Dawn from the top of a volcano is a unique experience. We hiked to the top of Santa Maria, a volcano in Guatemala during a full moon, staying at the blustery top long enough for the sun to rise. For us the hike in the dark was the amazing part, at least until the sun crept across the sky. Although Santa Maria is semi-dormant, nearby cones were blowing plenty of ash and steam into the air, making it feel as though we were on the top of the world.
Volcanoes are responsible for some of the most interesting landscapes around the world – alien like landscapes created by dried lava flows, colorful beaches, islands and mountain ranges. It’s interesting to see where the world’s most active volcanic regions are or have been. Certainly Central America ranks up there, but so do places you may not expect, like the Canary Islands or Yellowstone.
IF YOU GO: Guatemala City is a short flight from the U.S. and you can take a bus to Xela- the city closest to Santa Maria in about four hours. If you’re going for volcanoes, check out Pacaya near Antigua, which has active flows most of the year. Some of the best volcanic landscapes can be found across the Atlantic in the Canary Islands though, so if you’re thinking about doing a volcanic RTW tour, look for flights to Lanzarote, where a volcanic explosion in the 18th century covered much of the land.
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