Ascent to Pacaya volcano

One of the most famous and not very challenging treks around the historic city of „Antigua“: [https://www.gigaplaces.com/…a-guatemala/] is a hike through the lava field of the volcano „Pacaya“: [https: // www. gigaplaces.com/mis­to-vulkan-pacaya/]. From the city of Antigua, where we were accommodated, a van from a local travel agency picked us up in the afternoon and took us to the village of ** San Francisco de Sales **, from where we went on a hike.

The ascent was not very demanding with an elevation gain of only 400m. Even so, there was an opportunity to be taken up on horseback.

After less than two kilometers we reach the viewpoint at the old crater Cerro Chino. From here you can see three volcanoes on the west side: „Fuego“: [https://www.gigaplaces.com/…ulkan-fuego/], „Acatenango“: [https://www.gigaplaces.com/misto-vulkan -acatenango /] and the nearest „Agua“: [https://www.gigaplaces.com/…vulkan-agua/].

On the south side rises the cone of the volcano Pacaya 2552m high.

Directly below the highest cone of the volcano is a large field of solidified lava.

In some parts of the lava fields, there are small vents through which very hot air flows, creating natural ovens in which it is possible to roast marshmallows. It's good to bring good shoes, because some places are really hot.

Roasted marshmallow is a sweet delicacy, but most of all it is quite a funny experience.

The landscape, formed by lava, together with the currents of haze, looks dramatic – often as if from another planet.

When lucky, flowing lava can also be seen. We were unlucky, the lava flowed to the other side that day, which we observed the next day from the „hike to Acatenango volcano“: [https://www.gigaplaces.com/…o-acatenango- .