The more explosive they are, the louder they roar, the more threatening they appear, the more beautiful they seem! Volcanoes have always fascinated us. So, during our two-and-a-half-year journey from Canada to Argentina, whenever a volcano was on our route, we absolutely had to take a closer look. Between exhausting ascents, deafening rumbles, columns of smoke, impressive eruptions, and lava lakes, the volcanoes of the Americas offered us spectacles we won’t soon forget. This is the very personal list of our 11 most beautiful volcanoes of the americas
1 – The Santa María Volcano, Guatemala
The hike to the viewpoint of Santa María is well earned! We left the village at night and walked in the darkness for several hours. But in the end, the effort was worth it. The Santa María was particularly active when we were there: an eruption every 45 minutes or so. And what eruptions! A thick cloud of smoke escapes from the crater before the deafening sound of the explosion reaches our ears. Exceptional!
The complete story of our ascent of Santa María is here!
2 – The Fuego Volcano, Guatemala
The Fuego is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. To observe it up close, we took a two-day, one-night excursion on the neighboring volcano, Acatenango. After a day of climbing, we reached the base camp, from where the view of Fuego is breathtaking. There, we watched in awe and fascination as clouds of smoke regularly escaped from the Fuego crater, followed by jets of lava once night fell. A breathtaking spectacle that we will never forget.
The complete story of our crazy excursion to the Fuego volcano is here!
3 – The Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador
All the beauty of the Santa Ana volcano is revealed after a 1.5-hour ascent on a very easy trail, with a mandatory guide! At the bottom of its vast crater lies one of the most acidic lakes in the world. Its bright electric blue color is particularly hypnotizing.
The complete story of our day at the Santa Ana volcano is here!
4 – The San Cristóbal Volcano, Nicaragua
Among all the volcanoes we climbed during our journey through the Americas, San Cristóbal, the second-highest volcano in Nicaragua, was undoubtedly one of the most challenging ascents: only 3 kilometers but with a 1,000-meter elevation gain, through deep and slippery volcanic ash. A real nightmare! But at the summit, we were rewarded with an especially impressive view of the smoking crater and the deep rumbling of San Cristóbal, a very active volcano.
The full story of our grueling ascent of San Cristóbal volcano is here!
5 – The Telica Volcano, Nicaragua
To admire the Telica, we were able to drive up to the base of the volcano with the Jeep, on an extremely muddy and challenging track. From there, only an hour of hiking remained to reach the crater’s rim. And at the top, a breathtaking sight awaited us: the edge of Telica is jagged and plunges steeply into unknown depths. The acrid smell of sulfur stings our eyes and throat, while the continuous, deep rumbling echoes in our ears. A terrifying spectacle that gave us chills!
The full account of our ascent of the magnificent Telica volcano is here!
6 – The Cerro Negro Volcano, Nicaragua
A perfectly rounded dome, an ancient lava flow, sharp volcanic rock, and fumaroles—the Cerro Negro is undeniably a volcano… and a beautiful one at that! The ascent to the summit is relatively easy, and from up there, the view over the lava flow and the valley is breathtaking. But the most fun part? Sledding down the volcano! Yes, you read that right—sledding. A hilarious yet thrilling experience, as the slope is steep and you quickly pick up speed.
The full story of our sledding descent of Cerro Negro is here!
7 – The Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua
To admire the Masaya, no exhausting ascent is needed. You simply drive up to the crater on a nice paved road. As a result, there are plenty of people! And it was at the Masaya Volcano that we saw lava for the first time! Indeed, at nightfall, you just have to lean in a little to see, at the bottom of the crater, a lava lake. Impressive!
The complete story of the Masaya volcano is here!
8 – Poás Volcano, Costa Rica
The Poás is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. What makes it so special is its crater! It houses one of the most acidic lakes in the world, a lake that is up to 50 meters deep. Access is very easy: just a 10-minute walk from the parking lot. From up there, the view, on a clear day, is breathtaking over the valley.
The full story of the Poás volcano is here!
9 – The Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador
Of all the volcanoes we saw during the trip, Cotopaxi is the most majestic. Its perfect cone, covered with eternal ice and snow, rises to 5,897 meters above sea level. It is the highest active volcano in Ecuador, but also in the world. And indeed, its crater continuously emits smoke! When we were there, the ascent to the summit was prohibited, but we still made it (twice!) to the refuge, located at 4,864 meters on the slopes of the volcano, and then to the glacier, at 5,066 meters.
The full story of our adventures in the magnificent Cotopaxi National Park is here!
10 – The Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador
At 6,263 meters above sea level, the imposing Chimborazo is the highest peak in Ecuador. Because it is located very close to the equator, and the Earth bulges at this level more than at the poles, the summit of Chimborazo is the farthest point from the center of the Earth, and also the closest point on Earth to the Sun! We didn’t attempt the summit, which is an expedition in itself, but we still ascended to admire the Chimborazo up close, reaching 5,100 meters in altitude. This marked our altitude record at the time… and a rather eventful night at high altitude!
The full story of our adventures at Chimborazo is here!
11 – The Villarica Volcano, Chile
By day, the Villarica volcano is majestic, with its blanket of snow and the spiral of smoke rising from its crater. But it is at night that this volcano reveals its full splendor. As the day fades, the Villarrica’s smoke cloud takes on a glowing red hue. It’s breathtaking. The volcano is surrounded by a reddish glow from the lava in the crater, reflecting in the smoke and clouds. The beauty of Mother Nature in all its splendor, power, and danger.
Full story of our time at Villarica is here!
