Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fuego. If you look west, you'll see the two highest volcanoes in Central Amer-
ica, Tajumulco and Tacaná, on the Mexican border.
Santa María's last major eruption took place October 24-25, 1902, when it
coughed up 10 cubic kilometers of ash into the stratosphere, covering much of
the Pacific Coast and destroying a large section of the volcano's south face. Ash
from the eruption is reported to have reached as far north as California.
ThesafetysituationonthevolcanoesinXela'svicinityismarkedlybetterthan
on those around Lake Atitlán, though robberies are by no means unheard of. It's
besttogowithaguide.
Quetzaltrekkers
(
www.quetzaltrekkers.com
)runsafant-
astic once-a-month overnight trip up the slopes of Santa María in the light of the
fullmoon,arrivingonthesummitjustintimeforsunrise.Ifpeeringintothesum-
mit of smoking Santiaguito has you itching for more volcanic adventures, you'll
be happy to know it also runs trips to the challenging, ashy slopes of this smaller
active volcano.