Hike to Pacaya Volcano from Antigua
4.4
307 Ratings
Antigua
Explore Pacaya Volcano from Antigua: a thrilling hike with stunning views, volcanic sand trails, and steam vents. Perfect for adventure seekers!
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Pacaya Volcano - Pacaya is one of the most accessible active volcano walks that you can experience in the country. The tour starts with a pick up and transfer from any centrally located hotel in Antigua. After one hour ride you will arrive at the entrance of the National Park where you have time to go to the bathroom and prepare your self to climb. The hike is a moderate degree. We suggest to wear hiking boots, and a hiking stick, if you don´t have one you can rent a wooden stick that the locals can rent you for as little as Q5.00. This tour can be walking or in a horse (horse is not included). After walking along the trails of the volcanic sand with great views, you will reach the plateau from which you can see the main crater of the volcano. For safety reasons is not possible to visit it, but you will see some steam emanations produced by the heat of the volcano. Come across the dried lava fields to roast your marshmallows. After a while, is time to start to descend and take your bus back to Antigua.
What's Included
  • Collective transportation Antigua-Volcano-Antigua
  • Hotel pickup (selected hotels only)
  • Trail Guide in both languages Spanish-English (Basic English)
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fee Q100.00 per person
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Horse ride (Q250.00-Q300.00 round trip)
Additional Information

Pacaya is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America and easily accessible with a height of 2552 masl. For more than 50 years the volcano has maintained a moderate eruptive phase. It is one of the most recommended volcanoes for its beautiful landscapes. The ascent is a moderate walk with some points of medium-high difficulty that offers wonderful panoramic views. The tour starts from Antigua. After one-hour ride, you will arrive at the entrance of the National Park where you have to pay the cost of the admission Q100.00 p/p. We suggest to wear hiking boots, and a hiking stick (if you don´t have one you can rent it for Q5.00). This tour can be walking or in a horse, (horse is not included). After walking along the trails of the volcanic sand with great views, you will reach the plateau from which you can see the main crater of the volcano. For safety reasons is not possible to visit it, but you will see some steam emanations produced by the heat of the volcano.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Minimum age is 8 years
  • Take note that Rainy Season is from May to October, more chance of rain in the afternoons
  • The hike it runs even if it’s raining.
  • Wear hiking boots with good traction and toe protection, pants, jacket (rain coat and waterproof clothing in rainy season)
  • Only cash of quetzals is accepted to pay the admission fee
  • If you want to rent a horse, bring cash of quetzals
  • To join the Pizza Pacaya experience first ask us for availability due we don’t stop with David every day. You need to order and pay your pizza directly with David. Contact him at +502 57430259.
  • IMPORTANT: The activity is considered of moderate difficulty but all will depend on your physical condition.
Location
Pacaya Volcano
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(307 Ratings)
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John_g
May 28, 2024
Incredible Experience. Highly recommend. - Incredible experience. However, I echo everyone who said this below, this is not an “easy” hike by any means. I went up about 200 yards, then decided to take a horse the rest of the way up there and back down.
Review provided by Viator
Kamiahm2023
May 13, 2024
Hike to Pacaya - Excellent trip! The tour guides were great and very knowledgeable. Tour guides were able to communicate in English and Spanish and assisted greatly in helping those who were unable to hike get up the volcano all the same
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inci_b
May 5, 2024
Must to do - Incredible experience. I am missing those days. Excellent scenery, organized tour operator. Definitely you should book with them
Review provided by Viator
928robbyp
May 3, 2024
Steep, short, worth it! - Steep, but short hike. We were up and back down in 2.5 hrs, including roasting marshmallows at the top. Beautiful view from top, and amazing lava field. Tennis shoes were sufficient, but boots are better. Each hiker should have a bottle of water. One in our party rode a horse instead, and was pleased with that decision. Horse and hikers took same trail at same pace. “Monkey” was our guide and he was great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandrab411
Apr 30, 2024
Overall great hike! - The pick up from the hotel was prompt. Monkey, our tour guide, was very informative on local plants and insects. The dogs that followed us on the trail were an added bonus! If you do the afternoon tour and want pizza, you do need to request in advance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jackie_m
Apr 24, 2024
Worth the view! - Tour guide was super chill and kind. He knows the area really well and is proud of his culture/country. He is very welcoming and optimistic. The hike was harder than I expected bc it was uphill but still doable. You have the option to rent a horse. I didn’t get a horse but many people do. The journey was worth the views. You get a better chance of quality pics if you go in the morning.
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_c
Apr 20, 2024
Great experience - I truly enjoyed my experience. The guide was very informative. I hiked all the way up and my mother rode the horse. It was a bit challenging. I would say that this is an intermediate level hike.
Review provided by Viator
G271gcvanessab
May 19, 2024
Amazing experience, great view of the volcano - It was a incredible experience, something you got to do once in a lifetime, this only downside was the bus to go was crowded and took almost two hours and on top of what you paid already you got to pay the entry fee and they are fast and it's uphill so if you decide to walk the 3km up know that you won't be able to take break and might have to pay for a horse , witch I end up doing and it was amazing 🤩
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rainyp2024
May 5, 2024
Nice experience - Everything is super nice Carlos and BenjamĂ­n are good guides. They just go a little fast. If it were a little slower it would be better since the elevation is too much for people who are not forced. There was also a person on a horse who didn't stop insisting and it was super uncomfortable since he asked home for two seconds and the truth is that it makes you anxious to be with a horse so close to you. But very good tour and I recommend it. Thanks for the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ann
May 3, 2024
Uncomfortable bus ride to pacyana volcano - Very disappointed transport was 1 1/2 hrs crammed into bus made for children. We did horse ride part of way when got to top horse people tried to charge more than rate we were quoted by guide. Then on return bus dropped several people at hotels but rest of us just dropped of in center of town nowhere near our hotel. View of volcano and hike good but rest was awful and very uncomfortable for any normal size sdults
Review provided by Viator
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