Pacaya
Volcan Pacaya
Volcan Pacaya is an active volcano about 8,300 ft (2550 m) high. The trip to get there takes about 90 minutes, but the hike isn't long; you'll be back before dark. It is a pretty tough climb, and towards the end gets pretty steep, but I did it and I'm not in great shape. Our guide was actually visibly pregnant. I asked her how often she did the hike and she said she usually does it a couple times a day but now is ONLY doing it 2-3 times a week.
Also, there will be a guy behind you the whole way with a horse. He was actually pretty annoying. Every time we stopped to catch our breath, he was trying to bug us to ride the horse. I thought it was kinda cruel honestly. If you HAVE to do it, I think it is about 300 quetzals ($36).
Most of the climb up is in the shade, but the route back down is all in the sun. Part of the way down is kinda tricky; there are a lot of loose volcanic rocks so watch your footing.
Other than that there isn't much to say...It's a steep walk up an active volcano. Enjoy the pics
The route up the volcano
This is Acatenango, the more popular volcano in the area. Much tougher hike.
I thought this was funny. Cash only of course.
Our guide brought marshmallows and they were free!
It is interesting how quick the terrain changes from a forest to what looks like another planet.
Pacaya was dormant almost a century until 1961 and it has been erupting continuously ever since.
There were 2 major eruptions in 2010 and 2021, each closed the tour for a couple of years.
You don't actually hike to the summit, ya know being an active volcano and all, the ground is just too hot.
I don't know much about horses, but I didn't like the idea of using them to drag fat-ass tourists up a volcano.
I wasn't kidding about the pizza either. The ground in some spots is hot enough to cook a pizza. I believe you have to order in advance with your tour group. It was also pricey, about 50 or 60 bucks I think. It is cool to say you ate pizza cooked on a volcano, but it didn't look like anything special so I skipped it. I actually went on this hike on Thanksgiving and considered it though.
The view from the top
It gets hotter the higher you go...
On the way down you can actually see the most recent lava flow. Off in the distance, you can just barely make out the town it came damn close to.
And that's pretty much it, a steep hike up an active volcano. The tourism here is dwarfed next to Acatenango, the big daddy in the area. But it is a much tougher hike and a 2-day trip, and it is also more expensive. So if you don't have the time (or the endurance) this is a good challenge and a fun day.
Chichicastenango & Iximche
Let's start with Chichi
Does Chichicastenango sound familiar? Remember Quetzaltenango (AKA Xela)? Well, the -tenango prefix means "land of" or "place of" and it isn't actually Mayan, it is Nahuatl. To learn more about the Nahuatl people, you should refer to any other website because I don't know anything about them.
Another interesting -tenango is Hobbitenango. I'll let Lord of the Rings fans figure that out and I swear I'm not making that shit up. It really surprised me but there is a LOTR theme park just between Antigua and Guatemala City. Now I love Frodo as much as the next guy but I was SHOCKED to find there were LOTR-BRO's in Guatemala.
Anyway, I'm getting off topic. No, Chichicastenango wasn't named after the majestic bird printed on the Guatemalan currency. Nor was it named after those lovable rascals from Middle Earth.
It was named after another glorious piece of our childhood. Remember those days of hot sunshine when you had the whole summer out of school? Playing tackle football in the grass? Stepping barefoot out of the lake on a hot day. Yes, the town of Chichicastenango is named (translated to English is of course) "The Land of Stinging Nettles."
Iglesia de Santo Tomas
Chichicastenango
Now this tour will be a pretty long day, you'll get picked up around 7AM and not get back until around 9PM. As far as tours I've been on this wasn't one of my favs, but I had a great time because I got to go with Nancy and I love markets and ruins and this had both. We had a great guide that spoke excellent English.
If you do this tour I HIGHLY recommend doing it on a Sunday or Thursday because those are the only days the market is open and I personally think it is a big part of it, but some people may find it to be too much because it is PACKED.
You'll also see kids selling flutes and stuff and they are pretty annoying. One kept following us for a while trying to sell us a flute. He kept saying "it's for school, it's for school." He dropped the price from Q100 to Q10, which is honestly a pretty good deal. I just wasn't going to buy anything from the little turd because he was so annoying. Also, as a general rule, I don't buy anything from kids, especially during school hours, I've HEARD that sometimes kids are taken out of school to sell shit, and them being successful at it just perpetuates the problem.
After the market the guide will take you to the cemetery overlooking the town and give you some history on it. It also has a pretty nice view of the whole village
This is from a workshop that makes elaborate costumes rented out to dancers from some highland festivals like the Dance of the Conquistadors and the Dance of the Moors. No idea the significance of either though.
The Altar of Maximon. By far the most fun Mayan saint. People leave him offerings of beer and ciggies.
Just a small part of the giant market
This giant tree is growing on top of this small ruin. No idea how roots aren't poking out the sides of it
Iximche
Iximche (Pronounced Ix-im-chay) was built as a fortress city. There were some battles fought here but I don't really know all the deep history of the tribes who lived here.
With most of the ruins in this region the people built foundations of stone but used wood for the walls and roofs, so pretty much all that remain are the footprints of what it once was.
Not sure I believe this was "as is".
In the back you can see something I thought was interesting that I didn't know was done. After they excavate and learn what they need to know, they cover it back up to protect it from the elements. Obviously, it isn't the case for everything...it is still a tourist site. Just cool they care enough to do that.
The foundations are mostly all that is left
Modern Kaqchikel Maya people still use this as an active ceremonial site. While there you will likely see them burning fires on stone altars
Wish I had more to say on both of these sites but, honestly I was hanging out with Nancy and just not paying that close of attention. Hope you enjoyed the pics!