Getting High: Volcan Tajumulco

We were lucky to get to climb Volcan Tajumulco, the highest mountain in Central America. Carl picked us up at 3:30 am and we drove through the night to the base of the volcano. The first rays of light broke over the horizon as we started hiking and the views just kept getting better as we got higher and higher. Since it was the Saturday of the Easter weekend, throngs of other people were also hiking the volcano - families with children and small babies, women in traditional dress, and even folks doing Mayan religious ceremonies. From the 4220 m summit we could see many of the surrounding volcanoes, including Acatenango and Fuego (which was erupting the entire time we were on the summit) near Antigua, Atitlan, near Lago Atitlan, Zunil, Santa Maria and Satiaguito (also erupting) near Xela, and Tacaná, the sister volcano to Tajumulco. By noon we were back down at the Jeep gorging on watermelon, and by 3 pm we were enjoying a delicious pizza dinner in Xela. It was a great day off the bikes, and a treat to get such a beautiful day to climb the volcano. Thanks to Warmshowers host Carl for taking us to hike Tajumulco!Read more