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| Tacana   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Tacana (Guatemala)/Union Juarez(Mexico), Guatemala/Mexico, North America Lat/Lon: 15.11670°N / 92.1°W Elevation: 13484 ft / 4110 m | Page By: Scott Created/Edited: Mar 29, 2001 / Aug 15, 2006 Object ID: 150301 Hits: 5615 Loading... Page Score: 81.14% - 12 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewTacana is the second highest peak in Central America, and sits on the border of Mexico and Guatemala. It is also know as the Soconusco Volcano in some regions of Mexico. From the summit you can see all the highest volcanoes in Guatemala and many others in Mexico. It is also is possible to see the Pacific Ocean. Tacana is considered to be an active volcano, and has a crater on of Mexican side, with some fumes. It was last active between January 1986 and February 1988.
The volcano can be climbed from either Guatamala or Mexico. The Guatamala side of the volcano is a shorter climb, but the trailhead is harder to reach and is a very long bus ride into a very remote part of the country. The Mexican side of Tacana is much easier to get to as its near some larger towns, but it is a longer hike from that side and usually takes two days, sometimes more.
Getting ThereFrom the Guatemala side, and Guatamala City, take the bus to San Marcos, once there, you need to take the road to San Jose Ojetenam, and after of reach that villiage, take the bus to Sibinal, which is where the trail starts. Sporatic bus service is available for the long 350 km ride.
From the Mexican side, make your way by bus to Tapachula. From there, take the once every half hour bus to Cacahatan. From there, another once every half hour bus heads the 23 kms to Union Juarez. This is as far as public transportation goes. From the main plaza in Union Juarez, walk (if you're lucky, you may get a lift) north along the paved cobblestone road to the villiage of Cordova, and then continue to Taliquan. From Taliquan, find the stone monument that marks the trail.
Slopes of Tacana from near the trailhead. |
Routes OverviewThere are at least two main routes to the summit of Tacana. The trailhead on the Mexican side is easier to get to, and is the route I used.
The route on the Mexican side is known as La Linea. See the route page for more details.
Breifly put: From Taliquan, find the stone monument that marks the trail. From the stone monument, the well used trail heads along either side of the Mexico/Guatamala border. The border is easy to identify as its marked with a highly visible clear cut line through the forest, and refered to as La Linea (The Line). This is an interesting walk, and it passes through several tiny villiages and farms that can only be reached on foot. There is a cliff to pass and quite a few confusing trails until you reach a very good path to the summit of Tacana. See the route page for more details.
Note: The following info on the Guatamala side was added by a former maintainer. From the Guatemala side, it usually takes 6 to 8 hours of hiking to summit the volcano. There two steepest sections are known as "El Caracol", at the beginning of the hike, and the second is after the location named, "Hacienditas". I am not familiar with this route, so if you are able to add any more details, please do so.
Red TapeA guide is not required, but can prove useful. Rumor has it that landmines exist on the mountain on the Guatamala side, so use extreme caution, and avoid anything that looks unusual!!
When To ClimbDecember through April is the dry season, and the best time to climb the volcano.
CampingThere are many places to camp on the mountain. The most popular campsites on the Guatamala side are known as Hacienditas, then Potreros, and then at Laguna Seca which is located in an old crater.
There are several campsites along the trail on the Mexican side as well. Just make sure not to camp near one of the farms without permission. The most spectacular site in on the summit itself, but it can be very cold there so be prepared. There is, or at least was some stagnant water in the crater, but I highly recommend hauling water up from the springs.
Annual Holy Week ClimbIt is a popular tradition to make a mountaneering meeting on the Tacana summit's during Holy Week (Easter), which is during the week of the first full moon after the Spring Solstice, usually the week of full Moon after March 21. The volcano is climbed for mountaneers from all over Guatemala / El Salvador and Mexico.
Updates and More InformationThis page was written almost 12 years after I did the actual climb, and much of it from memory. Please post any updates here, and I will integrate them into the text.
CreditsSome updates are from my climbing partner, Mike Kelsey who wrote the highly recommended Climbers and Hikers Guide to the Worlds Mountains. Mike climbed this peak in January 1994.
Mountain ConditionsThe closest weather link is in Quetzaltenago. Expect cooler and wetter conditions in the mountains.
Quetzaltenago Forecast
Tacana in the clouds |
External Links Images
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