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Volcanoes in the Land of the Maya
- 14-days study trip and expedition to Guatemala's volcanoes -
In short
Tour code: GUA_SVM
Tour type: Walking & study tour: active volcanoes - geology & volcanism - adventure
Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging
Tour character: Medium hikes and excursions including two more challenging hikes (climbing to Santa Maria and Acatenango involves ca. 1200 m climbing to ca. 3600 m altitude, but on easy trails), boat excursions, lots of volcano viewing at night possible
Best travel period: Nov-April
Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
Dates:
  14-28 Nov 10 19 Dec 10 - 2 Jan 11 13-27 Feb 11 Price (p.p.): from 1850 EUR
(5-12 participants / prices for smaller or larger groups on request.)
Included: | Accommodation in double / twin rooms & tents as per program
| | All transportation in comfortable private minibus or 4x4 vehicles according to itinerary
| | Private individual airport transfers Guatemala-Antigua-Guatemala
| | Boat tour on Lake Atitlán
| | Full board during camping (hot tea & coffee at all times, fruit, cake, cooked breakfast (e.g. omelette, pancakes, rice), lunch snack, fully cooked 3-course dinner with soup + pasta or rice with meat + desert)
| | 3 liters of drinking water per person per day during trekking
| | All camping gear except personal sleeping bag (spacious dome tents, inflating mattresses, cooking gear etc)
| | Kitchen tent and cook
| | Camping chairs (one for each participant)
| | Restaurant meals as specified with B(breakfast), L(unch), D(inner) including drinking water, coffee and tea
| | Entrance fees to National parks and sites
| | Porters for Pacaya, Santa Maria and Acatenango (porters for camping gear + food + 1 porter per person carrying up to 15kg personal gear; extra porters can be hired at extra cost)
| | Local guides for security
| | Experienced English-speaking Guatemalean guide during the whole trip
| | Professional accompanying volcanologist from our team |
Arrival info:The tour starts and ends in Guatemala. Participants will be picked up and dropped off individually from and at the airport and transferred directly to the colorful and charming city of Antigua, where the first and last night of the tour is.
             
Guatemala: a country offering not only spectacular volcanic activity, wonderful landscapes, colorful villages and towns, friendly people, but also a perfect setting for a volcanological-geological study tour.
With its 3 active and very distinctly different volcanoes Pacaya, Fuego and Santiaguito on a strech of little more than 200 km, and many impressive conical peaks between them, Guatemala has the highest density of active volcanoes anywhere on the planet. The front of active volcanoes form a majestic silhouette overlooking the coastal plain, the visible sign of the ongoing subduction along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Large calderas like the idyllic Lake Atitlán, a true gem of nature, tell the story of giant eruptions that repeatedly reshaped the country.
Accompanied by a trained volcanologist, you will not only be able live the thrill of watching active volcanoes from close, but you also get an in-depth understanding of the powerful and turbulent natural processes at work in this corner of the planet, ravaged by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and desastrous erosion.
With its colonial heritage, the lively and colorful town of Antigua is the perfect place to start and end our tour. As a counterpart to the physical effort involved in climbing and camping on the volcanoes, we can relax in selected and comfortable hotels and restore our energy with delicious meals.
The Mayan world is all about colors: There is time to explore the Mayan markets, listen and dance to the sounds of Salsa and Merengue, practise your Spanish and get in touch with the friendly and warm Guatemalean people. 15 days itinerary
Day 1: |
Arrival in Guatemala City - transfer to Antigua
Individual private transfers from the airport to Antigua. Meeting with guide and welcome dinner.
Acc.: upscale hotel in the historic center of Antigua (D)
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Day 2: |
Pacaya Volcano - observation of active lava flows
Transfer to Pacaya, set up tents and explore its ongoing lava flow activity in the afternoon-evening-night.
Acc.: camping (B, L, D)
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Day 3: |
Full day at Pacaya for observation of its activity - lava flows & summit craters
Another full day dedicated to the extraordinary effusive and often mildly explosive activity of Pacaya Volcano (ascend to summit if conditions permitting).
Acc.: camping as before (B, L, D)
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Day 4: |
Transfer back to Antigua
Morning observations at Pacaya - transfer back to Antigua - lunch - free afternoon / evening
Acc.: hotel in Antigua as on D1 (B, L)
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Day 5: |
Transfer to Lake Atitlán - giant ash & pumice deposits
Observation of spectacular pumice outcrops - viewpoint over Lake Atitlán, Toliman, Atitlán and San Pedro volcanoes.
Acc.: comfortable hotel in Panajachel (B, L)
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Day 6: |
Lake Atitlán - sunrise viewpoint - lakeshore hike & boat tour
Option for sunrise excursion to viewpoint. Hike along the stunning lakeshore, boat tour on the lake, visit of a lively Mayan market town.
Acc.: as before (Panajachel) (B, L)
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Day 7: |
Transfer to Quetzaltenango town – Cerro Quemado volcano
Option for another sunrise excursion to enjoy the beauty of the lake. After breakfast, transfer to Quetztaltenango town, free afternoon. Option to visit the historic lava flows of Cerro Quemado volcano.
Acc.: comfortable hotel in the historic centre of Quetzaltenango (B, L, D)
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Day 8: |
Climb to Santa Maria volcano – observation of Santiaguito volcano
Ca. 1000 m climb to the peak of Santa Maria volcano (ca. 3660 m elevation), camp near the top at a great viewpoint over active Santiaguito volcano.
Acc.: camp on Santa Maria volcano (B, L, D)
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Day 9: |
Descend – hot springs – relax – Santiaguito volcano from the south
After morning observations, descend and short transfer to a relaxing natural spring, then on to the tropical coastal plain south of Santa Maria volcano. Stay in a wonderful hotel with a perfect view onto the volcanoes.
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Day 10: |
Approach to the active lava dome of Santiaguito volcano
4x4 pickup (we leave the main luggage in the hotel) and transfer to the a campsite on a hill near the active lava dome. Spectacular viewing opportunities in a breathtaking setting of our camp.
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Day 11: |
Transfer to the Fuego volcano observatory - observation camp
Morning observations at Santiaguito. After returning to the hotel, lunch and transfer to the volcano observatory of Fuego volcano. Observation camp at the feet of the mighty active volcano rising almost 3000 m above us.
Acc.: camp at the base of Fuego volcano (B, L, D)
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Day 12: |
Morning observations of Fuego volcano - return to Antigua - free afternoon / evening
After breakfast and breaking down camp, we return to Antigua passing through around the flanks of Fuego and the impressive Agua volcano. After lunch, the rest of the day in Antigua is free to relax, explore the city, its markets, the colonial ruin, art galleries, coffee houses, etc.
Acc.: hotel in Antigua as on D1 (B, L)
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Day 13: |
Fuego volcano from Acatenango volcano
Transfer to Acatenango volcano - climb 1200 m to a great viewpoint at 3600 m elevation facing active Fuego volcano - optional climb to the summit - evening & night-time observation of Fuego's fireworks.
Acc.: camp on Acatenango volcano (B, L, D)
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Day 14: |
Morning observations of Fuego volcano - transfer back to Antigua
Optional approach to Fuego volcano & observation of its activity. At lunchtime, descend and return to Antigua. Free afternoon, farewell dinner in a selected restaurant in historic Antigua.
Acc.: hotel in Antigua as before (B, L, D)
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Day 15: |
Transfer to airport - departure or extension
Individual private transfers to the airport. Extension tours e.g. to Tikal can be offered at request.
Acc.: none (B)
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