Is hiking an active volcano in Guatemala on your bucket list?! Pacaya Volcano is an active volcano near Antigua, Guatemala and it makes for a great half-day adventure from the city!
If you want to see gorgeous views of the Antigua region, watch the sunset from above the clouds, and roast marshmallows on hot volcanic rock, then you should definitely do the Pacaya Volcano sunset hike!
In this post, you will find everything you need to know about hiking Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala, including where to book your tour, what to expect, and how to prepare for the hike.
Overview of Hiking Pacaya Volcano at sunset
Distance: Approximately 5.5km out and back.
Elevation: The peak of Pacaya is approximately 2550m high. The hike starts at around 1825m of elevation and you will ascend approximately 350m.
Difficulty: Easy-moderate. The hike is short but steep! The terrain is quite uneven, which can make it a bit more challenging if you have any injuries or if you don’t wear proper hiking boots.
Time: Depending on your fitness level and speed, you can make it to the top in 1-2 hours. You will have lots of time at the top to admire the views and take photos and then the descent is around 1 hour. In total, from the time you leave Antigua until the time you return, the trip will be around 6-7 hours.
Where to Book Your Pacaya Volcano Tour
Although there are lots of tours you can book online, you won’t beat the prices of the local companies in Antigua. If you choose to book online, you can expect to pay over USD$50.
In Antigua, you can easily find local companies offering tours for as little as USD$15 per person (plus the entrance fee to the park). For this price, you will likely be part of a larger group (20-30 people) with two guides.
Depending on what tour company you book with, the entrance fee to the park may or may not be included. For international tourists, the entrance fee is USD$25 / Q$200.
TIP: I would recommend booking the tour through your accommodation because chances are, you will meet some new friends on the hike that are staying at the same place as you!
How to Prepare for Hiking Pacaya Volcano at sunset
What to Bring
- Day pack
- Cash (Quetzales for the entrance fee, walking stick or horse rental, food/drinks stands, tips, etc)
- Water (at least 1 liter)
- Snacks (you will be gone from around 2pm until at least 8pm, so bring some substantial snacks with you! I would recommend fruit, nuts, or granola bars)
- Warm sweater or wind-breaker (when the sun disappears, you’ll definitely want a warm layer for the hike down)
- Headlamp (if you are doing the sunset hike)
- Hat and sunscreen
What to Wear
- Hiking boots or sturdy shoes (I would definitely recommend wearing hiking boots if you have them because the terrain is very uneven at times)
- Hiking shorts and a t-shirt (when the hike begins, it will likely be hot and sunny!)
What to Expect on the Pacaya Volcano Sunset Hike
Getting from Antigua to Pacaya Volcano
Your tour company will arrange transportation with you and if you are staying in Antigua, they will likely pick you up directly from your accommodations around 2pm. Once you pick up everyone on your tour, it is approximately a 1-hour drive to the start of the hike.
Hiking Pacaya Volcano
TIP: Rent a walking stick! When you arrive at the base of the hike, there will be locals renting walking sticks for around USD$2. I would HIGHLY recommend renting one because it will really come in handy when you are walking on the uneven volcanic rock later in the hike.
Once your group is all ready to go, you will begin the ascent!
The hike is relatively short, but I was surprised by how steep it was. Your group will likely have two guides (one at the back and one at the front) so everyone is able to go at their own pace and stop as much or as little as you want.
The first 75% of the hike is uphill and you will probably be bombarded by young men on horses asking if you want a ride. If you are not confident in your level of fitness, this could be a good option (around USD$40) to help make the trek easier for you. Keep in mind that horses are only allowed partway up the volcano, so you will still have to hike the remainder of the way yourself.
For those that opt to hike the whole way, the horses and riders can be an annoying distraction on the way up. Once you are around halfway up, they will leave you alone and head back down the volcano.
Before you know it, you will reach the end of the uphill ascent. From here, the terrain changes from sand/dirt to volcanic rock and it is just slight ups and downs as you traverse across the volcano. This is where the walking stick will really come in handy!
As you walk across the volcano, the guides will lead you to an area where you can wait for the sunset.
Enjoying the views at the top of Pacaya Volcano
You will have lots of time to wander around the area, take photos, and admire the incredible views.
On many tours, the guides will bring marshmallows and sticks with them so you can have the chance to roast marshmallows on the hot volcanic rock!
TIP: Be careful where you step, because if you’re standing near one of the steaming crevices, the soles of your shoes could melt!
On my tour, we spent around an hour watching the sunset before heading back down.
Descending Pacaya Volcano
Before you begin the descent, you will likely want to throw on your warm layer and pull out your headlamp. At this point in the evening, it will be dark and starting to get chilly!
After the initial walk back across the volcanic rock, hiking down the path will go by pretty fast. Most people take between 45 minutes to an hour to make it back to the base, where your bus will be waiting for you.
Once your group is all accounted for, the bus will begin the hour long ride back to Antigua!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year to hike Pacaya Volcano?
- November is commonly known as the best month to hike Pacaya Volcano because it is the start of the dry season and the weather is mild. The dry season is from November to April, so anywhere within that time frame is likely to have decent conditions to hike Pacaya Volcano.
Do I have to hike with a guide?
- Yes! In order to ensure the health and safety of hikers, you need a guide to hike Pacaya.
Do I have to hike Pacaya Volcano at sunset?
- No, most tours offer 2 options for hiking Pacaya Volcano: 6am and 2pm. I opted to do the 2pm hike because I really wanted to see the sunset from the top of Pacaya Volcano and the views did not disappoint! If you choose to do the 6am tour, it will be too late to see the sunrise and you will spend most of the hike in the sun. Because of this, I would definitely recommend the sunset hike that starts at 2pm.
Will I see lava?
- Currently (as of March 2023), there are no lava flows on Pacaya Volcano. Many sites still advertise lava fields as part of their tour, but that isn’t the reality anymore – so don’t go expecting to see flowing lava or you will be disappointed. If you want to see lava spewing from a volcano, then you should do the Acatenango Volcano overnight hike to see Volcan Fuego erupting from up close!
Is Pacaya Volcano Active?
- Yes, Pacaya Volcano is still considered an active Volcano!
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I hope this post provided you with helpful information about hiking Pacaya Volcano! Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions 👇
If you have more time in Antigua and are up for a bigger challenge, check out my post about the incredible Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike, where you get to see the famous Fuego Volcano spew lava all night long!
