ESSENTIAL INFO:

Get fired up for Guatemala

A few pointers for hiking the volcanoes mentioned in this feature Santa María

Santa María can be reached from Quetzaltenango. Monte Verde Tours offers hikes leaving at 5am and returning around 2pm; or take a taxi or bus to Llano de Pinal and follow the trail.

Acatenango and Fuego

Dozens of companies offer 2-day hikes to Acatenango and Fuego, departing from Antigua and spending a night on the volcano. Tours meet around 7am and return by midday the next day.

Pacaya

Pacaya is easy to do alone: simply take a taxi to the park entrance and follow the path. Alternatively, Pacaya tours from Antigua run twice daily, at 6am and 2pm, and last about four hours.

San Pedro

Due to reports of robberies it’s best to go with a guide; group hikes up San Pedro leave from San Pedro La Laguna around 7am and return by lunchtime.

Cerro Quemado

Take a taxi from Quetzaltenango to the town of Canton Chicua, and then follow the streams of people heading up the volcano. It takes about an hour to hike up, and the busiest day to go is Sunday.