Pacaya Volcano

I had the incredible opportunity to go on a medical mission trip to Guatemala. I was there to support and provide mentorship to a group of Doctor of Physical Therapy students. It was a deeply special experience to serve, speak the Spanish language, immerse into the culture, teach and collaborate with talented students, and to have time as well to see the beautiful countryside.

Before I continue on to tell you more about Pacaya Volcano and the trail to explore it, please check out the link below. Hearts in Motion is non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing medical care, social programs, and community development to underserved populations in Guatemala and Ecuador. While you can participate and offer your services as a medical professional, you can also volunteer without a medical background. The trip was well organized, all of the staff that took care of our group were friendly and professional, and my time there was fulfilling and interesting.

Now, Pacaya Volcano. This is one of the most active volcanoes in the Ring of Fire. It is also near another very active volcano that you can see as you hike, Fuego. In fact, Fuego erupted merely a few weeks after we hiked it. Pacaya has been actively erupting recently. I loved seeing the active steam and smoke from the top and along the way as we hiked, it felt like the volcano was alive. Our guide even had us stop to roast marshmallows at one of the vents.

The hike itself was a nice physical challenge. There is quite a bit of elevation gain and quite a bit of loose volcanic rock. Dust and loose rock were environmental challenges. You can pay to ride up on horse, but I enjoyed hoofing it up myself. Coming back down was fun, you could jog and slide down some sections of the gravelly material. Be sure to stop along the way and look at the multiple other volcanoes nearby, and also appreciate the sweeping vistas of the beautiful countryside. 

Difficulty: Moderate. 

Trail Stats: 3.6 miles, 1,486 feet elevation gain, loop.

Trail Finding: Straight forward.

Conditions: Dirt, volcanic rock and gravel.

Would I Repeat This: Yes!

Parking: Present.

Timing: This is on an active volcano, have caution and awareness prior to completing. 

Downloaded Map: Not needed, but always nice to know ‘how much longer’.

Fees: This trail is within Parque Nacional Volcán de Pacaya y Laguna de Calderas and you must pay the cash fee (Guatemalan Quetzales) at the gate. You also must be accompanied by a certified local guide. You may also rent a walking stick at the trailhead for a nominal fee, which was helpful on the loose volcanic rock.

Trails: Cerro Chino trail connects into this loop.