Guatemalas Amazing Volcanoes

A series of incredible volcanoes in Guatemala’s western highlands to set your heart racing, including Central America’s highest peak. Experience erupting volcanoes, geological oddities, visual splendours and sensational sunrises, the occasional remains of rich Mayan culture – and the opportunity to soak in hot volcanic springs.

A good start point for a journey to meet the magnificent Guatemalan volcanoes would be the delightful World Heritage Site city of Antigua. It offers a colourful and historic experience, with impressive architecture and a friendly atmosphere. It is a 1.5 hour drive to the beginning of the trails to climb Pacaya and Acatenango.

Volcan Pacaya:

2,552m Pacaya is a classic active volcano, often with an intriguing plume of smoke rising from its summit. It has to be said, it is more magnificent and brooding than beautiful. Climb through forest and fields to reach the lava wastes and a slog to the summit. 10km, 3+hrs return – a useful acclimatizer for the higher and tougher volcanoes.

Volcan Zunil:

This is a delightfully mixed experience. After a long forest ascent, you reach high, open altiplano grazed grasslands, then climb the foot of the long and wonderful Siete Cruces ridge, passing 7 former Mayan ceremonial sites, to the summit at 3,542m. 15km/8-10hrs return. It is both a delight and a good idea to give yourself time and camp quite close below the summit at a high and view-rich campsite.

Volcan Santa Maria:

A high (3,770m), classic volcanic cone boasting astonishing views into the neighbouring, active but lower Volcan Santiaguito’s crater. This is a long day walk – a grueling 10km/4.5+hrs to the summit and 8-9hrs return walk, but it is worth the slog, as you savour the visual drama around you.

Volcan Tajumulco:

Close to the border with Mexico, Tajumulco is the highest point in Central America at 4,219m. It is a long return walk, so best broken up with a night up there (at around 4,000m, so quite high). Climb through woodland then up a superb, long ridge (with huge views of course) to the high ground and the campsite. You can climb the peak then return to camp, or (better) hit the summit at dawn the next day. 14km/9-10hrs return.

Volcan San Pedro:

This attractive, vegetated cone looms above the south-west side of the beautiful Lake Atitlan. It reaches 3,020m and will generously share with you its enormous views over the lake and to the mountains and volcanoes surrounding it. It is a another steep slog (9km/6-7hr), although with less altitude to contend with than on some of its fraternity.

Volcan Acatenango and Volcan Fuego:

These volcanoes are conjoined, so often walked together. The exhausting but interesting climb up Volcan Acatenango at 3,976m passes through various vegetation zones; cornfields, bamboo, cloud and pine forests. You are rewarded at the top with a view across all 7 of the magnificent main Guatemala volcanoes and onto Fuego busily puffing away (it is fiery and unforgettable from the campsite at night.). 10km/5-6hrs.

You will camp on the saddle between the volcanoes. Connected to Acatenango, 3,763m Volcan Fuego is claimed to be the world’s most continuously active volcano and is approached on a thrilling ridge which swings across some minor peaks to the final cone.  

Chicabal crater:

Chicabal crater lake sits an hour or so south-west of Xila in Guatemala's volcanic highlands. Steep cobbled then dirt tracks head up and round through pleasing wooded hillside to the crater rim, then steeply down to the crater floor. The lake occupies the whole floor and is beautiful, quiet, mysterious and slightly numinous, so it no surprise that it is sacred, and people come to worship in Mayan-descended ceremonies. Fascinating, and a good variant and aclimatiser.

This can be tough walking on high, remote mountains with sometimes unpredictable weather and where altitude can cause real problems. Come prepared.

We’d love to share more! Please help us by recommending your best walks/making suggestions and sending photos! Thank you!