Pacaya Volcano Sunset Tour from Antigua

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

8 hours

Mobile ticket

Pacaya, one of Guatemala’s youngest volcanoes, offers hikers a unique glance into the geologic center of the earth on this 8-hour small-group tour. A relatively easy climb of 1.5 hours brings you to the fertile shelf just below the cinder cone called “la Meseta.” From here you get an awesome view of recent lava flows. You will explore these lava fields, and as the smoking crater looms above, the environment quickly changes to resemble that of an extraterrestrial setting. Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch while gazing at the views before you make your way back down. Tour includes private transport, all entry fees, all guide fees, a fresh lunch, and a 1st aid trained bilingual guide.

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Service animals allowed

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Minimum age for travelers is 6 years old

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Antigua

Hike Guatemala's most accessible active vocano, Volcán de Pacaya. Set in its own National Park, Pacaya is a 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. Our group meets at Old Town Outfitters Shop in Antigua at 08:00hrs where drinking water, bathroom facilities and retail outdoor equipment are available for our clients.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Pacaya Volcano

Our drive to the trailhead is just over 1-hour in private transport from Antigua to the Park Office. As our group moves up the myriad of trails on the mountain, Guatemala’s impressive vistas open up before us. As we reach the base of the caldera, our guide will direct the group through the rugged dried lava fields. Our group will stop for a freshly prepared picnic to enjoy along with views of nearby volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. Our hike down brings across the remaining dried lava fields before we begin our descent through Pacaya’s lush and lesser known forests and farmland. After arriving back at the trailhead, our group returns to Antigua by private transport to arrive in town at ~16:00hrs.

7 hours • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Professional guide

National Park fees

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points

Dinner

Transport by private vehicle

Local driver/guide

Gratuities

Options

Pacaya Volcano Sunset Tour from Antigua

Reviews

4.60

15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Amazing hike with friendly tour guides!
ArushaSiddiqa,,Aug 16, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing view at the top of the volcano and at the valley!! Tour guides were extremely friendly and super nice. 10/10 would recommend.
Nice Tour and Great Crew!
David C,,Jul 7, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Me and my gf did the full afternoon tour and had a great time with Gabriel, Angel and Heidy. They were really nice, talkative, punctual and the whole experience of climbing for the Pacaya view is great. Points to improve for the future: ● Guides to take better care and attention of the hikers when going up and down, some people may need more attention and some spots while going down are quite dangerous ● Overall more preparation from the guides providing the tour, seemed like the were very knowleadgable of the track to be followed but not much else from there. Nothing bad or dangerous happened to us but it could, and dont feel they were quite prepared if this instance could happen.
Shop around before you book with Old Town to Pacaya
IanRoss82,,Mar 20, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
We found and communicated with Old Town online before we left on our trip to Gautemala. They were offering a Pacaya hiking trip that we really wanted to do. Their price was variable on the number of people going up – starting at $165US each for the three of us; but we understood it could drop as low as $80US if a bigger crowd joined us. When we arrived in Antigua, there wasn’t anyone else signed up for the trip, so we checked with a few other travel agencies and discovered everyone else was offering a significantly lower price. We ended up paying about $24US/each (plus $16/each for park entrance) with a different operator (American Travel) for virtually the same trip with five other people, the only difference the lack of a picnic lunch.
Poor experience, please avoid Esmeralda as your guide (if you can't avoid Old Time).
santiagocarmen,,Dec 31, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
We were extremely disappointed with Old Time Outfitters, as based on other reviews we expected so much better. We had a very poor (perhaps racist) experience with Old Town and our guide Esmeralda for Pacaya tour. Three of our family were stuffed in the last row with little legroom. A different party of four (from Britain) were given four individual seats. There were middle seats, which were not opened. This was done for the 90 min each way ride (though to be equitable the other party should have moved to the back). Our guide on the mountain, we were Team Monkey, was good. Once back down, tired, the promised dinner was limited to chips, cut tomatoes and cucumber, and guac - clearly not enough (please see picture). On the way to Pacaya and back, our guide did not share any helpful information about sights we were passing etc. Esmeralda was on her phone almost the entire time. Please consider other companies.
Amazing volcano hike with wonderful guides!!!
Flower7627,,Jul 7, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I looked up the information online and then booked with Tami in the store. She was incredibly helpful and though my Spanish is quickly improving, she was kind enough to use English to ensure that I fully understood the trip. I did the Pacaya Volcano Sunset Tour with Diego! It was wonderful. It was a life goal of mine to be on a volcano and this experience was outstanding! I'm an avid long-distance runner and let me say, this hike is challenging. Give or take, it's about 2 miles each way. When we arrived we hooked up with a guia from the volcano. It was nice having two guides to talk to and ask questions of. I was also really lucky, it was only me and only two other hikers. (Loved getting money back from the tiered pricing.) I know it doesn't sound like much but there aren't really switchbacks. You are able to take breaks along the way. Near the top there is a store, we paused there before going into the lava field. The lava fields were more challenging to walk on. Watch your ankles. In alignment with other reviews I've read, I 100% agree that roasting marshmallows over a heat vent has to be one of the coolest (hottest lol) things I've ever done! After "playing" in the lava field for a bit, the volcano guide took us up another 400 feet and there's no other way for me to describe it than saying it was like walking through volcanic sand. Coming down the "front" was very steep and the stepping/sliding motion was a lot of fun. (Wear tall socks and gaiters!) We then stopped for dinner. Watch your food, the random dogs may try to steal it :-) We then hiked down, returned to the car, and were dropped off back at the store!!! In total, my Garmin had us just under 4 miles total with an elevation gain of 1,417 feet. For those unfamiliar with this part of Guatemala, please remember you are starting at an elevation of 6,000ft.
Great trip!
Bruce C,,Jun 23, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00
Really enjoyed the views, instruction on the history of Guatemala, and all of the guides were exceptionally friendly and helpful.
Great Hike!
latoyab741,,May 25, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wonderful tour guides and overall great experience! It wasn’t too difficult but the incline at some points were steep (to be expected when climbing a mountain). But I would recommend it for both novice and expert hikers. Definitely bring your water and a jacket (if hiking in the evening since it gets cool as the elevation gets higher).
Fun hike up to a volcano
NYCSteve73,,Apr 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The afternoon hike up Pacaya is a great way to spend a couple hours. It’s not the most challenging hike unless you’re out of shape but it isn’t easy either when you factor in the altitude. Our guide Diego was very nice and educational about the hike and the area and took great care that we had a fun and safe time. While it was too foggy to see the valley or the volcano the day we went it was still really cool and getting to cool S’mores via volcano was unique!
Enjoyable afternoon with a professional company
V5047PTjennifers,,Apr 4, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Really professional and informative guides, excellent dinner picnic on the top of the volcano (although a little windy!) and a good, sociable group.
Great experience
jgnutrition,,Mar 5, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great experience! The Old Town staff and guides are top notch. The hike itself is perfect to have a volcano experience and getting to watch the sunset with a great meal was a bonus. This was my third trip with Old Town and cannot recommend them more!