Get up close and personal with a Guatemalan volcano during this 7-hour Pacaya Volcano hike, one of the country’s most active. Travel through volcanic vegetation and surreal landscapes on your way to the top, enjoying impressive views of three nearby volcanic peaks, including Agua, Fuego and Acatenango at the summit. Your trip from Antigua to the volcano also includes round-trip transportation from your hotel and a guide.

Day trip to Pacaya Volcano from Antigua
Get an up-close look at the active volcano as you hike to the top of Pacaya with your expert guide
Admire picturesque views of the Fuego, Agua and Acatenango volcanoes
Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off

What's Included

Professional bilingual guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Bottled water
Entrance fee

Gratuities
Horseback ride

Departure & Return

Possible departure locations

Departure Point

Camino Real Antigua
7a Calle Poniente 33B, Antigua 03001 Guatemala
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
3a Calle Oriente No 28 A, Antigua 03001 Guatemala

Departure Time

8:00 AM

Please Note

We pick up from any hotel in Antigua Guatemala.

What To Expect

Experience views of some of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes from up close as you hike to the top of Pacaya, where you’ll enjoy unforgettable views from the top of this 8,000-foot (2,438m) peak.

Start your day with an 8am pickup from your Antigua hotel, taking a 15 mile (25km) drive southeast to the base of this lumbering giant. Upon reaching the base, you’ll begin a 2.5-hour climb to the peak with your guide, learning about the history of this unique volcano and the vegetation that thrives in this strange environment. A mild walk brings you the lagoon of Calderas, where you can take in the amazing views of three nearby volcanoes, including Agua, Fuego and Acatenango.

Then continue on towards a plateau in the trail, a vantage point from which you’ll be able to observe the main crater along with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Due to safety concerns, you won’t venture all the way to the volcano’s crater, but you will have the chance to see glistening lava and a series of steam baths created by its heat.

Take a few moments to revel in the incredible views from up high before beginning your descent back down to the base and then back to Antigua for a drop-off at your hotel.

Pacaya Volcano

Enjoy a full-day trip to the Pacaya Volcano from Antigua Guatemala and discover the beauty of this natural gem! Towering over 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) above sea level, Pacaya is considered Guatemala's most active volcano. After pickup from your Antigua Guatemala hotel, head southeast about 15 miles (25 km) to the base of Pacaya, where you’ll embark on a 2.5-hour hike up the volcano with your expert guide. Enjoy a mild walk to a viewing spot at the lagoon of Calderas and take in panoramic views of the Agua, Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes. Once you arrive at a plateau along the trail, marvel at spectacular views of the Guatemala landscape and see the main crater of the volcano. To ensure your safety, you won’t be able to visit the crater, but you will get an amazing view of red-hot lava flowing and steam baths created by the heat of Pacaya. Take a break and relax here as you take in more scenic views before hiking back to the base of the volcano.

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Acatenango Volcano (Pass By)

Enjoy panoramic views from Pacaya Volcano viewpoint.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Pacaya Volcano Day Trip from Antigua?

A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Pacaya Volcano Day Trip from Antigua?

A:The policies on sanitization are:

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

Q:What is the social distancing policy during Pacaya Volcano Day Trip from Antigua?

A:The policy on social distancing is:

Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Pacaya Volcano Day Trip from Antigua?

A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

The air is so thin and it gets very steep at the end.

Reviews

4.5

43 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 43 reviews

Great day, decent hike and great views!

Haley_H, Jul 2022

We had a great trip to the volcano! It's a decent hike up with amazing views at the top! Easy transport with water provided. Make sure to bring your own snacks. Davis was a great guide! Would recommend.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Once in a lifetime outsanding experience

evan_a, Jun 2022

Miguel was extremely knowledgable about Guatemala, Mayan history, and the volcanos. He was early to meet us at our pick up location and even had great suggestions for lunch after our trip. He was very pleasent and helpful on our tour and offered plenty. I highly recommend this tour. Miguel you are awesome! And so was Luis!

Unique and fun experience

Megan_K, May 2022

Definitely a unique and fun experience! First hour of the hike is steep uphill and then after that, it’s fine. Guides were really nice and informative. Got to roast marshmallows on the steam vents. Just really cool to be walking all over lava rocks that were hot flowing lava just a year ago. Two things I didn’t love. Firstly, the second your van pulls into the parking lot (the car wasn’t even parked yet), you are swarmed by kids trying to relentlessly rent you hiking sticks. The stick does help the hike, but the whole experience was a bit crazy and uncomfortable. They also push to you to hire a horse to take you up. And even once you start the hike, they follow you for the first 15mins or so trying to rent you sticks and horses, which was annoying. Secondly, the guides push for a fairly fast pace hiking the steep uphill, which is really tough for a lot of people. Would be nice to be able to go at a more moderate pace. Maybe they do it because it pushes some people to rent the horses (a couple in my group decided partway through the hike to do the horses).

Loved this tour

Natalie_G, May 2022

This was one of the best tours I’ve been on. I read a lot of reviews before I booked and they were mixed so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited to climb an active volcano and roast marshmallows on it. The hike up was tough at times but you can go at your own pace and take breaks when you need and it’s fine. It took about an hour to get up. It was all definitely worth it for the view and the marshmallow roasting experience. Our tour was an English tour, but because my partner knows a bit of Spanish it wasn’t in English and when it was English it was only bits and pieces. At the top there was a lava shop with cute jewellery made from lava. I would have loved to buy something because it was a unique gift and prices were good, but only took cash. So if you want to buy souvenirs there make sure to bring cash. Overall it’s an amazing and unique experience and lots of fun.

Great experience!

Francisco_D, Apr 2022

The visit to Pacaya is a must do in Guatemala. We were accompanied by our 2 and 6 years old kids and they had as much fun as we did. It’s very important to have very good physical condition if you plan to hike the volcano. Otherwise, make sure to rent a horse from the very beginning as the physical effort is intense due to the altitude.

1 traveler found this review helpful

What an amazing experience!

Sookyeon_K, Mar 2022

First time walking so close to a volcano. It’s very unique experience and we definitely recommend this hiking tour. Horse riding was a best thing we did for our kid. It wasn’t easy hike in the beginning. Our guide Michael Angelo was super nice and helpful. He even dropped off the hat my child left in the bus at our hotel. One of the best things we have done!

Spectacular and memorable experience!

Paula_L, Nov 2021

Our driver and guides were spectacular. The hike is not difficult and the views are amazing. The drive back to Antigua on the new road around Volcan Agua was also beautiful.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Beautiful Trip

Ann_D, Oct 2021

We had a very wonderful experience with this tour . The tour guide was also very informative and good . I would love to come back and experience this again . The hike was not that hard and the view was amazing

Pacaya Volcano Day trip from Antigua

Alyssa_S, May 2021

Wow! What a special day. The hike is tough for a novice like myself, but the views and the experience are so worth it. Who else can say they roasted marshmallows on a volcano! Davis and Luis were great, patient and answered all of the questions we had. You can tell they truly love the mountain and chatting with everyone about the adrenaline rush of the experience. I had a blast! One of the best days that I'll remember forever. Note: Make sure to bring snacks if you get hungry, because this one ends a little after 1 p.m. Also, try to bring a friend because it's a little on the pricey side for just one person, but that also may have just been due to COVID times.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Highly recommend this tour

Kimberly_S, May 2021

Both tour guides were amazing! Very informative about the volcano, but also about the culture and history of Guatemala. Prompt pick up at the hotel. Beautiful views. Highly recommend.

Volcano! Great time!

Mark_C, May 2021

Great tour! My wife and I had an excellent visit to the Volcano. I walked and my wife took a horse. I'm in decent shape and the walk was fairly hard for me. The air is so thin and it gets very steep at the end. Our guides were fun and we had a good time chatting while going up the Volcano (I can speak Spanish). They speak English but don't expect them to be fluent. We were fortunate to see a small eruption. That was really cool. Then we roasted the marshmallows. It was a great time.

1 traveler found this review helpful

We were picked up right on time at...

German_D, Feb 2018

We were picked up right on time at the hotel in Antigua by our driver and about 1 hour later we were introduced to our tour guide at the volcano's base. Kids swarm around us to sell/rent walking sticks and we were offered horse rides. After a quick stop at the basic restroom we started our walk followed closely by horses and their jockeys offering 'taxi for the lady' but after 15 min they went away. From that point we really enjoyed our excursion, our guide was from the area and shared a lot of information. We watch and hear! the nearby Fire volcano sending ashes into the sky from different look outs and made our way to the Lava Store in about 2 hours. A few meters from there we eat our marshmallows and walk the last hill to the last look out before going back to the car and come back to Antigua. We reached town around 1:30pm, so it's actually a HALF day trip rather than a Day trip from Antigua. From the last lookout we saw people walking closer to the crater. The guide explained that this trail was closed and recently opened by authorities and that it was a different excursion. It looked more demanding but definitively that was the excursion I would liked to do to see the lava pool. In summary, we had an enjoyable morning and one day a would like to come back to see Pacaya closer.

1 traveler found this review helpful

The weather was quite chilly and...

otieno o, Jan 2018

The weather was quite chilly and visibility was very low so we couldn't see anything. Nevertheless, the massive lava flows were pretty cool and digging down to feel to still hot lava after a 2014 eruption was awesome! Low points: no water provided even though the paperwork says it is included. The guide in the bus gave us 5 minutes of his time to start the ride, then spent the rest of the trip there and back sleeping and talking to the driver. That was incredibly lazy. The hiking guide pushed us super hard to use horses which were a separate charge--from the locals. He made it clear we had a short time frame. They took us to a hokey little shop up the mountain and after the guy showed a group of ten plus people a video on his 2 camera screen then pleas for some money for artisans were quickly made with no proper explanation of how that would be done, and then the guy literally said We need you to leave because we have a new group coming. Alrighty then! I personally appreciate the idea of helping the local community as tourists but when booking a tour its more enjoyable to not be pressured at different points to cough up more money. Clearly renting the horses from the locals is a big part of the deal between the tour company and the aforementioned. Maybe the tour company would be better served by charging us more and taking care of the local horse owner's, etc., as part of the service. And don't rush it so much. I feel like it was all about sending me to your cousin Lenny so he could get some money out of me, and that the Volcano was just the cover.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Awesome! Great guides, great views...

Troy H, Dec 2017

Awesome! Great guides, great views. Highly recommended.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Wonderful time. Not a tough hike...

Scott S, Mar 2017

Wonderful time. Not a tough hike overall, just a few steeper spots with loose, volcanic soil. We requested a Bilingual guide. When our tour coordinator, Miguel, arrived he introduced us to his other guests, a nice couple from Costa Rica. We discussed our language abilities. I am at a basic conversation level of Spanish. I still require correction at times and don't always possess the succinct word for a concept. My wife comprehends well, but is shy about speaking. Our tour companions had less confidence in their English. So we all agreed that Spanish would be the common language. We learned much about the tour topics and had an unexpected opportunity of a language exchange. This made the trip more enjoyable for us!

1 traveler found this review helpful

Would have been cool to summit the...

Jason G, Jan 2017

Would have been cool to summit the volcano, but that day it was pretty active so for safety reasons we stayed back. Overall the hike was pretty amazing. The roasting of the marshmallows over a geothermal vent was kind of meh.

1 traveler found this review helpful

We arranged with Viator for a driver...

Rudy D, Nov 2016

We arranged with Viator for a driver and guide to take us from Antigua to Pacaya volcano, which entailed an hour drive. Our driver arrived punctually, was good natured, and spoke English well. He graciously introduced us to the local guide who would be taking us up the mountain, and he too was fluent in English, mostly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna we encountered, and in great shape. The hike up to the 6,000 foot viewing area was intensely steep, but well worth the effort - you do need to be in reasonably decent shape to make the hike. Bring along some food for the chucho's, the adorable and tame street dogs you'll encounter on the trail. Be careful of the caca from the horses - the locals employ them for lazy gringos who can't make it up the mountain on their own two legs. Note that you do not ascend all the way up to the summit of Pacaya - it's one of the most active volcanoes in the country and was venting thick white columns of steam and noxious gases while we were there. Our guide brought anjelitos - marshmallows - so that we could roast them on the still hot lava rocks found at a terminal moraine formed by the last eruption in 2014.

Hiking the Pacaya volcano was one of...

Steven W, Oct 2016

Hiking the Pacaya volcano was one of the main reasons we planned our trip to Guatemala. Booking through Guatemalan Adventures was easy and painless. We were met in the hotel lobby by our guide, Miguel, that morning running slightly late. That happens when you're traveling with a two year old, though. We got in the van, and then we were on our way to the volcano. On the drive out, Miguel pointed out a lot of the local sites as we went by. He made sure to give us the history of some of the other volcanoes and point out two more on the drive to Pacaya. We even got a little bit of background information on Guatemala City. Miguel gave us an overview of what to expect when we got to the volcano as well as pointing out more natural sites on the way up. When we arrived at the base of the volcano, there were several locals trying to sell us sticks or rent us horses. Best thing to do is just say No and keep walking if you don't want them. Miguel introduced us to another local guide making the climb with us, Luis. After a quick restroom break, we were on our way up. The first little bit is a little steep and tough as it's almost rocky cobblestones. Once you're past that, it gets a bit easier. Luis and Miguel stopped several times to point out some of the local flora and fauna of interest, and we would stop several times for pictures overlooking some incredible views. The hike itself isn't strenuous if you're an active person, but I could see it being pretty tough for people that aren't used to physical exercise. Trekking poles would have definitely made the climb a bit easier, and we found ourselves wishing we had brought them a couple of times. Some of the spots get slippery in places, especially on the way down, but Luis and Miguel were always quick to point those areas out to us. Once we got to the top or as close to the top as you can get without special permits, the view was well worth the work. It was simply stunning. We could see some steam rising out of Pacaya, and we had a great view of the Agua and Fuego volcanoes as well. Once we took in the view for a bit, we descended into a field of cooled lava rock. Well, most of it was cool. Stopping to roast marshmallows over a steam vent was one of the highlights of our trip. Dogs will follow you, but they're mostly just hoping you drop your marshmallows. Luis and Miguel had marshmallows with them, but if you have special dietary needs we're vegan, so the gelatin in normal marshmallows is a no-go for us, you can bring your own. On the hike back down the mountain, the two year old traveling with us wanted to walk down rather than ride in my girlfriend's traveling pack she brought for him. Luis and Miguel helped him most of the way down the mountain, and he loved it! We left the volcano talking the whole way back about how the hike up and down was so amazing and incredible. Once back at the hotel, I realized I might have left my cel phone in the van, so I emailed Guatemalan Adventures to ask about it. Miguel had my phone, turned around and drove 20 minutes back to our hotel just to bring my cel phone back to me. He was our guide the next day, so I was perfectly fine knowing my phone was safe, and I would have it tomorrow. I really appreciated the extra mile he went to get it back to me so quickly. If you're planning a trip to Pacaya, I can't recommend Guatemalan Adventures enough. Book them knowing you'll be treated well, and if you get Miguel as your guide, know you're in for a first class experience.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Awesome family activity. The climb...

Carlos S, Aug 2016

Awesome family activity. The climb is fun and the views are spectacular. Miguel and Louis were great.

A very relaxing day trip. The hike...

Erik_v, Apr 2016

A very relaxing day trip. The hike is not so hard, the views are very nice, and the marshmallows were very tasty. We really enjoyed the tour.

1 traveler found this review helpful

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Product code: 5555ANTPACA

Attractions in Antigua, Guatemala

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Pacaya Volcano Day Trip from Antigua

From $85.00

Select Date and Travelers

Overview

What's Included

Departure & Return

Departure Point

Departure Time

Please Note

What To Expect

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Questions?

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