From Antigua, Guatemala I took a trip to Volcan Pacaya and it was what you could call hot. When hiking up, I assumed that it would be just like every other volcano I'd seen... looking at it from a view and maybe seeing some activity from far away. Well, I got so much more! The tour guide hiked us up to the base of the volcano and brought us all around some really beautiful and amazing sites.

I quickly noticed that this was going to be a trip unlike any you would be able to make in the US because of very few restrictions here in Guatemala. When we got to the top, we were at what we thought to be incredibly close to the lava field. As the tour continued, our guide kept taking us closer and closer to the lava until we were right on top of it! I was literally walking on lava that was pretty fresh and that melted my shoes such that I had to make sure not to stand in any place for too long! There were spots all around with fresh, flowing lava. Luckily, it didn't move too fast, so I was able to catch some pics with it, but I have never felt the kind of heat that I did being so near to hot lava - ouch - HOT!