Volcán de Fuego is a towering stratovolcano located on the border of two departments: Sacatepéquez and Chimaltenango. Its location, just over 15 kilometers (a little more than 9 miles) from La Antigua, makes it visible from almost any point of the city, and places like Ciudad Vieja, San Miguel Escobar, Alotenango, and San Miguel Dueñas can easily appreciate – almost daily – the eruptions and rumblings of this restless giant.
Seeing it on the horizon alongside the double summit of Volcán Acatenango, it’s easy to pick out because it’s the only one that frequently and fairly consistently sports a fumarole. (These two volcanoes, with their combination of three peaks, are commonly known together as “La Horqueta”, or “The Pitchfork.”) On several occasions Volcán de Fuego’s activity level has increased to such a level that nearby villages and towns have had to be evacuated due to the eruptions and smoke and ashes, and at times even La Aurora International Airport, located in the capital city, has had to be shut down.
This volcano, with an elevation of 3,763 meters (12,346 feet) above sea level, has experienced explosions that have been known to be quite violent. Although these eruptions have left their marks on the volcano’s flanks, there’s still dense vegetation covering the sides up to almost 3,000 meters (9,850 feet). Above that height, the volcano is completely bare.
Volcán de Fuego (which even appears with an accompanying puff of smoke on the official colonial coat of arms of the city of La Antigua) is one of the most active – if not the single most active – volcano in Guatemala. For those who enjoy challenges and outdoor activities that are accompanied by adrenaline and spectacular views, Volcán de Fuego is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country.
