Up close and personal with active volcanoes in Guatemala

Surrounded by majestic volcanoes, Antigua in Guatemala offers adventure and relaxation in equal measure

- Shrenik Avlani

Volcanoes spell danger for some, adventure for others. But for the people of the Central American nation of Guatemala, volcanoes are a part of life. Sitting south of Mexico, Guatemala is home to mountains, thick tropical forests and 37 volcanoes, of which three—Del Fuego, Pacaya and Santa Maria—are active. While there are impressive Mayan ruins (Tikal), beautiful lakes (Atitlan and Peten Itza) and hikes, one of Guatemala's biggest attractions is getting up close and personal with active volcanoes. That's what drew me to Antigua. And, as I found out, I wasn't the only one who had this adventurous idea last Christmas when I tried booking a hike up the Acatenango and Del Fuego volcanoes.

Antigua, a Unesco World Heritage city since 1979, has a dreamy old town with cobbled streets and old churches. Decommissioned American school buses repurposed as public transport share the streets and roads with cars, Ubers, Indian-made autorickshaws and Bajaj, Hero and Royal Enfield motorcycles.

Surrounded by three volcanoes—the dormant Agua and Acatenango and the active Del Fuego—Antigua is the perfect starting point for anyone craving a volcano adventure or even a relaxed time in the spas, saunas (temazcal), bars and farm-to-table restaurants.

There is a surfeit of tour operators offering hikes up the Acatenango and Del Fuego so it is prudent to either talk to people who have just returned from the hike or do your research. Wicho & Charlie's and OX Expeditions are among the most popular agencies but they are also the most expensive. Tropicana Hostel is at the lower end of the price spectrum. Almost all these agencies accept bookings online and list their prices in US dollars. The hike is popular and the good agencies have no availability at short notice. I went with Lava Trails after paying a $21 advance online and received an email confirmation with details of what to expect, what to carry and a pick-up time from the hotel.