Travel Guide Volcan Santa María

Valle de Palajunoj, the main gateway to Volcán Santa María, lies 10 km south of Xela. Here, an intermediate-level trail of around 3 hours' duration leads to the volcano's summit, culminating at 3,772 m above sea level. Weather permitting, it offers a fine view of the surrounding area and its active neighbor, Santiaguito, from which fumaroles emanate. A pleasant hike, but be warned: as the site is free and easy to access, pollution is omnipresent.Although it's advisable to use the services of an agency, you can get to the volcano on your own by taking a bus to Llanos del Pinal, at its foot.