Volcán de Ipala

Central & Eastern Guatemala


The 1650m Volcán de Ipala is notable for its especially beautiful clear crater-lake measuring nearly 1km around and nestled below the summit at 1493m. The dramatic hike to the top takes you from 800m to 1650m in about two hours, though you can drive halfway up in a car (parking costs Q10). There are trails, a visitor center and a campsite on the shores of the lake.

To get there, take a bus from Chiquimula (Q20, 1½ hours) or Jalapa (two hours) to Ipala and transfer to a microbus to Agua Blanca (Q10, every 15 minutes). The trailhead is at El Sauce just before Agua Blanca; look for the blue INGUAT sign. If you're lucky, you might encounter a pick-up to Aldea Chigüiton, where the road ends, 2km from the highway, running south from Ipala. You may also be able to hire a horse in Chigüiton.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central & Eastern Guatemala attractions

1. Volcán de Quetzaltepeque

16.68 MILES

About 10km east of the village of Quetzaltepeque, this volcano tops out at 1900m. The walk to the top is tough going – through thick subtropical pine…

2. Reserva Ecologica El Limo

18.86 MILES

Fourteen kilometers north of Metapán is the lush Reserva Ecologica El Limo, home to incredible cascadas (waterfalls). Drivers near the turnoff to Frontera…

3. Centro Turístico Cueva de las Minas

19.28 MILES

This has a 50m-deep cave (bring your own light), grassy picnic areas and the Río El Milagro, where people come for a dip and say it's miraculous. The cave…

4. Basílica de Esquipulas

19.3 MILES

A massive structure that has resisted the power of earthquakes for almost 250 years, the basilica is approached through a pretty park and up a wide flight…

5. Jardín de los Cien Años

19.87 MILES

At Los Planes, this enchanting garden has more than 70 species of orchid as well as towering oaks and other plants, many of which are labeled. Don't miss…

6. Parque Nacional Montecristo

19.87 MILES

The cloud forest–cloaked mountains of Parque Nacional Montecristo are home to abundant flora and fauna that make it a magnet for nature lovers and…

7. Iglesia de San Pedro

20.12 MILES

Metapán's town square features the glorious Iglesia de San Pedro, the jewel in a restored old quarter where the sense of civic pride is palpable. In the…

8. Hacienda San Jose

20.89 MILES

Near the park entrance, a charming hacienda with pretty gardens holds a small interpretative center with displays on the park's flora and fauna, including…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "guatemala/ipala/attractions/volcan-de-ipala/a/poi-sig/1331631/1328236",
      "destination": "Central-&-Eastern-Guatemala",
      "continent": "Central-America",
      "country": "Guatemala",
      "region": "Central-&-Eastern-Guatemala",
      "position": "superzone"
    }