Youll also have a beautiful view of the Indian Nose/Mayan face, one of the top hikes I feature in my article about the best things to do in Lake Atitln. Visit the cemetery 9. Guatemala X March 11, 2022 0 0 0 When I decided to visit Lake Atitlan, San Pedro Volcano (Volcan San Pedro) hike was high on my list. travel careers website, Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates and travel inspiration, All prices are in USD unless otherwise stated, CST#2117258-40 | Fla. 2nd Option: Do the Quetzal Birdwatching Tour in Santiago. It sits at 5,000 feet above sea level, is ringed by sections of sandy beach, cliffs, and tree-clad slopes, and is warmed by hot springs. The ride took 8-10 minutes. Getting around Lake Atitlan is not complicated, but it can take a few tries before you [], So, youre finally here. 1. During the hike, somehow, we still had in mind to be ready to be attacked/robbed by some bandits, so we kind of prepare ourself the same as you will prepare yourself if you was going to a War to fight some Guerrilleros After passing the last camp at around 2857m, (where apparently people get some problems) we were fully prepared for any kind of things that could happen and we kept hiking up in a good a pace After another 10-15 minutes, we happily arrived to the summit of the Volcano without encountering any issues and anybody ! In fact, most of the time if it's not super clear where to go it actually doesn't matter (some forks are just little shortcuts/corner cuts) but going UP will always get you to the right place. If you really insist of having your $1,000 smartphone, then be prepared to hand it over. Part of me appreciated his phone calls and that he was checking up on us. Youve taken three chicken buses and two colectivos, survived the winding descent down the hill from Solola, and youve made it to the lake. It is fairly simple to get to the entrance of San Pedro Volcano. Round-trip, the hike was 7 miles (11.42 km) with 4,009 feet (1,222 m) of elevation gain. Lake Atitln is a gorgeous caldera lake nestled between volcanoes in the department of Solol, Guatemala. I have been up to the top 3 times (and a couple of times to the lower miradors) during the months of February and March 2021. Hiking Volcn San Pedro is my #1 favorite thing that Ive done in the Atitlan area. Volcan San Pedro: Beautiful hike with a special volcano dog named Bobby - See 314 traveler reviews, 196 candid photos, and great deals for San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala, at Tripadvisor. There is no locked gate or anything, but the kiosks and ticketing to get onto the trailhead are without personnel. It is more eroded, has more vegetation, and has no fumaroles (vents from which hot gasses escape). We had read that the entrance fee comes with a guide but there was no one there for us. follow the rules, don't hike alone, and stick to the trail. Founded 2,000 years ago, Lyon's streets are a living museum, with beautiful historical buildings and interesting art galleries and museums. Read on for frequently asked questions about Volcn San Pedro. When is the best time to do the Volcan San Pedro Hike? ), (3) the Camp (no view! I knew I was going to stay in the town of San Pedro, so why not hike the volcano that sits right next to it? When I decided to visit Lake Atitlan, San Pedro Volcano (Volcan San Pedro) hike was high on my list. It is a backpacker's hub and has a bit of a party-destination, though it still has authentic markets and Guatemalan people going about their lives. Have other things youd like to know about this Lake Atitlan volcano hike? It took us 5 hours. San Pedro Volcano Hike: Was it Worth it? My advice would be to only stop at the meter markers to keep yourself motivated as you move higher and higher up the volcano. I found it a bit hard to stop swinging once Id started, but a friendly policeman came to the rescue. When there is no entrance fee, this is a worthy hike on its own, as the view is delightful and it's an easy hike. We were told that at 2100 meters we would get to the first real resting point. When I've hike San Pedro, there is always the option of having a guide. But it turned out we would've needed to pay the same fee to enter the trail on . I live in Guatemala where I spent my childhood swimming in caldera lakes, mountain biking through maize fields, and toasting marshmallows over molten lava. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Some people may want more. Sit on the swing, put your legs straight in front of you, and let loose. Once you reach San Pedro, you can either walk to the trailhead or take a moto-taxi (tuc tuc). ), and San Pablo la Laguna. It was time to conquer Volcano San Pedro, on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlan. more, Lake Atitln Sightseeing Cruise with Transport from Guatemala City, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This was true. San Pedro volcano hike $ 60.00 $ Address of Pickup * Start. So, youre finally here. Why hide them there? March and April are still dry, but it can get so hazy that you might not be able to see anything. There wont be any more major resting spots for a while. In response to the problems with robbers on the trail, the Town of San Pedro la Laguna sends a pair of police officers up the volcano every day and hiking alone is highly discouraged. That seemed to be common practice, although I'm sure he would have gladly gone further for a pretty nominal fee if we'd felt uncomfortable at all. The trail is well-maintained, the entrance fee is affordable and includes a guide, and the hike is difficult on the legs and lungs but not beyond the abilities of the average mountain hiker. Images Along the trail, youll pass the San Pedro lookout, a tire swing, and a campground. San Pedro is the name of the smallest volcano on the shores of Lake Atitln. Get a 30 day free trial by following this link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/v4k3ti/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! We brought multiple snacks to eat at the top as a reward and I wouldnt have traded it for the world. At two in the morning, the street corner felt like an empty movie set. You should try it too. Just be smart about things. Guides are included for all your hike and necessary!!! Find out when the last holdups were, if there have been a lot in recent days, or if things have been pretty quiet. Most of the guides go all the way up and all the way back, although there have been reports lately of guides not making the full trip. It was difficult yes, but robbers were the least of our worries. If you do have valuables with you, one tip I got from a pro hiking friend is to hide them inside a plastic bag somewhere around 2,800 feet. According to the man at the entrance, a lot of the robberies take place at the summit. The crater is shallow and has a breach on its northwestern side. 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There are many different hikes, cooking classes, knitting, and Spanish schools that people come from all around the world to do. I went on alltrails and looked at the information for the hike and I was set. They had stolen their bags, all their phones, their money, and even one of their professional cameras. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life. If you resist, things may get violent, and to me, that is just not worth it. I managed to hide my phone in my legging pocket and by pressing the right side of my body against a rock and dropped to the ground, while my partners phone was stolen from him. I do not personally bring a jacket.If you start after 7 am I would bring bug spray or pre-spray your clothes. San Pedro La Laguna is one of the "larger" towns on Lake Atitlan. I prefer a hike that is maybe around 1-3 hours. After a short wait, the boat headed out. Lake Atitln Vacation Planner: 7-Day Trip Itinerary - Thrillist Birds trill in the trees and wildflowers adorn the path. It took my boyfriend and I 3.5 hours to hike to the peak of the Volcano where we were ambushed by 3 masked men wielding 2 guns and 1 machete. It is a stratovolcano and not considered active. According to Volcano Discover, San Pedro Volcano has not had an eruption for the past 10,000 years. About halfway up, stone steps begin appearing on the trail, and the last hour or so of the hike is up a stone staircase. On the other hand, on the way down (about 200m below the summit, at a hut/cabana), we were attacked by a group of 5 young men armed with machetes and pointed wooden sticks (luckily no firearms). Receive top travel tips, news and adventure ideas! If your paying 100Q each for a trail, you expect it to be safe. Despite this, we still decided to go !We started our hike around 7:00am and when arriving at the entrance of the Parque National nobody was there, we even tried to call people, but absolutely nobody was there so we just started our hike without any guide, just My Friend and Myself (2 European Guys). The earliest boats leave Panajachel at 6:30am. I also heard a guide with another group talking to the agent. We were safe and weren't robbed. (2), Comments Beautiful hike with a special volcano dog named Bobby Ive also seen Lake Atitln from pretty much every angle. Follow green arrows when available to stay on trail (these arrows will disappear when you're out of the coffee, it's fine you're still on the right trail). We have been really happy to make it to the Top and been able to enjoy the sunlight there for a good 30 minutes..!Apparently it is true that sometimes robbery is happening but we do things that if you go there fully prepared and that you hike with confidence, then everything will be alright !It was a great morning hike, hike itself is 8.2 Kms return from the entrance and took us 1h47 min to summit and about 1 hour to go down. From the boat launch, the entrance is 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) up a very steep hill. This doesn't mean that they don't exist however. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Are you visiting Guatemala and want to know about the local coffee scene? There are several look-out points along the trail, some with benches that overlook the lake. Other than this life threatening experience I found the hike to be difficult, and unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy the view from the peak, and unfortunately it has tainted our experience in Guatemala. Hi there! If you are thinking of hiring a guide for the sake of security, I recommend getting a tourism police escort instead. From the top, you can see all but two of the towns nestled along the shores, as well as Solol and the plateau behind it. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. For reference, the Lake is at 1550 meters; the Trailhead is at 1800m; Mirador 1 is at about 2100m; Second Mirador is at 2300m; Camp is at 2867m; and the Summit is at 3020m. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourmillionadventures/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourmillionadventuresTwitter: https://twitter.com/ourmiladventureLooking for more amazing Guatemala adventures? Other Notes:There are ground dwelling birds that make movements/sounds in the bush that freaked me out the first time i went up, thinking it could be robbers. - See 313 traveler reviews, 196 candid photos, and great deals for San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala, at Tripadvisor. 3rd Option: Head to San Marcos La Laguna for a day enjoying the lake at the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve (plus or minus a jump off their high platform into the water). My friend and I spend an hour at the top, just drinking in the amazing views and breathing clean crisp air. Lake Atitlan is a very special place and has a lot to offer. We did the sun rise hike to indian nose which was amazing. My Friend and myself just did Volcano San Pedro hike this morning on 31.12.2020 ! For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. There are signs every 100m starting at 2000m, but they're not always easy to see and I have missed one or two of them every time I've been up.The whole trip for me, a 38 yr old man, alone, reasonably fit, takes me a little less than 6 hrs round trip from the trailhead (and a little more than 7 hours round trip from the Pana dock on foot). Since the boat will make multiple stops along the way (stopping at minimum at the main docks in Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzunun, San Marcos, San Pablo, and San Juan), expect this portion of the trip to take about 1 hour. Also, if this is such a common thing, why does the ticket office not do something about it, why not ring the police? If you only count moving time, San Pedro volcano took me 3 hours total to climb, however, my friend and I made several long stops. They even attempted to steal my shoes. We went when the wheather was rainy and cloudy. San Pedro volcano is on the southwestern shore of Lake Atitln, in the western highlands of Guatemala. But it doesn't need to be a problem for long! (4 stars) Bring your hiking shoes. Yeah, I think the reports you've read were about people climbing Indian Nose without a guide, not recommended, especially before dawn. But if you get up there and it's cloudy, wait and the clouds may blow over in a half hour or so. The more we talked to the workers at our hostel, it seemed those bandits hadnt been seen in months. Coffee and avocado trees line the trail, and if you hit it between September and November, you might be able to indulge in some ripe avocado snacks. These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. However, a day trip is more manageable. The Different Thing about doing San Pedro during the pandemic is that it appears to be officially closed. Expensive half volcano hike, real danger of robberies. Updates: May 15, 2023 The security situation has gotten so bad that no guided tours are heading to San Pedro Volcano.On January 10, 2023, a group of tourists were robbed. Depending on your fitness level you can scale the San Pedro volcano in between 2.5 and 5 hours, and unlike other volcano treks, you can do this one on your own. Volcan San Pedro: Volcan San Pedro hike - See 313 traveler reviews, 196 candid photos, and great deals for San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala, at Tripadvisor. You can also ask at the entrance, as the agent there is likely to have the most up-to-date and accurate information. Its a full-day hike, so keep in mind that you probably wont make it down until 3:00pm or 4:00pm, even if you start at 7:00am. You may want to consider hiring a guide if it will help you feel more secure. San Pablo has a brother called San Pedro. I think this is a waste of time, just keep going on the trail to the left up to the Volcan.There are four major Places on the trail, each that have man-made structures/benches, etc: (1) the 1st Mirador (nice view! We will help you prepare for the hike with power snacks, lunch, and water. Be sure to bring at least one long-sleeve layer in addition to a rain jacket you never quite know when the clouds are going to break over Lake Atitlan. Also the ticket office was conveniently closed when we got back down the mountain. Writing this review to warn people of potential robbers on the trail / at the summit. It can be confusing when you first start, as you hike upon multiple crossroads at the beginning of the hike. Do yoga 3. Youll have amazing views of Guatemalas active Fuego volcano (and can potentially climb it as well via the saddle ridge). Once you get to the trailhead, youll need to pay the entrance fee and sign in. No, San Pedro Volcano is not active. I had only done a few hikes during my travels so far in Costa Rica and 90% of them were beach hikes. Book a private taxi with a trusted driver here Atitlan Taxi, Book a private boat with a trusted captain here: Atitlan Lancha, Or contact our transport organizer Patrick on WhatsApp at +1 845 653 6247. However, it does seem like a fair number of the robberies take place about 2,800 meters. These types of hikes along with a viewpoint like what we saw are my absolute favorite. How To Hike Volcn San Pedro - Atitlan Living Volcan San Pedro seemed more dangerous from the stories we'd heard about (our hostel owner warned us too) so we didn't go up which was a shame. and please share! They were not letting people up past the Second Mirador but they wouldn't tell me why (robbers? Going down and coming up take about the same amount of time. No one at the desk warned us that they may be potential robbers near the top..The trail itself was well maintained and easily marked. Bring food, maybe not a whole lunch but at least some granola bars. Looking for more things to do in the area? I tracked my hike on Strava. At the beginning of the hike, all you have to do is follow the signs that say volcn, the white-painted rocks, and the yellow arrows. We did see lots of people coming down that camped at the top. Learn Spanish 2. Long enough for it to be declared an Ecological Park by the Guatemalan government, which means that it is now a protected wilderness area. Many of Guatemalas lesserclimbed volcanoes are hotbeds for robberies, and San Pedro volcano is no exception. When we arrived at the Trailhead, the park official there said that the problem of robbers is a serious one and has been ongoing for years. Usually, that is all they want. MEN WITH GUNS AND MACHETES WAITING TO ROB YOU AT THE TOP! Getting There Read More Where to Stay in Santa Cruz la Laguna GuatemalaContinue, Do you love coffee? Enjoy! This appears to have been true around 2019 but no longer. Hiking Volcano San Pedro on Lake Atitlan | The Expert Vagabond This structure offers a gorgeous view of the towns of San Pedro, San Juan (also worth a visit! No matter your budget and preferences, youll find a lodging to love. Also perhaps you would like to attach those two mountains and Aucanquilcha to the 'Cordillera Occidental'? We went to the Tzanjuy docks. This can make the journey more enjoyable. After the hike, they were finally some staff people at the entrance of the parque and we paid the normal entrance fee for foreigners which is Q100 per person.We took a Private Boat at 6:15 am from Panajachel to San Pedro that we paid for one way a total of Q220 and from San Pedro harbour we took a Tuk Tuk to the entrance of the parque which costs Q10 per person.The hike is definitely worth it as at the summit you have a view over the Volcan Atitlan and Lago Atitlan and we definitely suggest you to start even earlier than we did to ensure a perfect clear view from the top !Happy New Year to everyone that will read this review that is 100% Legit & Based from a Real story.Yannick @Enjoytavie. Morning at 06:00Am take the boat from Panajachel to the Village San Pedro La Laguna, and you will be taken to the Visitor Center of the Volcano where the hike begins. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. On your last day in Atitln, choose your own outdoor adventure: If you want to tackle another volcano, set out for the San Pedro volcano early in the . - See 315 traveler reviews, 201 candid photos, and great deals for San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala, at Tripadvisor. These are all the reviews from 2019 and it's more or less the same on Google. Thank you for reading my guide on San Pedro Volcano Hike! Contrary to what some places on the internet say, you do not need to hire a guide to go up the volcano.