As of Jun 19, 2026, 8:54 PM, happening now. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Pacaya is one of Guatemala's three persistently active volcanoes and one of the most accessible lava experiences in the Americas.
The active MacKenney cone has erupted repeatedly for decades — Strombolian fountaining, scoria and bombs, and flank lava flows — and a well-trodden trail from San Francisco de Sales climbs in 2–3 hours to viewpoints over the cone and onto the cooled-but-still-hot lava fields, where guides famously toast marshmallows in vents in the rock.
Activity is genuinely variable: in early 2026 Pacaya cycled between quiet low-level degassing from the crater and renewed unrest, with INSIVUMEH issuing daily bulletins and CONRED ready to escalate.
When fresh lava is flowing or the cone is fountaining at night, the glow is unforgettable; in quieter spells the draw is the steaming crater, the lava field, and the panorama of the Fuego–Acatenango–Agua volcanoes.
Check INSIVUMEH before you go and follow guide guidance — flows have reached villages in past eruptions.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| MacKenney Cone Lava-Field Viewpoint |
| San Francisco de Sales Trailhead (Park Entrance) |
| + 2 more spots, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.