What is the entrance fee for the pacaya volcano hike?

The park entrance fee is 100 GTQ per person, paid in cash in quetzales directly at the gate in San Francisco de Sales; card payment is not accepted on-site.

What are the opening hours for Parque Nacional Volcán de Pacaya?

Parque Nacional Volcán de Pacaya is open Monday to Wednesday 07:00–18:00 and Thursday to Sunday 04:00–00:00. The best arrival window is 07:00–10:00 for clearer skies before afternoon clouds build.

Do I need a guide for the Volcán Pacaya hike?

Yes, a licensed local guide is mandatory for all visitors; guides can be hired at the visitor centre for approximately 200 GTQ and are essential for safe navigation around the active lava fields and steam vents.

What is the best time to visit for a pacaya volcano hike?

The pacaya volcano hike is best from November to April during the dry season, when skies are clearest and lava-field views are unobstructed. For any month, arriving between 07:00 and 10:00 maximises visibility before midday cloud cover.

How long does the pacaya volcano hike take?

Expect roughly 3 hours of hiking round-trip, gaining approximately 455 metres (1,496 ft) over about 2.6 km (1.6 miles) each way, plus time on the lava field and at Cerro Chino viewpoint; allow 5–6 hours door-to-door from Antigua including transport.

Is the pacaya volcano hike suitable for children and families?

Children aged 4 and above are welcome; the moderate gradient is manageable for older children in good health, and horse rental (approx. 200–300 GTQ, paid locally) is available for younger or tiring hikers. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

What should I wear and bring on a Volcán Pacaya tour?

Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes with grip, moisture-wicking layers, and a windproof jacket; bring at least 2 litres of water, sunscreen, snacks, and 100 GTQ cash for the entrance fee. A trekking pole or rented walking stick (approx. 10 GTQ on-site) is strongly advised.

Can I reach the summit crater on the pacaya volcano hike?

The active Mackenney crater summit is off-limits for safety reasons. The standard Volcán Pacaya tour route reaches a viewpoint at approximately 2,297 metres near Cerro Chino, offering clear views of the crater, the lava field, and surrounding volcanoes including Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.

Are there food and drinks available on the Guatemala volcano hike trail?

Small food vendors operate near the park entrance and lower trail, and marshmallows can be purchased for a few quetzales to roast over geothermal vents on the lava field. No food or potable water is available on the upper slopes, so bring sufficient supplies from the trailhead.

What is the cancellation policy for pacaya volcano hike tickets?

Most tour operators offer a full refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before departure. The 100 GTQ park entrance fee is paid directly at the gate and is non-refundable once you have entered the park.

What other attractions can I combine with a pacaya volcano hike tour?

The Kawilal Hot Springs thermal complex (approx. 15 minutes' drive) is a popular post-hike addition, with 12 geothermally heated pools. Many pacaya volcano hike tour packages from Antigua or Guatemala City combine the hike with a thermal circuit at Kawilal.

Pacaya Volcano Hike in Pacaya Volcano

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6 hr

Guided Experience

Pacaya Volcano Hiking Tour from Antigua

4.5 (1178)

€20

Expert local guide
Small group
Skip-the-line access
Free cancellation

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6 hr

Guided Experience

Pacaya Volcano Trek from Antigua

4.4 (841)

€21

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Small group
Skip-the-line access
Free cancellation

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Pacaya Volcano Marshmallow Roast & Hike from Antigua

6 hr

Guided Experience

Pacaya Volcano Marshmallow Roast & Hike from Antigua

4.4 (99)

€25

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Experience	From	Duration	Rating	Pickup	Skip-the-line	Guide	Price
Guided Experience Most popular Pacaya Volcano Hiking Tour from Antigua	Antigua	6 hr	★ 4.5	✓	✓	✓	€20	Book →
Guided Experience Pacaya Volcano Trek from Antigua	Antigua	6 hr	★ 4.4	✓	✓	✓	€21	Book →
Guided Experience Pacaya Volcano Marshmallow Roast & Hike from Antigua	Antigua	6 hr	★ 4.4	✓	✓	✓	€25	Book →

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Your journey

Your Pacaya Volcano Hike day, step by step

1

Park Entrance & Orientation

Pay the 100 GTQ entrance fee at the visitor centre in San Francisco de Sales, meet your mandatory guide, use restroom facilities, and rent a walking stick (approx. 10 GTQ) if needed.

2

Forest Trail Ascent

Follow the guide through pine forest and farmland on a steady uphill climb, gaining altitude through shade before the vegetation thins.

3

Lava Field & Marshmallow Roasting

Emerge onto the black lava field formed by past eruptions; feel geothermal heat radiating through the rock and roast marshmallows over natural steam vents.

4

Cerro Chino Viewpoint

Reach the Cerro Chino viewpoint (approx. 2,297 m) for panoramic views of the Mackenney cone, and the volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango on the horizon.

5

Descent & Departure

Descend via the guide's chosen route — sometimes a steeper alternate trail with loose gravel — back to the visitor centre and transport.

What you'll see

What you'll see at Pacaya Volcano Hike

Mackenney Cone

The currently active summit of Pacaya, the Mackenney cone grew inside the horseshoe-shaped collapse scar of ancient Pacaya Viejo and has been in near-continuous eruption since 1965, reaching 2,552 metres (8,373 ft). Visitors cannot reach the crater rim itself but observe its smoke plume from below.

Cerro Chino Viewpoint

This dormant 19th-century flank crater, now heavily vegetated, serves as the principal hiker viewpoint at around 2,297 metres, framing the Mackenney cone against a backdrop of Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango volcanoes on clear mornings.

Lava Field (Campo de Lava)

The vast black lava field at Pacaya's base is the product of decades of Strombolian eruptions, with the most recent major flows dating to the prolonged 2015–2021 active phase; the rocks remain warm enough in places to roast marshmallows directly on the surface.

Pacaya Viejo Collapse Scar

The ancient sector collapse of Pacaya Viejo, estimated to have occurred 600–1,500 years ago, produced a debris avalanche that extended 25 km onto the Pacific coastal plain and left the arcuate horseshoe scarp visible from the trail today.

Alfredo Mackenny Visitor Centre

Named after the Guatemalan volcanologist who documented Pacaya's modern eruption cycle, this small visitor centre and museum at the San Francisco de Sales trailhead is where hikers pay the 100 GTQ entrance fee, hire mandatory guides, and access the only toilet facilities on the route.

The experience

What visiting Pacaya Volcano Hike is really like

You leave Antigua around 06:00, climb the winding road through San Vicente Pacaya, and reach the gate by 07:30 — well inside the 07:00–10:00 window before the afternoon cloud bank rolls in.

Your complete Pacaya Volcano Hike guide

All the details about your upcoming adventure in one place

Pacaya Volcano Hike from Antigua

The Pacaya volcano hike climbs one of Central America's most active stratovolcanoes, leading through pine forest and across hardened lava fields to viewpoints overlooking the cinder cone and the Cerro Chino crater. Departing from Antigua Guatemala, pacaya volcano hike tours include a certified bilingual guide, national park entry, and the chance to roast marshmallows over residual geothermal heat near the summit trail. Most visitors finish the volcán Pacaya trek in time to return to Antigua for dinner, with morning departures offering the clearest views over the Escuintla highlands.

Pacaya has erupted more than twenty-three times since Spanish chroniclers first noted its smoke in 1565, and the cone visible today is younger than most of the surrounding coffee farms.

Designated a national park in 1963, the 2,552-metre stratovolcano sits inside a protected reserve in Escuintla, where the 100 GTQ park entrance fee funds ranger patrols and the volunteer horse handlers who meet every group at the trailhead.

The pacaya volcano hike matters because it is one of the few active vents in the Americas where civilians can walk on hardened lava flows from eruptions still within living memory — the 2010 and 2021 events reshaped the upper slopes. Most pacaya volcano hike tours depart from Antigua at dawn; the pacaya volcano tour from Antigua remains the most-booked route, though a private Pacaya volcano tour or a Pacaya volcano Antigua tour with a smaller group gives sharper access to the geothermal field.

The cone visible today is younger than most of the surrounding coffee farms.

Dress code

Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking shoes with good grip, as volcanic soil and lava rock are uneven and slippery. Dress in moisture-wicking layers — temperatures drop noticeably with elevation gain and wind picks up near the upper slopes. A light rain jacket is advisable during the May–October wet season.

Bags & security

A day pack of 20–30 litres is ideal for the pacaya volcano hike; keep hands free for balance on steep sections. Leave valuables at your accommodation, as there are no lockers at the trailhead. Backpacks are not screened, but guides may ask you to show contents if carrying large containers.

Photography

Photography is freely permitted throughout Parque Nacional Volcán de Pacaya, including on the lava fields and at Cerro Chino viewpoint. Protect your camera from volcanic dust with a sealed bag or cover. Drone use requires prior permit from CONAP (Guatemala's protected-areas authority) and is not generally allowed on standard visits.

Families & strollers

Children aged 4 and above are welcome on the Guatemala volcano tour; kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The moderate gradient is manageable for older children in good health, and horse rental provides an option for younger or tired hikers. Bring extra water and snacks for children, as food stalls along the trail are limited.

Accessibility

The pacaya volcano hike involves roughly 455 metres (1,496 ft) of elevation gain over approximately 2.6 km (1.6 miles) one-way on steep, loose volcanic soil and uneven lava rock; it is not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility aids. Horse rental is available at the park entrance for an additional fee (approximately 200–300 GTQ), payable directly to local community members, offering an alternative for visitors who cannot hike the full ascent.

Food & drink

There are small food vendors near the park entrance and occasionally along the lower trail selling snacks and drinks. Bring at least 2 litres of water per person, as no potable water is available on the upper slopes. A highlight of any Volcán Pacaya tour is roasting marshmallows over the geothermally heated volcanic rocks — marshmallows are sold by vendors near the lava field for a small fee.

Not allowed

× Open flames / fireworks × Glass bottles × Drones without CONAP permit × Illegal substances × Firearms or weapons × Loud Bluetooth speakers × Single-use plastic bags × Alcohol in open containers × Littering / dumping waste × Off-trail motorized vehicles

What to bring

✓ Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support ✓ At least 2 litres of water per person ✓ 100 GTQ cash (entrance fee) ✓ Light rain jacket or windbreaker ✓ Sunscreen and sunglasses ✓ Snacks or energy bars ✓ Trekking poles or rent a wooden walking stick on-site (approx. 10 GTQ)

Opening hours

Mon 07:00 – 18:00

Tue 07:00 – 18:00

Wed 07:00 – 18:00 Quietest mid-week day

Quietest mid-week day

Thu 04:00 – 00:00 Early access; popular sunrise start

Early access; popular sunrise start

Fri 04:00 – 00:00

Sat 04:00 – 00:00 Busiest day of the week

Busiest day of the week

Sun 04:00 – 00:00

How to get there

At a glance

Opening Hours

Mon–Wed 07:00–18:00; Thu–Sun 04:00–00:00

Address

San Francisco de Sales, San Vicente Pacaya, Escuintla, Guatemala

Physical Access

Moderate hike on steep, uneven volcanic terrain; not wheelchair accessible

Best Arrival Window

07:00–10:00 for clearer skies and smaller crowds

What to Bring

Sturdy hiking boots, layers, 2L water, snacks, 100 GTQ cash for entrance fee

Getting there

Car / Private Shuttle · 1–1.5 hr from Antigua; 1.5–2 hr from Guatemala City · Private shuttle approx. 150–250 GTQ per person round-trip from Antigua

Drive or hire a private round-trip shuttle from Antigua or Guatemala City to San Francisco de Sales; most reliable option

Taxi / Uber · 1–1.5 hr from Antigua · Meter/app fare; negotiate return wait fee separately

Uber is available from Guatemala City and Antigua to the park entrance; confirm the driver will wait or arrange a return

Public Transport · Variable (2+ hr total) · Cheapest option; requires local knowledge and flexibility

No direct public bus to the park; take a chicken bus toward San Vicente Pacaya and arrange a tuk-tuk or pickup for the final stretch

Cancellation policy

Most guided pacaya volcano hike tours offer a full refund when cancelled at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure. The 100 GTQ park entrance fee is paid directly at the gate and is non-refundable once entered.

Plan ahead

Best time to visit Pacaya Volcano Hike

Weather · crowds · average price — dots go green to amber to red as each metric rises.

November–April (Dry Season)

Clearest skies with minimal cloud cover on the lava fields; optimal for views of Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.

May–October (Wet Season)

Lush forest trail but afternoon mist and rain likely; carry a waterproof layer and expect muddy descent.

December–January

Coolest temperatures at altitude; bring an extra insulating layer for the exposed upper slopes.

Early Morning (07:00–10:00)

Any month, early arrival offers the best summit visibility before clouds build from around midday.

Insider tips

Helpful tips for visiting Pacaya Volcano Hike

Arrive Early on Weekdays

The park opens at 07:00 Mon–Wed; arriving at 07:00–08:00 on a Tuesday or Wednesday gives you the trail largely to yourself before tour groups from Antigua arrive around 09:30.

Bring Exact Change in Quetzales

The 100 GTQ entrance fee must be paid in cash in quetzales at the gate; USD exchange rates on-site are poor and card payment is not accepted.

Rent a Walking Stick On-Site

Wooden walking sticks rented at the trailhead for approximately 10 GTQ make a significant difference on the steep loose-gravel descent — many hikers who skip them regret it.

Check INSIVUMEH Before You Go

Guatemala's national volcanology institute (INSIVUMEH) posts daily activity bulletins; if Pacaya is in a heightened Strombolian phase, access to certain lava-field sections may be restricted by guides on the day.

Layer Up for the Upper Slopes

Temperatures at the 2,297 m Cerro Chino viewpoint can be 10–15°C cooler than the trailhead; a packable windproof jacket takes up minimal space and is essential on breezy mornings.

Confirm Horse Availability in Advance

Horse rental (approx. 200–300 GTQ) is arranged directly with local community members at the park and is not pre-bookable; supply is limited on busy Saturday mornings.

Where to meet

Pacaya Volcano Hike meeting points

San Francisco de Sales Visitor Centre

San Francisco de Sales, San Vicente Pacaya, Escuintla, Guatemala

Main ticketing point; guides hired here; small parking lot (25 GTQ); toilets available

Get directions

Antígua Central Park (Tour Pickup)

Parque Central, Antigua Guatemala

Common pickup point for shuttle-based pacaya volcano hike tours departing Antigua

Get directions

Gallery

Moments from Pacaya Volcano Hike

Customer Reviews

What travelers say about Pacaya Volcano Hike

Real experiences from real travelers

4.6

Based on 2,160 reviews

1 ★ 210

2 ★ 340

3 ★ 980

4 ★ 3210

5 ★ 14820

M

Marcus T.

United States · 2026-04-18

Worth every step

The pacaya volcano hike pushed my legs harder than expected, especially the loose scree section near the top. Our guide from San Francisco de Sales kept a steady pace and pointed out cooled lava flows from the 2021 eruption. Roasting marshmallows over a steam vent at the end felt surreal.

S

Sofia R.

Spain · 2026-03-02

Lava fields and views

We left Antigua at 6am and reached the trailhead by 8, perfect light for photos across the Guatemalan highlands. The Pacaya National Park entrance was organized and we hired a walking stick for ten quetzales which I recommend. Seeing Fuego smoking in the distance from the viewpoint made the climb worth it.

H

Hendrik V.

Germany · 2026-01-14

Solid half day adventure

Booked a pacaya volcano hike tour through our hostel in Antigua and it was efficient from pickup to drop off. The basalt terrain is uneven so proper shoes matter, sneakers would have been miserable. Our guide Edwin shared stories about the Maya communities living on the lower slopes.

A

Aiko M.

Japan · 2025-11-22

Cloudy but still good

The weather closed in halfway up so we did not get the postcard summit view, but the cooled lava fields were still impressive up close. Horses are available at the start if the incline feels too steep, which several people in our group used. The pacaya volcano hike tickets included park entry which simplified things.

C

Camila F.

Brazil · 2025-09-08

Sunset on the cone

We chose an afternoon departure for the sunset version and the timing was perfect, with orange light pouring across the lava plateau as we descended. Pacaya itself was quiet that day but the views toward Agua and Acatenango were sharp. Bring a light jacket because temperatures drop quickly once the sun goes down.

O

Owen P.

United Kingdom · 2025-07-30

Active volcano up close

Walking on still-warm volcanic rock with steam rising through the cracks is something I will remember. Our small group of six made the pacaya volcano hike feel personal rather than touristy. The local kids selling carved lava souvenirs at the trailhead were friendly and not pushy.

E

Elena K.

Greece · 2025-05-12

Great guide, clear info

Hugo our guide explained the geology of the Pacaya complex in detail, including how the cone has reshaped itself across multiple eruption cycles. The trail through pine forest in the national park was shaded and pleasant before opening onto the black volcanic terrain. Pacaya volcano tours from Antigua are easy to book the day before.

D

Daniel O.

Canada · 2025-02-25

Tough but doable

I am not a regular hiker and the first hour felt steep, but pacing yourself makes the pacaya volcano hike manageable for most fitness levels. The lava fields near the top are otherworldly, like walking on the moon with smoke vents. Wear sunglasses, the black rock throws back a lot of glare at midday.

I

Inés G.

Mexico · 2024-12-19

Pine forest to lava

Starting in cool pine forest and ending on hardened lava in the same morning is a contrast I did not expect. Our guide brought hot chocolate to share at the viewpoint which was a nice touch. For families with older kids these Pacaya tours from Antigua work well, my twelve year old managed fine.

FAQ