Parque Natural Calderas, on the shore of Laguna Calderas near Volcán de Pacaya, is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is at kilometre 52.5 of the road to Volcán de Pacaya, about an hour from Guatemala City and 2 km from the base of the volcano, according to the Ministry of Culture’s SIC directory (undated; checked 9 November 2026). No entry fee is published: the SIC listing gives none, and an undated Guatemala.com article says the price depends on the activities, with packages from Q150.
In short: A lagoon park with canopy, rappel, giant swings, paddle, horse rides, trails and camping, in Aldea San José Calderas, Amatitlán. Open daily 8:00-18:00 (SIC). Weekdays: arrange your visit with the administration first. Weekends: walk in and pick an activity or package (SIC). Bring cash and water, and expect dirt sections on the road (Guatemala.com, 2022). Adventure activities depend on the weather and the park’s operation, so confirm before you leave.
Hours, contact and booking
| Item | Detail | Who publishes it | Date read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening hours | Every day, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | SIC directory (undated); Guatemala.com, updated 12 August 2022, says Monday to Sunday 8:00-6:00 | 9 November 2026 |
| Entry fee | Not published | SIC; park’s Facebook page description | 9 November 2026 |
| Price guide | Depends on activities; packages from Q150 | Guatemala.com, undated article | 9 November 2026 |
| Weekday visits | Contact the administration in advance to coordinate entry and reception at the lagoon | SIC | 9 November 2026 |
| Weekend visits | Turn up and choose activities or packages | SIC | 9 November 2026 |
| Address | Aldea San José Calderas, Amatitlán, Departamento de Guatemala 05012 | SIC | 9 November 2026 |
| Contact | lmsamayoacornel@hotmail.com; Facebook page Parque Natural Calderas | SIC; operator | 9 November 2026 |
The SIC asks visitors to check the availability of services, opening times and weather in advance, because some adventure activities depend on conditions and on how the park is operating. It gives no phone number. Guatemala.com (2022) points readers to the park’s Facebook page to ask about activities.
Getting there
The SIC and Guatemala.com describe the same approach, via the Pacaya road:
- From Guatemala City, Guatemala.com (2022) says to take the road to Amatitlán and then head for San Vicente Pacaya.
- On the Pacaya road, the SIC places the park at kilometre 52.5, about an hour from the capital and 2 km from the base of the volcano. Guatemala.com puts the trip at about an hour and a half.
- The last stretch has dirt sections, so Guatemala.com recommends a high-clearance car. An older, undated Guatemala.com article says all kinds of cars can get in; the road may have changed between the two articles, so ask when you book.
- On foot. Guatemala.com (2022) says you have to walk a stretch through the countryside: wear comfortable shoes, pack light, and bring cash and plenty of water.
What there is to do
The SIC lists most of these; the other sources add a few:
| Activity | Where it is listed |
|---|---|
| Canopy (zip line) | SIC; Facebook page; Guatemala.com (undated: more than 5 platforms across the forest and lagoon) |
| Rappel | SIC; Facebook page; Guatemala.com (2022) |
| Giant swings (Big Swings) with panoramic views | SIC; Facebook page |
| Paddle on Laguna Calderas | SIC |
| Kayak | Guatemala.com (2022) |
| Floating platform (plaza flotante) | Guatemala.com (undated) |
| Horse rides | SIC |
| Trails | SIC; Guatemala.com |
| Camping | SIC; Guatemala.com (undated) |
| Rowing and sailing courses on the lagoon | SIC |
| Group events, company training days | SIC |
| Restaurant (fried mojarra) | Guatemala.com (undated) |
According to the SIC, the park protects a reserve of about 10 hectares of natural forest, a few minutes from Lake Amatitlán. The SIC listing is headed Parque Natural Calderas but calls it Parque Nacional Calderas in the text; the operator’s own Facebook page uses Parque Natural Calderas. The undated Guatemala.com article describes it as a natural park in the crater of an ancient volcano.
If you camp, the undated Guatemala.com article warns that the temperature drops, so bring warm clothes.
Calderas and the Pacaya climb
The SIC places the park 2 km from the base of Pacaya, on the road to the volcano. The SIC listing and the park’s Facebook page (both read 9 November 2026) describe no combined lagoon-and-volcano route. For the climb itself, see the Pacaya volcano guide and the Pacaya day-hike tours page; for quad-bike trips out of Antigua, see the ATV tours page.
More in the area
Sources
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, SIC listing Parque Natural Calderas, undated, read 9 November 2026.
- Parque Natural Calderas, Facebook page (page description), read 9 November 2026. Operator.
- Guatemala.com, Laguna Calderas, un destino turístico rodeado de naturaleza en Amatitlán, published 11 May 2021, updated 12 August 2022, read 9 November 2026. Secondary.
- Guatemala.com, La laguna cerca de la Ciudad de Guatemala con canopy y senderos naturales, undated, read 9 November 2026. Secondary.
Affiliate links — if you book, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Before you pay, check each plan's medical-evacuation limit and its rules for hiking and adventure activities. Three options, as each company describes them on its own site:
- Genki Traveler: a monthly subscription for up to 12 months that covers up to €1,000,000 for unexpected medical care while traveling abroad, at public and private doctors and hospitals.
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance: the Essential plan is travel medical insurance paid every 4 weeks; the Complete plan is full health insurance with extra travel protections.
- Faye: single-trip plans sold to residents of U.S. states (not U.S. territories); its FAQ lists emergency medical cover of up to $250K and emergency medical evacuation of up to $500K, and adventure and extreme activities need a paid add-on for medical cover.
Limits, prices and the altitude rules side by side: travel insurance for Guatemala · insurance for volcano hikes
Affiliate links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Plan descriptions come from each insurer's own site, read September 22-25, 2026; Genki's limit is in euros, Faye's in U.S. dollars; this is not insurance advice. Disclosure
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Laguna de Calderas next to Pacaya, and when is it open?
Parque Natural Calderas, on the shore of Laguna Calderas, is at kilometre 52.5 of the road to Volcán de Pacaya, about an hour from Guatemala City and 2 km from the base of the volcano. It opens every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Both facts come from the Ministry of Culture’s SIC directory (undated; checked 9 November 2026).
How much does Parque Calderas cost?
The SIC listing publishes no entry fee, and the park’s Facebook page description lists activities but no prices (checked 9 November 2026). An undated Guatemala.com article says the cost depends on the activities you choose, with packages from Q150. Ask the park before you go.
Do I need to book?
For a weekday visit, the SIC recommends contacting the park administration in advance to coordinate entry and reception at the lagoon. On Saturdays, Sundays and busy days, it says visitors can turn up and choose activities or packages on site. The SIC gives lmsamayoacornel@hotmail.com as the contact.
What can you do at Parque Calderas?
The SIC lists canopy, rappel, giant swings (Big Swings), paddle on Laguna Calderas, horse rides and trails, plus camping, rowing and sailing courses on the lagoon, in about 10 hectares of natural forest. The park’s Facebook page names canopy, rappel and giant swings.
Can a normal car reach Laguna de Calderas?
Sources disagree. Guatemala.com (updated 12 August 2022) says the road has dirt sections and recommends a high-clearance car, with a stretch to walk. An older, undated Guatemala.com article says all kinds of cars can get in. Ask the park about the road when you book.
