A Trip to the Volcanos in Guatemala

A few days ago, I visited Guatemala in Central America, which is also one of the only remaining countries that have diplomatic relations with the Republic of China aka Taiwan. The purpose of this trip was to visit the active Fuego volcano.

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Before taking photos of the Fuego volcano, we had to climb another peak, Acatenango, which are both mountains over 4,000 meters tall. It's hard to imagine that not only are they higher than Mount Jade, the highest mountain in Taiwan, but they also erupt magma. And there are even more active and dormant volcanoes in Guatemala, it's truly unimaginable.

We camped at the base of Acatenango, and from outside our tent we could easily capture every moment of the volcano with a long lens. The fiery magma eruption is not very noticeable during the day. When the sun is still high in the sky, what we usually experience is thunderous explosions and thick smoke.

Therefore, seeing the magma eruption clearly at night is even more exciting than during the day. We stayed awake almost all night and even if we fell asleep, we were often awakened by the volcano. Our tired bodies were prone to altitude sickness, but thankfully I made it down the mountain before feeling any significant discomfort.

The next day, we attempted to climb the Fuego volcano, which involved a steep descent of 300 meters in just 1.5 kilometers, followed by another steep ascent of 300 meters in 1 kilometer. This process was very tiring, and the return journey was even more difficult.

However, seeing the eruption up close on the Fuego volcano was truly stunning but also very dangerous. The size of the erupted lava can reach the size of a bus, and the sight of it falling right in front of our eyes is unforgettable.

A drone provides a different perspective, but it could be struck down by the erupted lava in an instant.

We stayed at the Fuego volcano until almost 9 PM and didn't want to leave. I finally understood why some people are so obsessed with volcanoes, it is the strongest side of nature.

Returning to the campsite, the excitement lingered. After setting up the camera for automatic shooting, I kept waking up a few times in the middle of the night and tossing and turning until morning. Later, before sunrise, I suddenly captured an unexpected volcanic eruption with a loud bang.

This short volcano trip may be one of the most memorable travels I have had in the past year. I hope you all enjoy these photos. I don't know when I will be able to visit again, or see another beautiful volcano. To be honest, it's a bit sad to think about it.

Postscript:

As always, thank you for your support. Most of these photos have not yet been published on social media, and I would appreciate your support if you see them later.

This volcano trip had a huge impact on me, not only because I finally saw a volcano, but also because I deeply realized how lucky I am to be able to travel so recklessly. The economy in Guatemala is not good, and even though there is free secondary education, most local children start to support their families after primary school. This volcano supports the tourism industry of nearby small towns like La Soledad where many local mountain guides and porters rely on tourists. Seeing so many people working hard makes me, who is just a tourist, feel a little embarrassed.

I remembered that in addition to my interest in photography, I was also interested in volunteering to help those in need. Although I have done some volunteering at university and last year, I feel embarrassed that even if I have this impulse to do more now, what I most want to do at the moment is still photography. I hope that after my photography career ends, I still have the energy to do these other things.

With this article, I would like to express my gratitude for the beautiful Guatemala and my local friend and guide Diego.

If you need a guide in Guatemala, Diego is the best. Check his website for more volcano photos and details.

Thanks for reading.