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.

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.

Hiking boots, long pants, wind or rain jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, and at least 2 liters of water.

Transport, breakfast, and guide.