Hot stuff at Volcano Pacaya
Trip Start
Feb 08, 2008
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44
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Trip End
Aug 2008
Antigua Guatemala, Western Highlands, Guatemala
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Pacaya is still active, and the reason it is such a big tourist attraction is that you can get up close and personal with flowing lava. As you can imagine the health and safety aspect of the tour is most definitely lacking, and at times you are within a few metres of lava, on not especially stable ground, being encouraged to poke the molten stuff with sticks.
We left Antigua at about 2pm and started the 1.5 hour journey to our destination. We were a little worried when the weather took a turn for the worst and torrential rain beat down, as we hadn´t brought any waterproof gear with us! The driver though appeared confident that where we were headed there would´nt be any rain. How he could possibly make his assumption was beyond us, but amazingly he proved right and by the time we reached the top the weather had cleared enough to see a few rays of sunlight through the cloud.
The last half hour of the trip involved a very steep, very slow and very bumpy ascent up part of the volcano. Considering that Pacaya is still an active volcano, and is still prone to eruptions, we noticed a surprising number of small communities living in its rather menacing shadow!
Arriving at our start point we were immediately bombarded with the usual souvenir/tour sellers, mainly offering simply-fashioned walking sticks that we were informed were absolutely imperitive for a safe journey (we politely declined) and horse ´taxis´. Looking at the bones protruding from those poor animals, I wondered how anyone could accept such an offer, let alone how they had the energy to make it to the top with a heavy tourist on board.
We began our trek and immediately realised how unfit we have become since coming to Cental America. Our steps had become decidedly less spritely since the hardcore trekking we did in South America. Still it wasn´t a long journey, and after not much more than an hour we had made it to the edge of the molten rock deposited after one of the last big eruptions of the volcano. After another 10 minutes clambering over this black, uneven surface we saw our first sight of a lava flow. As we got closer the heat became intense not only on our faces and arms, but also beneath our feet. Our guide took us about 5 metres away from the flow and we looked on in absolute amazement, it was such an impressive sight, particularly with the smoking crater of Pacaya towering behind.
After some encouragement from our guide, we then took turns to stick one of the wooden walking sticks into the lava and pose for a photo. As you can see from the photos of us trying in vain to smile for the camera (but looking far more like we´re grimacing!), this turned out to be one of the most painful photo opportunities. Ian´s arm went bright red, and looked burnt for about 15 minutes afterwards, and I got tiny little blisters all along my forearm. Still, I have to say the pain and suffering was all worth it in the end, the photos are fun, no?!
After about 45minutes of messing around and taking lots of photos, we started our descent and were gifted with the most beautiful views back into the valley and across to Volcan Agua (which lies directly beyond Antigua), which was shrouded in a mist of fine cloud- beautiful. By the time we got to the bottom it was starting to get dark, and wearily we headed back to Antigua.
Incidently, this Tuesday just happened to be our 4 year anniversary, and so that evening to celebrate we headed to a Parillada to enjoy a huge feast of a variety of grilled meats and treats. After the trek we left we had definitely deserved it, though admittedly we did go to bed feeling rather too full!
Comments
pacaya's magic
love pacaya volcano!!!!!
you guys have such good pictures, I know you enjoyed this magical place !!!!