It was a great trip, but there are a few areas that could be better planned. - The views of the Pacaya Volcano and the Antigua Valley were stunning. The hike itself is okay, but the way up is quite steep, and the guide moves quickly with only a few brief stops for rest. If you're not in good shape, I’d recommend taking a horse ride up, as it’s not an easy hike—the guide climbs quickly, and the path is challenging! That said, the tour guides and driver were professional and did their best to accommodate everyone. I deducted one star, not because the tour itself was bad, but because I believe the planning could be improved. First, instead of picking up guests from various locations, which took an hour in a town with little traffic, it would make more sense to have everyone meet at a single location since Antigua is a small town. Second, the tour should ideally depart around 12pm or 1pm, as descending in complete darkness is unsafe. Starting at 2pm is too late, especially in winter, as it’s already dark by the time you begin the descent.

Nice, but clouds may be in your way - We went on December 31st, 2024. One thing we noticed (and were told by other people) was that in Guatemala, it is much clearer in the morning than the evening. Low clouds seem to come back in the evening. I would DEFINITELY do this tour in the morning, not the evening. Also, this tour mentions roasting marshmallows. Well, the chances of that marshmallow actually melting is slim to none. The heat sources are just not that warm. You really need to be in decent shape because the incline is pretty long. Guides follow with horses exactly for that reason. If you just can't make it, you can rent a horse (I believe it was like $20 USD), and they really don't want to budge on that price. Don't get me wrong, it was nice and I did get to see a lava field, but when we got to the top in the afternoon, we couldn't see the volcano because of cloud cover, and it was right in front of our face. Also, if you take the afternoon tour, you WILL be walking down in the dark. That's why it is listed that you may want to bring a lantern or a light brighter than your cell phone light.