Volcan Pacaya

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Today we went with some of the other students to Volcan Pacaya. Voclan Pacaya is an active volcano, and with a guide you can hike up near the top for a view of the flowing lava. We had heard that it is an amazing sight, but I wasn´t convinced, hiking up a hill to look at a bit of lava seemed like an awful lot of work for nothing to me. How can I put this… I was wrong, very, very wrong. It was incredible!

It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the trailhead where you are instantly surrounded by children selling walking sticks for 5Q (about 70 cents). Well actually renting them because you have to give them back when you return. We rented sticks but others did not and they had some issues crossing the dried lava field.

The hike is only about 50 minutes to the top but it´s steep and difficult for some to keep up. The locals also rent horses, which they call taxis, to help get some of the, how should I say… less fit hikers to the top. They´re smart too - in our group there was no takers at the bottom of the trail, but they follow you up. Much in the way lions target the weak or the sick when they hunt, the locals target the out of shape. As they fall further behind the locals are there calling “taxi! taxi!” as you may guess a couple of people made the trip on the back of horses - but at least we didn’t have to wait for them any longer.

Once you reach the top you still have one more challenge ahead of you - quarter mile or so trek across a dried lava field to the flowing lava. The rocks are sharp, unstable, and to make things more interesting there are heat vents scattered though out the maze. The vents spew hot air and reinforce the idea that if you step in the wrong place you´ll be hot lava wading, an idea supported by the fact that there is no supervision what so ever. Do what you like, but be prepared to face the consequences. Want to stand inches from the flowing lava? Go ahead, but if you get hurt there will be no 911 call, no emergency helicopter to wisk you away to the hospital. You´ll be thrown across the back of one of the horses for the return trip. Of course I did stand inches from the flowing lava, but only for a few seconds.

I can´t really explain how cool the lava was, and the pictures don´t do it justice. I can only say that it was simply amazing! You´ll have to go yourself and check it out, but if you do, rent the stick. Or you can always take a taxi.

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Photos

Halfway there!
Stopped for a break on the way up Volcan Pacaya - it was really steep! Marco, me, Sacha, Floyd, and Christian

Taxi!
The locals can get anyone to the volcano, but it will cost you. They follow behind the group, as the the less fit tire and fall behind they off them a "taxi" to the top.

View from the top of Volcan Pacaya
We were pretty high up there, which provided excellent views to the surrounding volcanos.

Volcan Pacaya
That´s where we headed - the lava comes out of the top of the volcano, pools about halfway down, and then continues down into the lava field - I suppose at that point it is under the cooled lava field that we walked across

Lava Field
The final leg of the journey is across the cooled lava field. It´s a difficult trip, here is wear the walking stick really comes in handy. Don´t forget to be on the lookout for vents - and try to make it back across before dark - gets a tad more difficult!

River of Lava
This is the payoff, your picture just feet from flowing lava. Carlos (Guatemala), me, Christian (Germany), Marco (Germany), Sacha (Canada), Floyd (UK)

Hot Lava!
Yep, that´s a lava field. Pretty cool isn´t it! Don´t get too close - it´s hot!