The Pacaya Volcano hike is a must-do half-day trip from Antigua, Guatemala. You might have heard about the incredible volcanic activity taking place at Pacaya Volcano (Volcan Pacaya) between 2020 and 2021. This meant the hike was best to do as a part of a sunrise or overnight Pacaya Volcano tour, to enjoy the eruptions and lava flows once it’s dark.
However, since late 2021, the volcanic activity and lava flows have settled. So, currently, Pacaya Volcano tour operators are not currently running tours for sunrise, and the overnight option isn’t anywhere near as popular.
Of course, hiking Pacaya Volcano is still an amazing experience without the eruptions and one of those bucket list things you should do when you travel to Guatemala. From the recent volcanic activity, incredible lava fields have been formed and are ready to be explored.
Currently, you’re left with the early morning Pacaya Volcano tour (6am–12pm), sunset tour (2–8pm) or overnight options. You’ll miss sunrise with the early morning option and there isn’t any lava flow to enjoy from an overnight experience (unlike the Volcan Acatenango hike). So, we highly recommend doing the Pacaya Volcano hike at sunset for the best experience.
In this guide, we’ll go over what to expect from a Pacaya Volcano sunset tour. Plus, we’ll provide details of the Pacaya Volcano hike, show you some epic sunset photos and cover where to stay in Antigua, which should be your base for exploring this Guatemala volcano.
Table of Contents
Pacaya Volcano Eruption 2020–2021
Pacaya Volcano is one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala (Volcan Fuego and Santiaguito are the other two). Since the 1960s, eruptions from Pacaya Volcano have come in waves. The latest eruptions in 2020 and 2021 saw mindblowing lava flow spread and cascade over the sides of this volcano. Sadly, due to the pandemic, not as many tourists got to experience this natural wonder.
During the latter half of 2021, the lava flow and eruptions settled down. From 2022, more tourists are travelling to Guatemala. Having heard of the recent epic volcanic activity, tourists are flocking to Antigua, hoping to catch sight of this. But, they are left disappointed when they hear the lava flow has ceased. Of course, Pacaya Volcano is an active volcano and could start spewing out lava again at any time. In which case, a Pacaya Volcano tour for sunrise should be back on the cards with tour companies. And, an overnight option would be a fantastic alternative experience.
But, for now, there’s not much to gain from an overnight trip and not as much to gain from an early morning Pacaya Volcano hike. Instead, the sunset tour departing Antigua at 2pm is the best option as it encompasses golden hour during the return hike from the volcano. This adds an extraordinary atmosphere, which nicely complements your trip to the volcano.
Check out Rostro Maya (Indian Nose), Xela to Lake Atitlan 3 Day Hike, Volcan Santo Tomas and Volcan Acetanango/Fuego
Pacaya Volcano Hike Without a Guide
Before we get stuck into the details of the Pacaya Volcano sunset tour, you might be wondering if it’s possible to visit independently and do the hike without a guide. It’s possible to visit Pacaya National Park independently using collectivo’s. But, this can be really time-consuming! You might need to take up to four collectivo’s to reach the volcano, and this would take hours. Then, you’d have the same arduous journey to get back to Antigua.
Even if you managed to arrive at Pacaya National Park independently, you’re not able to hike Pacaya Volcano without a guide. To hire a local guide, that’ll set you back Q200 ($25USD). Yes, this could be split between a group of people to make it cheaper. But, there’s also the entrance fee, which is 50Q ($6USD) per person.
A Pacaya Volcano tour is usually only Q200 (excluding the 50Q entrance fee). If you’re travelling alone, a tour will work out slightly cheaper. Plus, with a tour, the private shuttle only takes 1.5 hours to get there. So, it’ll save you a bunch of time and effort in getting there.
Pacaya Volcano Hike From Antigua
The Pacaya Volcano hike, organised through a tour company in Antigua, is by far the easiest and cheapest option. It’s also possible to do a Pacaya Volcano tour from Guatemala City. But, Guatemala City is further away from Pacaya Volcano, than Antigua. So, a Pacaya Volcano tour from Guatemala City will be pricier, setting you back approx. Q400–500.
For a quicker commute and cheaper tour price, you should do a Pacaya tour from Antigua. But, if you’re based in Guatemala City and have no other option, you should definitely still visit Pacaya Volcano to do the hike. If you want to make life easier and book a tour in advance, GetYourGuide offers a great Pacaya Volcan Tour from Guatemala City.
Pacaya Volcano Hike Tour: The Best Pacaya Volcano Tour From Antigua
If you want to support the local community of Pacaya, but still enjoy the convenience of a tour from Antigua, we recommend A Viajar Guatemala (Travel to Guatemala). Many Antigua-based companies offering a Pacaya Volcano tour use their own guides from Antigua. One benefit is that these guides can sometimes speak English. But, using Antigua based guides doesn’t really help the community in Pacaya.
A Viajar Guatemala offers the same private shuttle and tour as the other Antigua-based companies but use a local guide from Pacaya. These local guides have a genuine passion for the volcano and are very knowledgeable. Our guide, Ruby, was fantastic. Even though her English, and our Spanish, was limited, she was able to teach us about Pacaya Volcano and lead the tour well.
To make a booking for the Pacaya Volcano sunset tour, head to the A Viajar Guatemala (Travel to Guatemala) office at 7a Avenida Norte No. 20 Antigua, Guatemala. The friendly owner, Alexander, speaks excellent English and can explain the tour in more detail. You can contact him on Whatsapp (+502 3005 7775 or +502 5454 6200), Facebook or check out information about the tour on their online catalogue. The tour costs Q200, and doesn’t include the Q50 Pacaya National Park entrance free.
We found Alexander very helpful and informative. He helped us book our incredible Volcan Acatenango hike with Expedicion Volcan Acatenango. He also helped organise our shuttle from Antigua to Santa Ana in El Salvador through Go Travel El Salvador. For other tours and shuttle services in Guatemala, don’t be afraid to use Alexander and A Viajar Guatemala.
Or Book a Tour Online
- Use a well-known and trustworthy online tour booking platform
- Book in advance; reserve now and pay later
- Free cancellation
FYI – Viator also offers this tour.
Pacaya Volcano Hike Difficulty
Hiking Pacaya Volcano involves a steep climb, which is physically demanding; but, overall, the hike is fairly easy to navigate (albeit a bit slippery downhill on the way back). There are two trail options for the Pacaya Volcano hike. If you do a Pacaya Volcano tour, you’ll do the out and back hike from La Corona. If you visit independently, the collectivo will drop you off at San Francisco de Sales. So, this is where you’d start and finish your hike.
The trails are very similar, both involving a steady dusty climb to the base of Pacaya Volcano. Each trail leads you to the same point where you’ll explore the lava fields formed by the recent eruptions. There’s no real advantage or disadvantage in choosing one trail over the other.
If you’re in Antigua, we hope you plan on doing the incredible Volcan Acatenango hike. In comparison to that overnight adventure, the Pacaya Volcano is simple and easy. Perhaps, to help you acclimatise before the Volcan Acatenango overnight hike, you should do the Pacaya Volcano hike as a warm-up a day or two before. Otherwise, if you’ve already acclimatised, you might want to save your energy and do the Pacaya Volcano tour after summiting Volcan Acatenango.
Pacaya Volcano Hike Distance
Both the Pacaya Volcano hike from La Corona and San Francisco de Sales involves an approx. 5.5km out and back trail. Either way, the hike takes around 2.5 hours, which includes time to explore the lava fields and toast marshmallows!
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Pacaya Volcano Hike Elevation Gain
Starting at around 1,825m, the elevation gain of the Pacaya Volcano hike is around 340 metres. This is what you’ll need to conquer if you do the hike with a tour company from La Corona. Doing the out and back trail from San Francisco de Sales involves a slightly higher gain of around 450 metres.
Pacaya Volcano Horseback Option
If you’re wanting to give your legs a rest and skip the half-day hike, it’s possible to follow the trail via horseback. This will cost Q300 per person ($40USD) and takes you most of the way up. Once you arrive at the lava fields, you can’t go any further with the horse.
A few people opted for the horseback option in our tour group. Admittedly, Beck and I didn’t enjoy all of the dust created by the horses. Plus, it was a bit off-putting to have a horse up your backside when hiking. So, if you’re able to walk, you definitely should. You’ll experience a great workout and feel a greater sense of triumph reaching the foot of the volcano this way. If you are able to walk and want to make it a bit easier for yourself, you can hire a wooden stick at the national park entrance for Q5 ($0.70USD).
But, we appreciate that getting to the base of the volcano via horseback is a necessary option for those who may not be able to walk the trail. With this in mind, the horseback option would be an excellent way to experience and enjoy Volcan Pacaya.
Pacaya Volcano Trail
Although you won’t need GPS directions for a guided hike, we hope this interactive map of the Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala gives you an idea of what to expect.
Pacaya Volcano Hiking Details
If you opt for a Pacaya Volcano tour, you’ll be picked up from your accommodation in Antigua around 2–3pm. After the approx. 1.5 hour drive to Pacaya, you’ll be dropped off at La Corona. We recommend using the bathroom before the Pacaya Volcano hike begins. We were met by our lovely guide, Ruby, who walked us over to the Pacaya National Park entrance. This is where you’ll cough up the Q50 entrance fee.
From here, the wide dusty trail ascends, zig-zagging and winding its way up towards Pacaya Volcano. After finishing the Volcan Acatenango hike the day before, Beck and I were a bit slow to get going. Being in a group, we didn’t mind the slower speed.
As you ascend, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the volcanoes around Antigua including Volcan Agua, with Volcan Acatenango and Fuego beyond. Personally, we encountered widespread cloud cover and haze. So, our views weren’t quite as far-reaching.
Pacaya Volcano Lava Fields
After a fairly steep climb, you’ll arrive at the base of Volcan Pacaya and the vast lava fields. Surprisingly, you’ll pass Pacaya Pizza – a very interestingly placed pizzeria! You’ll soon swap the dusty trail for the solidified lava track, which is very rocky and uneven. Marked by white paint, a path leads you around the foot of the volcano to an area of ongoing volcanic activity.
Although there isn’t any red-raw lava to gawk currently, there are still steaming fumaroles to explore. Steam rises from these rocks, and creates a warm environment, warm enough to toast some marshmallows! A big shout to Ruby for giving me seconds!
Around the base of Pacaya Volcano, there are exquisite red rocks, many still emitting heat. Without too many clouds, you may also get to witness ash escaping the peak of Pacaya Volcan. Although it isn’t as spectacularly active as Volcan Fuego or Santiaguito, this volcano is still an incredible landform to explore.
Sunset on the Return Hike
After an hour or so of exploring the base of Pacaya Volcano, you’ll make the much easier return hike back to the trailhead. A gradual descent gently guides you, as you wind and twist your way back through Pacaya National Park. The golden hour starts to light up the sky and horizon with majestic orange hues. Even though we experienced lots of cloud cover, this did make for quite the spectacle in the sky.
There are many viewpoints to enjoy the sunset from during the return hike. With the group well spread out, it seemed that Beck and I enjoyed many beautiful spots for sunset, all by ourselves. Perhaps this is another good reason to visit for the sunset tour. Most of the crowds doing the early morning tour would have well and truly left by that time. After soaking in sunset on a quiet trail, you’ll soon arrive back at the trailhead with darkness setting in. It’s time for the 1.5 journey back to Antigua!
Recap
We highly recommend doing the Pacaya Volcano hike at sunset for the best experience. Sure, a Pacaya Volcano tour isn’t quite as epic compared with the sunrise and overnight tours in 2020 and 2021 during the explosive eruptions. And, there’s always a chance that these eruptions will start up again sometime soon. So, the sunrise and overnight tours will be back on the cards. But, for now, the sunset option is still a fantastic way to experience Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala.
Best Place To Stay in Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua is the best place to base yourself for hiking Pacaya Volcano. To help you plan your trip to Antigua Guatemala, we’ve handpicked the best hostels and hotels to suit any budget. And, to help plan your other adventures in Antigua, check out this Best Things to Do in Antigua guide.
Best Hotels in Antigua, Guatemala
For those travellers who aren’t afraid to pay a little extra for a nice and comfortable stay, we recommend these hotels in Antigua.
Hotel Posada Santa Teresita
Beck and I stayed here during our time in Antigua. Gilda was a very nice, helpful and accommodating host. We had heaps of space in our private room and the outdoor courtyard had a serene garden. The wifi was phenomenal!
Casa Elena
A classy colonial-style building offering excellent accommodation in Antigua. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, with the option of either a patio or balcony. Wifi is good and the breakfast is rated highly.
San Rafael Hotel
One of the most highly-rated hotels in Antigua. It’s another lovely colonial-style building that has a nicely decorated garden interior. The rooms are charming and spacious with a fireplace and a lovely private bathroom.
Best Hostels in Antigua, Guatemala
For the budget backpackers, these three hostel options in Antigua will more than cater to your needs. These places are all great options for visiting Volcan Pacaya in Guatemala.
Barbara’s Boutique Hostel
With lovely decor and modern facilities, this hostel is much better than your average hostel. With decent hot showers, good Wifi and a spacious shared kitchen, there’s a lot to admire about the facilities.
Yellow House Hostel B&B
Another classy hostel in Antigua. There are modern rooms with great WiFi and a lovely garden and terrace. A continental breakfast is provided, which is always a bonus when staying at a hostel!
Adra Hostel
One of the highest-rated hostels in Antigua. It has a comfortable lounge, and a terrace and bar, so it’s easy to chill out and meet other travellers. It also features a continental breakfast, decent WiFi and general good vibes.
Hiking Essentials For the Pacaya Volcano Hike
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
Make sure to also pack 2L of water, sunglasses, a fleece jacket and a hat.
Pacaya Volcano Guatemala FAQs
We hope our guide has answered most, if not all of your questions about hiking Pacaya Volcano. But, here are some other common questions we’ve been asked about the hike.
How High Is Pacaya Volcano?
The summit of Pacaya Volcano is 2,552 metres. Given it’s an active volcano, you obviously won’t be hiking to the summit. The highest point of the hike reaches 2,157m.
Where Is the Pacaya Volcano Located?
The Pacaya Volcano is located in, you guessed it, Pacaya! Sitting in the Escuintla Department of Guatemala, it’s about 30km southwest of Guatemala City.
How Far Is Pacaya Volcano From Antigua?
Pacaya Volcano is around 25km southeast of Antigua. With the private shuttle provided by tour companies, it takes around 1.25–1.5 hours to get to the volcano from Antigua.
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
Like most hikes in Guatemala and Central America, you should do them during the dry season (November to April).
Bonus Tips
- Stay at the front of the pack: to avoid the dust kicked up by other hikers and horses, try to stay at the front of your tour group during the Volcan Pacaya hike.
- Use trekking poles: this will make the walk up much easier on your knees. Even the cheap wooden sticks are better than nothing.
- Hike during the week: Being close to highly populated cities such as Antigua and Guatemala City, Pacaya Volcano can get very busy on the weekends. Hike Pacaya Volcano during the week to avoid the crowds.
Are you planning on travelling to Central America? Check out some of our other volcano hikes from Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Otherwise, check out the 17 Best Hikes in Guatemala.
Sorry, but I have to set the record straight for your readers. You made a very misleading comment that Pacaya is easy and straight forward. No, that’s not true. I hiked it yesterday and it was strenuous and very difficult even for intermediate hikers. We had to take frequent breaks due to the steepness of the trail and the elevation. Coming down was just as treacherous because of slippery landscape. Also, a decent bit of the trail contains cobblestone which in itself can be difficult. Just speaking the truth.
Hi Tracy,
Thank you for reading our blog and commenting on your experience hiking Pacaya Volcano.
We’ve updated some of the wording in our guide to reflect the difficulty of the trail. We greatly value your comment, just as we’re sure other readers will value reading about your experience hiking Pacaya Volcano.
All the best, Dan