The Santa Maria volcano is situated next to the small village of Llanos del Pinal. The view from the top of the volcano is mind blowing! You can see the volcanoes Tacana, Tajumulco, Siete Orejas, Chicabal, Lacandón, the volcanoes around Lake Atitlan, as well as the volcanoes Acatenango, Fuego and Agua. You can climb the Santa Maria in a half day. The Santiaguito is the security valve of the bigger Santa Maria and thus in constant eruption (about every hour). You have a perfect view from top of the Santa Maria Volcano on the crater of the Santiaguito Volcano, which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

The Santa Maria volcano is situated next to the small village of Llanos del Pinal. The view from the top of the volcano is mind blowing. You can see the volcanoes Tacana, Tajumulco, Siete Orejas, Chicabal, Lacandon, the volcanoes around Lake Atitlan, as well as the volcanoes Acatenango, Fuego and Agua. You can climb the Santa Maria in a half day. The Santiaguito is the security valve of the bigger Santa Maria and thus in constant eruption (about every hour). You have a perfect view from top of the Santa Maria Volcano on the crater of the Santiaguito Volcano, which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Elev: 3,772m (12,375 ft)
Cone: Stratovolcano (Composite)
Eruption: Plinian
Status: Active
Location: Depto. Quetzaltenango, 14.758?N - 91.548?W    Eruptive History: 24Oct1902 violent Plinian eruption with a large quantity of magma, part of the cone ruptured. An explosion crater on the side gave birth to Santiaguito.
Notes: Santa Maria is part of a volcanic system which includes Volcan Siete Orejas and Volcan Chicabal. The local Mayans call this volcano "Gagxanul" which means naked mountain. Eruptions were noted by the Spanish in the 16th century. The 1902 eruption produced lava flows which traveled up to 8.6 km (5.3 mi). The city of Quetzaltenango was buried under a half meter of ash and the ash column reached an altitude of 30km (100,000 feet).