How an Active Volcano Looks Like? (from the inside…)

Getting back to the Latin world feels like coming home in a sense, like I’ve never really left. The Spanish language is quickly getting back, open doors and barriers, and the soul wide opens.

First stop was Antigua - a sweet colonial town surrounded by the Agua, Fuego and Pacaya volcanoes, and embedded with colorful painted houses, lots of coffee shops and tourists to accommodate those. Funny to see ‘Tuktuk’ taxies on the streets, a fashion arrived some 4 years ago which somehow gives a slight scent of Thailand...

The main attraction is by no doubt the Pacaya volcano - one of few active volcanoes that can be explored. Couldn’t resist climbing the volcano - hiking on muddy soil, turned into gray ash, sandy and finally become a beautiful solid gray lava formation, underneath which lies hot red-yellowish lava – rather spooky… At the peak a striking actively flowing, sizzling and bubbling lava stream – Legs and body feels the heat to the point your soles are starting to melt down... Then, when descending in the dark, looking back on a spectacular red aura surrounding the peak. Nothing short then amazing sight!

On my way to the famous Lago Atitlan, stopped to visit the local Sunday market at Chichicastenango - a large, lively and diversified market where one can find pretty much everything he needs. Nearby cemetery holds big colored graves and ancient shaman ceremonies ongoing by Mayan people - where fire, smoke, praying and crying takes place.

Arrived to Panajachel, the urban center of Lago Atitlan, where boats leaves to nice little lake-side villages like San Pedro, right beneath the San Pedro volcano. Naturally, went up to explore the mountain – a vicious ~50 degrees constant climb up to 3489m, where a spectacular view of the lake and surrounding volcanoes is waiting to be revealed.

A boat ride under a shower rain to arrive (soaking wet…brrrrr) to San Marcus - A unique spiritual village, the hall of massages, yoga, sauna, meditations and tranquility of mind and body. Slept at Las Piramadas – a spiritual center offering a lunar and sun monthly courses, and an option to join a portion, which I did and had the chance to yoga on sun-rise, learn the secrets of reaching lucid dreams and (tried to...) meditate on sunset.