- Summary
- Additional Info
Trek length: 1 day
Price: Q200 donation
Trekking Distance: 9km
Highest Elevation Reached: 3197m
Only 30 minutes walking and the hustle of Xela is behind you. In front, meadows framed by lava fields, and a steep scramble up rocks to the summit of Cerro Quemado await. A day hike to Quetzaltenango's closest volcano is an exciting change to trekking on worn paths, with the scrambler rewarded with views of Xela and the lava field of La Muela.
The group meets at 8am for a breakfast of banana pancakes and fruit salad before walking a couple blocks and leaving Xela behind you and a lovely day hike in front of you.
The day progressively becomes more challenging, starting from easy walking through farmland, with the path gradually steepening until hands are needed to scramble over boulders and fallen trees. Just over half way up, we stop for a break in the forest where steam billows from natural shafts in the volcanic ground. The final test of the day is a “climb” inside the cliff face of Cerro Quemado and stepping across an imposing gap. However once this is done the scrambler is rewarded with views of Xela, the lava field and most importantly…lunch!
The descent is much quicker and with the added incentive of a wonderfully rejuvenating Los Vahos Steam Baths at the base of the volcano, who can blame us? We can relax and wash here and take a moment to reflect upon the achievements of the day before a leisurely walk back to Xela as the sun sets on the horizon.
When: Although we schedule this trip to take place every Thursday, it can generally be run any day of week provided we have a guide available. For details, check out our online schedule or contact us.
What to bring:*
- Small backpack
- Light-breathable clothes for hiking
- Warm jacket
- Comfortable shoes for hiking (ie. tennis shoes)
- Rain coat/ poncho
- Bathing suit and small towel
- Sun Protection
*Don’t have all this stuff? No problem- we’ll lend you what you don’t have. Do have some of this stuff but don’t want to carry it anymore? Consider leaving it as an equipment donation! Quetzaltrekkers relies on the generosity of individuals and companies for equipment.
