Destinations

Pacaya Volcano Tours: Explore Active Lava Fields and Smoking Craters

Pacaya Volcano is one of Guatemala’s youngest and most active volcanoes, which offers visitors a full immersion experience within the otherworldly volcanic landscape of active lava flows, spewing ash, and smoking craters. Climbing Pacaya is a geological experience like no other.

Available Tours

Compared to some of our other Volcano Tours, the Pacaya Tours are relatively easy. After a 1.5 hour climb, you’ll find yourself traversing unique volcanic rock, exploring lava flows, and even roasting marshmallows over geothermal hot spots found on the cooled lava formations. If you're looking for more of a challenge, consider our most sought-after tour, Acatenango Volcano.

About Volcán de Pacaya

Pacaya Volcano, known locally as Volcán de Pacaya, is an active complex volcano located in Pacaya National Park about an hour south of Antigua. Pacaya is the quintessential storybook volcano with a continuous plume of smoke drifting from its summit and a massive dried lava field forming the valley at the base of its caldera.

While Volcán de Pacaya may not be Guatemala’s highest peak at 8,370 ft (2,552 m) its slopes and unique landscapes are certainly some of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in all of Central America.

Pacaya Volcano Hiking Tours and Adventure Packages

OTO offers Pacaya hiking tours as day trips or overnights. Overnight is highly recommended if Pacaya is particularly active, as there is nothing like seeing active lava flows glow against the night sky. We also offer a Mountains to Sea extension tour which combines the summit of Pacaya with a trip down to the surf beach of El Paredon to relax sore muscles and take a surf lesson.

Pacaya Volcano Highlights:

  • See one of Guatemala’s main tourist attractions away from the crowds
  • Roast marshmallows above volcanic heat vents
  • Walk across thousands of years old dried lava flows, and through lush forests and farmland
  • Enjoy a fresh picnic lunch below the smoking cinder cone in a barren land of lava rock
  • See views of nearby towering volcanoes, and even to the Pacific coast
  • Take a spa option and spend time after the hike soothing your sore muscles with a massage, hydrotherapy, and thermal pools heated by the volcanic activity of Pacaya!

Today was my birthday, and hiking Pacaya was absolutely amazing. I can’t say enough positive things about our entire experience. The service was phenomenal (hiking an active volcano!!!) the guides were so knowledgeable, safety-conscious, and incredibly nice. The lunch was scrumptious, and my dietary restrictions were taken into account. The guides even produced a birthday pastry, candles, and sang happy birthday. Thank you Mimi, Tami, Mike, Marco, Josias, and Edwin. Today was a highlight in my life, and Old Town Outfitters made it happen.

– GabrielaOlmosHill from Redmond, WA - TripAdvisor

FAQs

Yes. In fact, Pacaya has been pretty consistently active over the last decade and has recently become more active. Since March 2021, scientists have recorded an increase in incandescent explosions and ash emissions. Learn more about the status of Pacaya and Pacaya’s volcanic eruptions at Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program.

2021. Towards the end of March 2021, Pacaya experienced strong eruptions spewing rivers of lava and ash clouds. While the lava flows did threaten nearby towns, there was little damage. This recent activity has created very unique opportunities to get very very close to the flows.

OTO takes safety very seriously. We follow all local and national laws and regulations as to whether or not we can safely climb any mountain. Specifically, we follow the guidance provided by INSIVUMEH, a government agency that monitors area volcanic and seismic activity in order to inform and protect the public.

We also have ways of viewing the volcano at a safe distance if officials temporarily close the park. OTO has access to a few private farms across the valley from Pacaya where we can camp, see the lava flows and have an enjoyable experience from a very safe distance.

The volcano has erupted at least 23 times since the 1500s. In 1961, Pacaya began erupting vigorously and has been erupting frequently since then.