Guatemala City tour operator · Guatemala City
A bilingual guide collects you from your Guatemala City hotel and takes you up Pacaya through volcanic forest to the lava fields, with views of Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. The park entrance and bottled water are already paid, so you set off without hunting for quetzales.
Simple and complete. The listing includes hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, a professional bilingual guide and the park entrance fee. You don't carry quetzales for the gate. Food, drinks, tips and a horse are extra.
The hike is Pacaya's standard route: through forest and volcanic scrub, then out onto the lava below the active cone, where you can see Agua, Fuego and Acatenango on a clear day. Plan on about 1.5 hours up and a bit less down. The listing calls it full-day, but gives 6 hours in total.
Compare it with the shared hike from Guatemala City before booking. That one has a premium option with the fee included at a lower from-price. This one has a 4.6 rating from 73 reviews and the guide spelled out as bilingual. Neither goes to the crater, and neither will show you flowing lava.
Your guide collects you in Guatemala City.
South out of the city to the park entrance, fee already covered.
Through volcanic vegetation onto the open lava slopes.
Steam, warm rock and the three volcanoes across the valley if the cloud allows.
Descend, then drive back to your hotel.
★★★★★This was a good excursion. A 2.5km hike with 300 m elevation change. A gift shop and pizza or marshmallows cooked on the hardened lava. Quicker coming down than going up. Our tour guide, Davis, was outstanding and would do an excursion with him again.
★★★★★The hike to the volcano was somewhat challenging going up to the volcano and our group took frequent breaks. No rush to the top. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to reach the top and WOW, what a view. Next stop on the way down we roasted marshmallows in the steam/heat from the ground. What an experience. Definitely worth it.
★★★★★Booked second week of June with two friends and absolutely recommend it! Luis Pedro picked up on-time and was an excellent guide. We met Roberto, a guide at the volcano, who took us to the base of the volcano, very patient and informative. The hike is definitely not for beginners, medium perhaps, but the views make it worth it. Lots of shade along the way.
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Yes, the listing includes the entrance fee, so you pay nothing at the gate.
About 6 hours, including about 1.5 hours' drive each way.
Only bottled water. Bring snacks, or buy something at the trailhead.
Go from wherever you're sleeping: both are about 1.5 hours away. Our Antigua or Guatemala City guide compares them.
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Hotel pickup in Guatemala City with the park entrance, water and a bilingual guide in the price.
Shared Pacaya Hike from Guatemala CityHotel pickup in Guatemala City, 1.5 hours to the volcano. Book the premium option and the park fee is paid.★ 4.8 · 6 to 7 hours · from $73
Pacaya Volcano Hike from AntiguaThe classic: shared shuttle from Antigua at 06:00 or 14:00, 1.5 hours up to the lava field. Park fee extra, in cash.★ 4.5 · 6 hours · from $35
Pacaya Hike from Puerto QuetzalCruise port pickup at 07:00, box lunch and park fee included. A full climb for fit passengers.★ 3.9 · 6 hours · from $120