Volcán Pacaya, Guatemala

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Going about our busy lives it is easy to forget that the stage of this grand play is a hot ball of fire whose forces sporadically surface and leave us all breathless. Nature tends to be unpredictable so it is with an open mind that one ought to approach an ascend to a live volcano.

A steady stream of smoke escapes from Volcán Pacaya, the mountain towering tall in front of us during the 1 ½ hour bus ride from Antigua to the volcano. Upon arrival to the base of the mountain we are told that there was an eruption 3 days ago and for security reasons we should not climb all the way to the top. But we would be well compensated.

Equipped with some food and water I gradually make my way up the mountain accompanied by a group of fellow travelers and Aturo our guide. With an altitude of 2500 meters this is not one of the taller volcanoes but I can feel the elevation nevertheless.

After 1 ½ hours of walking we reach an edge and what we see on the other side is truly spectacular: Hot red lava running down the mountain! And the earth around me becomes alive: steam emitting, cackling, moving, shaking, the mountain reshapes itself. Earth so hot it becomes liquid from deep below the ground, then shoots up and upon contact with the air turns black immediately - one blob of lava pushing against the other, merciless swallowing everything that comes in its way. The heat emitting form the river of lava is immense and keeps us at a safe distance. What an awesome display of the forces of nature.