Chichonal Volcano – Hiking to the Summit and Exploring the Crater
About My Hike to Chichonal Volcano
One of the top highlights of my travels through Chiapas and Tabasco was hiking to the summit of Chichonal Volcano (also known as El Chichón) with Jungla Experience. Ever since learning about this active volcano in early 2020, I’d wanted to see it in person, and this guided hike was the perfect opportunity.
Because of its remote location, I opted for a guided tour—Chichonal Volcano is hard to reach by car, and although it’s less than 80 miles from Villahermosa, the journey took over three hours due to rough road conditions.
Our guide, Ramon Rodriguez from Jungla Experience, was fantastic. I’d highly recommend both him and Jungla Experience. For $108, the tour covered everything except lunch, which was an additional $7. This was great value for a full day’s adventure and an expert guide.
Chichonal Volcano – Hiking to the Summit and Exploring the Crater - Table of Contents
- About My Hike to the Chichonal Volcano
- Chichonal Volcano Basecamp
- The Start of the Hike – River Valley and Flat Terrain
- The Climb Up to Chichonal Volcano’s Ridge
- Descending into the Crater of Chichonal Volcano
- The Grueling Return to Basecamp
- Essential Tips for Hiking the Chichonal Volcano
- A Video of My Experience Summiting El Chichón
- Chichonal Volcano Tours and Packages
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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Chichonal Volcano Basecamp
The day began with a 5:00 AM meetup. We traveled in three vans, stopping halfway to grab snacks and use the restroom. After about three and a half hours, we finally reached Chichonal Volcano Basecamp. The basecamp provided toilets and sinks, though with no running water—flushes required a bucket!
Our guide Ramon shared a fascinating introduction to Chichonal Volcano’s history and briefed us on the hike. Chichonal last erupted in 1982, with three major eruptions on March 29, April 3, and April 4. These eruptions devastated nine villages nearby, tragically causing over 1,900 deaths. Today, the volcano is both a natural wonder and a reminder of the area’s powerful geological activity.
The Start of the Hike – River Valley and Flat Terrain
Our hike began on flat ground for the first two kilometers, which allowed us to ease into the journey. Despite the 95°F heat, we moved along comfortably, stopping occasionally to hear Ramon share more about El Chichón’s volcanic landscape.
At the river valley, we encountered our first challenge—a steep 20-meter descent. Although the hike leveled out again, I had already consumed about one-fourth of my water supply.
Ramon warned us not to drink the river water, as it contains various minerals and elements that could cause illness. I took this advice to heart, but our group dog, who’d traveled from Switzerland with its owners, managed to sneak a few sips!
The Climb Up to Chichonal Volcano’s Ridge
The next 2.5 kilometers of trail were uphill, with a steady climb of almost 600 meters in elevation. This incline tested my endurance, and I quickly fell behind the rest of the group. When I approached what seemed like the summit, it turned out to be a false peak; the real summit was another 400 meters away. This was a mental hurdle, but I pushed onward and finally reached the ridge.
Despite being the last to arrive, I wasn’t too far behind the others. The view from this vantage point was well worth the effort—a spectacular scene unlike anything I’d seen before. After catching my breath, I snapped photos and captured videos of the vast volcanic landscape.
Descending into the Crater of Chichonal Volcano
Next, Ramon led us along a 200-meter path that brought us to the crater’s edge, where we could descend into the Chichonal Crater itself. Ramon explained that the descent would be more technical, requiring three points of contact with the rocks at all times to avoid slipping. Initially, I hesitated, but Rogelio, another of our guides, encouraged me to join.
I soon found that my height (I’m 6’5”) worked to my advantage here; I could navigate some sections as if they were giant steps. After about 30 minutes, I finally reached the bottom of the crater, where the scene was surreal. Surrounded by towering rock walls and volcanic formations, I felt as though I’d stepped onto another planet.
At this point, I was out of water, but Ramon shared close to a liter with me, adding electrolytes to help counter my headache and heat exhaustion. I quickly took in the scene, snapped more photos, and then prepared myself mentally for the climb back up.
The Grueling Return to Basecamp
The ascent back to the summit from the crater was the hardest part of the entire trip. Within the first 50 meters, I was exhausted. Rogelio stayed with me, offering support, water, and even carrying my backpack, which held my camera and GoPro. We moved slowly, with frequent stops to catch my breath.
Once we reached the summit again, the return journey to basecamp was much easier. The descent along the ridge was manageable, and the flat terrain past the river valley felt like a relief. On the way back, I did get turned around briefly near the river basin, but Rogelio found me quickly and guided me back on track.
When we finally arrived at basecamp, my fellow hikers greeted me with applause. It was humbling but deeply satisfying to have completed such a challenging trek. I shared stories with the group, and a few even cheered me up with tales of their own struggles during the hike.
Essential Tips for Hiking the Chichonal Volcano
- Distance: 11 km round-trip (5.5 km each way), with a 600-meter elevation gain.
- Duration: Approximately 6 hours, including breaks.
- Difficulty: Challenging, especially during the ascent to the summit.
- Essentials: Bring at least 3 liters of water, sunscreen, snacks, and layers for sun protection.
A Video of My Experience Summiting El Chichón
Below is a video of my journey summiting El Chichón and climbing down into the crater. If you enjoy my video, please like it and subscribe.
Chichonal Volcano Tours and Packages
For those interested in experiencing Chichonal Volcano’s unique landscape, I highly recommend Jungla Experience. With well-trained guides, fascinating insights into Chiapas’s volcanic history, and a safe journey to and from the crater, this tour was a rewarding adventure. You can find the tour package linked below—booking through this affiliate link supports my travel blog at no extra cost to you.
Tour Description: We work hand in hand with the communities of the Zoque culture that live around the Volcano and integrate into our tours in different ways, I already know with food, with native guides, with stories and legends, and above all they teach us to value this type of natural wonders. Remember that our guides are specialized in hiking and nature so they will make you have a pleasant, safe time and especially learning from the place where you are.
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