One of the guides on the trail up Santa Ana Volcano suggested that hiking Izalco Volcano is about the same distance as Santa Ana, but double the exertion. He was right! I joined a guided hike that started from the Cerro Verde parking lot at 11 AM. Our large group on this Sunday morning descended through a beautiful wooded switchback trail to the saddle that separates Cerro Verde from Izalco Volcano. From here it’s a 45° rise, which is hiked on a rough and rocky switchback trail. There are plenty of solid handholds if you need to pull yourself up in places. It was amazing to see the steam vents seeping out of the rock as we neared the small crater rim. Izalco has retained its iconic cone shape, so it’s not very wide at the top or as interesting as the sweeping view inside the magnificent Santa Ana Volcano nearby. I was rewarded by the expansive views all the way into Guatemala to the north, Lago de Coatepeque to the east, San Salvador to the south, and the great blue sea of the Pacific to the west. Enjoy a frozen ice cream novelty at the crater rim when you get there. Only $1.5 for a popsicle—wow! This is an out and back trail, and we retraced our footsteps to the car park the way we came. Going down the volcano was easy, but the return up Cerro Verde was a tough slog because of the grade and distance. The saving grace is that this section is entirely in the shade. Prices: I was charged $4 for park admission (including parking fee), plus $3 for the guide. Hiking time: Guides suggest four hours. Took me three hours, because the guides eventually allow us to hike the last strenuous section at our own pace.

Didn’t hike this volcano when visiting Cerro Verde National Park but did hike up Volcan Santa Ana and along the way had some incredible views of Izalco. My guide told me it’s a more difficult and steeper hike.