Santa Ana Volcano

Ilamatepec, the Santa Ana volcano, reaches 2,381 metres and is the highest in the country, an active cone that last erupted in 2005. The crater at the top holds a lake coloured a strong green-turquoise by dissolved sulphur and minerals, steaming at the edges, set in a bowl of bare rock several hundred metres below the rim. The ascent leaves from Cerro Verde national park at a single fixed time each morning with guides, climbing through forest and then onto open volcanic ground, taking around two hours up. It is not technically difficult but it is exposed and windy near the top. Access closes when volcanic activity increases, which happens periodically.

What you actually see

• The crater lake - the sulphurous green water in the summit crater.
• The rim - the bare volcanic ground and the drop into the crater.
• The volcano group - Izalco and Cerro Verde from the summit.
• Lake Coatepeque - the caldera lake visible below on clear days.

When to go

November to April for the clearest views; cloud covers the summit from mid-morning for much of the year. The guided ascent leaves once a day, usually around eleven, and arriving late means missing it.

Honest expectations

The ascent runs at one fixed time with guides and cannot be done independently. The summit is windy, exposed and cold. Cloud often removes the view of the lake. Access is closed when activity levels rise, sometimes for extended periods.

Nearby

Cerro Verde is the trailhead; Lake Coatepeque lies below.