San Vicente Volcano

Chichontepec, the San Vicente volcano, rises to 2,182 metres above the city of the same name, and its distinguishing feature is the double summit, two peaks close together that give it a recognisable profile from a long way off; the Nahuat name refers to that shape. On its northern flank are Los Infiernillos, geothermal vents where steam and sulphurous gas escape through the ground and the earth is hot to touch, feeding a geothermal power station at Berlin nearby. The climb to the summits takes several hours through coffee plantations and then forest, steep and unmarked in places, and is done with a guide from the villages on the flanks.

What you actually see

• The twin peaks - the double summit that names the volcano.
• Los Infiernillos - the steaming geothermal vents on the flank.
• Coffee plantations - the cultivated lower slopes.
• The summit view - the Lempa valley and Ilopango on clear days.

When to go

November to April for the climb and the clearest views; cloud builds on the summit through the day, so start early. The rains make the paths slippery and dangerous. The vents are visited separately from the ascent.

Honest expectations

The ascent is long, steep and unmarked; a guide is effectively necessary. Cloud often covers the summits by mid-morning. The geothermal vents are hot and the ground unstable around them. There are no facilities on the mountain.

Nearby

San Vicente city lies below; Berlin and Alegria are east.