Active Adventure

View the power of nature as you hike Guatemala’s Pacaya Volcano.

- Jack Guy

THE SMALL CENTRAL AMERICAN nation of Guatemala packs a huge number of attractions into an area about the size of Tennessee. Chief among them are the volcanoes which loom over the Western Highlands of the country in a spectacular spine running from the border with Mexico in the north to El Salvador in the south.

While nearly 40 of these incredible geographical features reside in Guatemala, Pacaya is one of the best-known. One of just three active volcanoes in the country, it recorded several amazing eruptions in the last 50 years, some covering nearby towns in a blanket of ash. You’ll be pleased to hear the last eruption took place in 2010, and the volcano now offers a popular daytrip for visitors from both Guatemala City and Antigua.

Just more than an hour by car from each of these cities, Pacaya proves supremely accessible. Regular group tours depart from both Guatemala City, the capital, and Antigua, the colonial city many visitors use as a base. You can make your own way to the welcome center in the village of San Francisco de Sales, pay the 50 quetzales (about $6.50) entrance fee and hire an obligatory guide, with the price subject to negotiation. But it’s more convenient to join a tour with everything included; you’ll usually pay $15–20 with tour operators.