Hiking Santa María Volcano
This hiking tour takes you to the top of the Santa María Volcano. The summit provides travelers with stunning views of the surrounding area, including the smoking crater of the Santiaguito Volcano.
- Duration:
- 8 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 5:00 AM, 9:00 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
The 12,375-foot (3,772-m) Santa María Volcano is a symmetrical stratovolcano set along the Pacific coastal plain of Guatemala. The volcano is conical, but has a 1-mile-wide crater on its southwest flank due to the 1902 eruption. This eruption was one of the largest eruptions in Guatemala's recent history and devastated much of the surrounding area.
Most volcanic activity now takes place the Santiaguito Volcano, which adjoins the Santa María Volcano. Santiaguito regularly erupts ash and lava, giving tour participants a good shot at seeing a picturesque eruption.
It takes about a half day to hike to the top of the Santa María Volcano. This is a popular hike in the Quetzaltenango area and well worth the effort.
The tour begins at the village of Llanos de Pinal. The trip to the top takes 4 to 5 hours and passes meadows and pine forests. Near the summit, the trail gets steeper and turns into switchbacks.
The view from the top is spectacular. You can look out at the smoking crater of the Santiaguito Volcano, which usually erupts a few times every hour. If the weather is clear, you’ll also be able to see the cones of eight more volcanoes, including Acatenango, Fuego, Agua, Atitlán, San Pedro, Tolimán, Tajumulco, and Tacaná.
Attraction Visited
The Santa María Volcano is a large stratovolcano in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. The Santa María Volcano is one of the most popular hikes in the area around Quetzaltenango. Hiking this volcano is an enjoyable and rewarding way to experience the Guatemalan landscape.
Read more:Santa Maria Volcano
What to Bring
Hiking boots, long pants, wind or rain jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, and at least 2 liters of water.
What's included
Transport, breakfast, and guide.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Similar things to do
The San Pedro Volcano was declared a national park in 2006. The volcano is covered with tropical forests and takes about 4–5 hours to reach the summit along a well-maintained trail.
Hike up a path on the Chicabal Volcano to see the landscape that shaped the spiritual lives of the Maya. This destination is 8,897 feet above sea level. At the summit, you’ll see Chicabal Lake, a body of water that formed in the mouth of the volcano.
This tour takes you to a mirador that sports wonderful views of the active Santiaguito Volcano. The mirador is a great spot to take in views of the volcano and surrounding area.
