An Essential Guide to the Pacaya Volcano Hike — ALONG DUSTY ROADS

· It’s a good idea to bring some snacks.

· If you’re used to walking with hiking poles, and bringing them to Guatemala anyway, then by all means take them for Pacaya – we use + recommend the foldable Brasher travel set. Otherwise, you can pay 10Q to rent a palo (stick) from the very eager young guys at the start to give more support and stability on the asecent.

· For pick-up at your hotel/hostel in Antigua, you will usually be told to wait for collection at a certain time – but you don’t have to wait outside in the early morning cold! Instead, the drivers will knock or go into the reception, so stay inside unless advised otherwise by your tour operator.

· The road to Pacaya from Antigua has quite a lot of bends, with one child in our group getting verrrry car sick (it was a very surreal moment, with Shaggy playing in the background, the driver asking if people wanted a horse, and the girl spewing into a double plastic bag).

· Definitely best not to do the hike or drive with a hangover.

· Lastly, all tour hiking groups will be accompanied by local men riding horses. It’s actually a frustrating part of the experience, as they’ll not give much space and accompany your group all the way up and down.

The locals refer to the horses as ‘taxis’, and people can choose to rent them for the entirety, or pay for one if they’re finding the hike up too challenging. The horses we saw were in generally good condition, but there’s no doubt that some will be forced to carry people that are far too heavy for them which is both cruel and contributes to chronic injuries for the animal.

We do not think you should arrive in Pacaya expecting to take the horse up or down, and should only do this hike if you realistically believe you can climb the volcano at your own pace.

Taking the horse should only ever be a Plan C for adults, but for young children it may allow them to keep up and have a memorable experience too.

Prices for the horse vary and often subject to negotiation (and the occasional scam), but expect to pay anywhere in the 200Q – 350Q range. It’s your responsibility to bring the additional cash for this, and the money is paid directly to the horse’s rider.

And please, please, please only hire a horse that looks healthy.