Hiking Pacaya Volcano

Today was the day for our hike up the Pacaya Volcano. It dawned a gorgeous day, and we all met in front of Transitions at 6:00 AM. We drove about an hour and a half to the base of the volcano. There, people who make money on tourists swarmed us incessantly to offer walking sticks, horses (¿Quieres taxi?) and anything else they could think of selling us before we made our hike. The volcano had erupted in May of 2010, so the path was covered with volcanic ash. (Our BECA group hiked the volcano in 2008, and the path at that time was really rocky and difficult. This path was much easier walking.) Although trees were spared, most of the vegetation had disappeared, and is now beginning to grow back. Enroute up, we saw a geothermal plant, built by the Israelis, that provides power to much of Central America.

It was a steep climb - but good. It took us about an hour and a half to make it to the top. Great views of much of the valley around us, and the eiree sight of black lava ash everywhere. The trip down was much faster, in part because rain threatened and in part because it was downhill. Now we´re back in Antigua, well fed on Guatemalan restaurant food (we have no food at our lodging on Sundays), and ready to take a siesta.