My trip today takes me from Antigua, Guatemala to the Antigua, Guatemala to Pacaya Volcano, near Guatemala City. I had the idea of riding up as close to the volcano as possible. Unfortunately, the clouds came over, and I didn’t have a chance to get closer.
Coupled with the fact that the local paper maps only showed a single track and when I got to where the single track location, it was basically a walking track.
Today I talk about my Klim Krew Backpack and what I like (do not like) about this backpack. It is probably one of my favorite pieces of kit I took with me on this journey and had held together extremely well.
The ride, while only around 80 miles (121 kilometers), was a major climb on dirt/rock (ripio) roads through mountain villages. I love riding off the road and any chance I get I go for it. It is important to get as much experience on dirt as you can and would hold me in good stead for the variety of off roads in Patagonia southern America.
I went through some villages like San Vicente Pacaya, Residencial Las Victorias, Liztex, Amatitlán and then back to my hotel in Antigua, Guatemala.
Filadelfia Coffee Resort & Tours
The Hotel is called Filadelfia Coffee Resort & Tours and whilst it is a beautiful location and well staffed, some things make it not so good. The rooms are a little dated and stuffy. The internet speed (if it ever worked) was deplorable. Considering this is a high priced hotel, you would think they would get the Internet and WiFi right.
The grounds are stunning, and the food was very nice (if pricey) and the service was excellent. The reason for the lower star rating? WiFi and the dated fittings in the rooms.
Pacaya, Guatemala
Pacaya is an active complex volcano in Guatemala, which first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish invasion of Guatemala. Pacaya rises to an elevation of 2,552 meters (8,373 ft). After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965 and had been erupting continuously since then. Much of its activity is Strombolian, but occasional Plinian eruptions also occur, sometimes showering the area of the nearby Departments with ash.
Pacaya is a popular tourist attraction. Pacaya lies 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Guatemala City and relatively close to Antigua. The volcano sits inside the Escuintla Department.
So far, the last activity reported has been the eruption that peaked on March 2, 2014, causing ash to rain down in Guatemala City, Antigua, and Escuintla. (From Wikipedia)
