Volcán Santa Ana

April 4, 2016

The day after waterfalls in Juayua, I managed to haul myself out of bed before 7am to go hike up a volcano. Trying to convince myself all the while that I'd be happy once I was actually there. Our group was the same six from the day before.

We had an hour and a half on the bus, and for most of it I dozed to the sounds of salsa music coming through badly balanced speakers.

We drove around to the other side of Coatepeque, and were afforded a fantastic view of the lake. I however, did not get a photo of it.

Once at the park, we had an hour and a half to wait before the tour started at 11. I don't know why the one bus there in the morning arrives so long before the one mandatory guided tour, but that's how it works. So we hung out and ate pupusas. There was a great view too.

The valley all laid out in front of us

At 11 we set off. The other group of boys there for the hike had a truck, so we shuttled the couple km down the road to the actual trail head instead of walking. No one was opposed to saving time so we'd have longer at the top.

Back of a pickup, still the best way to see the sights

The hike was an hour and a half up. It was a rather dusty trail since it hasn't rained in 2 months, but pretty views and scenery. We learned from Jonathan our guide that Santa Ana last erupted in 2005 with gas and ash, and Izalco, the sweet cinder cone next to us last erupted 1966.

Izalco and the Casa Cristal guest houses below it

The trail wasn't too difficult. It was lots of up the whole time but not too much was stupid steep.

Really pretty scenery too.

And the view from the top was absolutely worth it.

The lake in the bottom is a gorgeous seafoam color from the sulfur deposits, and doesn't look real. Surrounding it is a 300m deep crater that's full of beautiful layering.

Steam was rising all around off the lake, and when the wind calmed, you could hear the bubbling from down below.

The light spot on the left side is where the water was roiling.

Over the other side of the rim was Lago Coatepeque off in the distance.

Two volcanos, two lakes inside of the craters

Too soon, we had to head back down. But not before a lot of photos were taken. Cue photo montage.

And then we had an hour and a half to wait on the side of the road for the one bus back to Santa Ana at 4. Again, not sure why we couldn't stay up at the top longer, but life goes on.

Fun plant on the way down

And one last view of Izalco

All in all, a very worthwhile day, and I'm glad I dragged my butt out of bed for it.