Guatemala's Volcanoes

Guatemala’s volcanoes run in a chain along the Pacific side of the country. The highest is Tajumulco, 4,211 m, in the west; Acatenango, 3,976 m, is third on the list and the tallest of the volcanoes near Antigua (CONAP, 2008). Of the whole list, the tours from Antigua climb two: Acatenango and Pacaya. Fuego, the active volcano beside Acatenango, may not be climbed.

The list

CONAP, Guatemala’s council for protected areas, lists the volcanoes in its book Guatemala y su biodiversidad (2008), by zone along the chain:

Heights and zones from CONAP, Guatemala y su biodiversidad (2008), which cites the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (1972) and MAGA (2002). Fuego: CONRED, 9 August 2026.

The table lists the volcanoes CONAP names; it is not every volcanic cone in the country.

The four near Antigua

Four of the list stand around Antigua: Acatenango, Fuego and Agua in CONAP’s central zone, and Pacaya in the south. The volcanoes near Antigua goes through them one by one.

The two the tours climb

Acatenango. Two days from Antigua, with a night at base camp facing Fuego and a sunrise summit. Volcano Expeditions' hike is from US$57 a person (checked November 2026). CONRED restricted the ascent of Acatenango on 4 August 2026, during Fuego’s eruption; operators were selling dates in November 2026 when we checked. Check CONRED and INGUAT before you go.

Pacaya. Six hours from Antigua to the steam vents and lava fields of its national park. Volcano Expeditions' Pacaya tour is from US$23 (checked November 2026). See the Pacaya volcano tour.

Pacaya or Acatenango sets the two side by side.

Fuego

Fuego cannot be climbed: CONRED said on 9 August 2026 that the ascent is not authorized. INSIVUMEH, the national volcano institute, publishes a daily bulletin on its activity. Can you climb Fuego has the rules and where to watch it from.