Volcano Pacaya is one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes and one of the most accessible for a day hike from Antigua. Located just over an hour from Guatemala City or Antigua, Pacaya offers the chance to walk across lava fields, take in panoramic views and witness volcanic activity. Sometimes even see visible lava flows!! After hearing other backpackers share their stories of roasting marshmallows over hot lava, we knew we had to hike it!! It’s one of the best volcano hikes in Guatemala and a most-do if you’re in Antigua!
… it might have also been a little taster before we attempted Volcano Acatenango.
Pacaya is located in the Pacaya National Park in Guatemala’s southern central highlands. Rising to 2,552 metres, it’s been active since the 1960s – with it’s most recent major eruptions being in 2010 and 2021. Aside for these eruptions, it’s considered very safe to hike!
Volcano Pacaya Hike Costs
It’s mandatory to hike up Volcano Pacaya with a guide. You can either do this by booking with a tour in Antigua, or make your own way to Pacaya and hire a guide from there. From asking around, people paid around Q200 for the latter. Tour agencies we spoke to were charging anything from Q170-450, with added perks of lunch and hot springs.
Eventually, we booked through our hostel, who charged Q100 for return transport and a lovely local guide. The entrance fee for the volcano itself is Q50 – paid on arrival.
The two main tours available depart at 6-7am or 1-2pm. We chose to do the afternoon tour for the sunset views – which I highly recommend! It’s worth noting, Volcano Pacaya is hard to get to via public transport, so joining a tour would be your best option.
Getting to Volcano Pacaya
The minivan arrived at our hostel 25 minutes behind the scheduled 2pm departure time. As we were the last hostel pick-up, we headed straight to the volcano.
After a 90 minute drive along winding roads, we arrived at the hike starting point. We were instantly swarmed by kids selling walking sticks for Q10 and ‘taxi’ horses for Q100. The walking sticks would have been helpful at certain points, due to the slippery walking path and steep downhill to the lava. The horses follow you up until the viewing point and are available at any time if you need them. There are toilets at the car park too.
Hiking Pacaya
The hike to the viewing point was harder than I anticipated. The forest landscape had a fairly steep track with loose gravel, ash and small rocks. We did take regular breaks along the way up, and fortunately, were blessed with clear skies! The views were incredible and we could see as far as Guatemala City!!
After an hour of walking, we reached the top and were awarded with breathtaking views of Volcano Pacaya. In addition, Volcano Acatenango, Agua and Fuego were visible from the other side. It made the sweaty hike up worth it!!
From here, we made our way down to Volcano Pacaya’s base. This was fairly challenging, given the amount of loose rock and ash. It was slippery and you had to be conscious of where you stepped. I recommend wearing proper shoes (trainers or hiking boots) and just being aware of where you’re stepping. It’s definitely doable, you just need to be looking where you’re going during this time. As someone who is terrified of heights, and gets nervous even being near a scary slope, this was fine! I’ve had harder times trying to ski.
Marshmallow Roasting on Pacaya Volcano
The terrain here was vastly different from the forest landscape we’d been hiking in at the start. We walked through a make-shift path surrounded by mounds of dried lava, until finally…marshmallows!! Our guide had us gather round a small hole in the lava that was hot enough to roast marshmallows.
This was probably one of the most surreal moments of my life – standing in front of an active volcano, surrounded by dried lava, eating roasted marshmallows.
Once we’d eaten all the marshmallows, we made our way down the other side to sit on a ledge and watch the sunset.
Sunsets at Pacaya Volcano
The landscape changed once again as we walked across sandy-ash towards the sunset. We stayed here for 30 minutes, taking photos and appreciating the incredible sun setting below the clouds. Without question, the sunset here goes down as one of my top three favourite sunsets!!
Once the sun starts to set, you’re able to see the hot lava on Volcano Pacaya too. By this time, it was starting to get quite chilly, so we wrapped up in our layers and got ready for the descent.
At 6:30pm, we started the hike back down, guided by our phone torches. This was a different route to the ascent – much flatter with slightly easier terrain to walk on. Despite it being easier, you’ll still need to be conscious of where you step, and in the pitch dark, it was hard at times. Within an hour, we were on our way back to Antigua.
Tips for Hiking Volcano Pacaya
- DO THE SUNSET TOUR! I can’t stress enough how incredible it was to watch the sunset from above the clouds, surrounded by Volcanos. I don’t think the 6am tour would provide the same experience.
- Bring warm layers for the top. It’s windy, and after sunset, can get quite cold.
- Take a headlamp if you have one. Our group managed the post-sunset descent with phone torches. however, it would have been much easier if there were headlamps.
- Wear proper hiking shoes or trainers. The terrain can be a bit slippery at parts, so bring shoes that have good grips.
- Bring lots of water (and potentially some snacks). Although the hike isn’t long, we did the majority of it in the daylight and heat. You can’t buy water on the volcano so it’s better to pack some.
- Bring cash for any equiptment rentals (e.g. hiking poles), drinks etc
Pacaya Volcano FAQs
When is the best time to visit Pacaya Volcano?
The best time to hike Volcano Pacaya is during the dry season – November to April – as the trails are less muddy with clearer views! Wet season – May to October – is more cloudy and rainy. Although you can still do the hike, be prepared for slippery trails and reduced visibility. I would personally recommend going in dry season, as it was already fairly slippery when we went in January. Also the incredible views is what made the trip, so if you don’t have that, it might not be worth it.
How long does it take to hike Volcano Pacaya?
It’s roughly a 3-4 hour round trip, including breaks and enjoying time at the summit/lava fields.
Is Pacaya suitable for children?
Yes, older children and teenagers with moderate fitness would be fine to complete the hike. Younger children may find it challenging, but there are horses available.
How difficult is the Pacaya Volcano hike?
Overall, the hiking Pacaya is not difficult – only a basic level of fitness is needed. The hike is a steady uphill walk but with plenty of rest stops and good terrain. As with all the volcano hikes we did, the pace of the group is set by the slowest hiker. So don’t worry about being ‘too slow’ going up.
Is lava always visible?
No, the visibility of lava depends on current volcanic activity. Some months, you’ll be able to see glowing lava flows or smoke, and at other times, it’ll just be steam and heat vents. Ask your tour operator for up-to-date info before booking.
After speaking to a few people afterwards, we realise how lucky we were with the weather. Some people apparently have total whiteouts and can’t see any views off the volcano. Keep on top of the weather forecasts to help pick a clear day.
What should I wear and bring?
I recommend wearing sturdy, closed shoes. In terms of clothes, you’ll need light and breathable layers and some sort of windbreaker or light jacket at the top. I wore running leggings, a t-shirt, with a thin jumper for the top, and I was comfortable.
In addition to this, I recommend bringing cash (for any snacks, souvenirs or horse rides), sun protection, water and snacks. There are walking/hiking sticks available to rent at the trailhead, which could be useful. Although the guides bring marshmallows, feel free to bring your own too.
Can I hike Pacaya without a guide?
No, a guide is required by the park for all visitors. This can either be part of a tour or hired at the park entrance. This is for both safety and park regulation. If you’re going to Pacaya solo (e.g. with your own drivers), you’ll need to hire a local guide upon arrival.
Is it worth doing if I’ve already hiked Acatenango?
YES! Hiking Pacaya Volcano is a completely different experience to Acatenango. For starters, it’s shorter and easier, so you’re not physically exerting much energy or having to take as many supplies up. In addition, the sites and things to do differ. I highly recommend doing both if you get the chance!
Is it safe to hike?
Yes, Pacaya is gernerally considered safe to hike, especially as it’s mandatory to have a guide. The active crater is off-limits and tours strictly stick to designated trails and lava fields. That said, as it’s still an active volcano, it’s important to follow the guidelands of guides and park officials to avoid restricted areas.
If you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, check out my guide on places to visit in Guatemala for more inspiration or other posts in my Central America collection.
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