Guatemala is much more than La Antigua Guatemala, Panajachel and Tikal.
Pacaya volcano is a great destination. Located 50 km to the southwest of Guatemala City, it is close enough for a daytrip yet far enough for a wild natural adventure. To get there, take the road to Palín and Escuintla and make a left turn in km 37.5, head to San Vicente Pacaya, then proceed to San Francisco de Sales (dirt road), where the ascent begins.
It has four peaks called: Cerro Chiquito, Cerro de Agua, Cerro Chino and Pico Mackenney. The active crater is at the top of Pico Mackenney. It is always throwing ashes, water vapor and lapilli (small stones) up into the sky, and at least once a year it pours out lava.
Its official height is 2550 meters amsl, but it is only a symbolic number, because its continuous eruptions keep piling new materials over the summit and blowing them away occasionally to start over again. Another consequence of this nonstop activity is that the shape of the active cone never remains the same, giving the visitor a unique show every time, no matter how many times he has been there.
With an adequate amount of luck, you will find a “boca” (mouth). That is the local name for eventually open secondary lava channels, from which lava comes out so smoothly you can actually stand very close to it (few meters) with very low risk.
If you are looking for vegetation, you can also find it here. Climbing up the volcano you will find hundreds of different plant species, from trees like “hormigo”, from which the marimba is legitimately made, to an ample variety of orchids and fungi.
If you come down the volcano with a need for more action, you should follow the road to Laguna de Calderas (3 km more), where you can swim, rent a canoe to row or take a canopy tour through the forest.
On your way back, there is still a chance to visit Lago de Amatitlán, very well known for its typical “comedores” (dining places) and boat trips.
That should be enough to fill your day with adventure.
Comment by cvander at Aug 6th, 2004 5:18 am ↑
Condor, we should suggest a trip to Volcan de Pacaya next month. I’m interested and more visitors could join us.
Comment by Condor at Aug 6th, 2004 4:06 pm ↑
Great idea!
Why wait?
I already got this offer:
Saturday, august 14. Q60 (or US$8) each
Includes transportation, security and guide.
More info, write me: condorx@ufm.edu.gt
Are you in? I am.
Comment by cvander at Aug 9th, 2004 3:48 pm ↑
Oh.. I’d like to go but I’ll be outside the country for the following weeks. Perhaps another oportunity commes in september.
Comment by julio bardales at Oct 21st, 2004 4:43 pm ↑
hola quisiera informacion para visitar el parque calderas y hacer un viaje para subier el volcan de pacaya porfavor envieme la informacion necesaria. gracias
Comment by jose gonzalez at Jun 20th, 2005 10:51 am ↑
Me gustaria tener la información de como llegar al parque de la laugan caldera
Comment by rebecca parata at Dec 5th, 2006 3:33 pm ↑
i love this place!!!! i’ve lived here for all my life……. i just learned how to speak english…..
Comment by JULIO RUIZ RODRIGUEZ at Mar 24th, 2007 5:11 pm ↑
QUISIERA ENCONTRAR UNA PERSONA QUE SE LLAMA CESAR PERALTA ORELLANA, QUE TIENE UN CABALLO Y UN NINO SUMAMENTE POBRES Y QUE NECESITAN DE MI AYUDA, SI POR CASUALIDAD HAY ALGUIEN QUIEN PUEDA INTERCEDER POR MI, SE LO VOY AGRADECER, PUES ME INTERESA MANDARLE LA AYUDA QUE LE OFRECI, ATENTAMENTE Y GRACIAS, JULIO D. RUIZ
Comment by Idetrorce at Dec 16th, 2007 12:08 am ↑
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
Comment by oscar at Jan 16th, 2008 5:46 pm ↑
how pacaya got its name
Comment by Danny at Jan 16th, 2008 6:59 pm ↑
Hi, Oscar you can find more information about Pacaya volcano here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacaya
Comment by Dr Ross Dowling at Mar 11th, 2008 12:04 am ↑
I wish to let you know about the Inaugural Global Geotourism Conference being held in Perth, Australia from 17-20 August 2008.
The conference will be a hallmark event that promises to set a benchmark for the tourism industry in relation to the development, management and marketing of landscapes. Please visit the official website for more information at www.promaco.com.au/2008/geotm
Please forward this email to your colleagues who may also be interested in this conference
With best wishes
Professor Ross K Dowling PhD
Chair, Forum Advocating Cultural & Eco Tourism (FACET)
Conference Convenor
Email: r.dowling@ecu.edu.au