on one shoe, and the afternoon rain had made the ground slick. The volcano does require a couple hours of hiking, but if you are up to it, it is an unforgettable experience!
