I just returned from a wonderful 4 days on the Las Sirenas, a 46-foot classic Polynesian catamaran. We sailed on the Rio Dulce and Lake Izabal in Guatemala with the company Aventuras Vacacionales (http://www.sailing-diving-guatemala.com/index.htm).
We had to delay our trip by one week because the volcano eruption on May 27th closed the airport and then there was the tropical storm that caused mudslides on the roads. It worked out perfect for us because we had perfect weather and it was amazing. I took two of my children and one grandson so he could practice his Spanish.
Captain Raul and Saqueo were very professional and fun. Saqueo is a fantastic cook. I don’t know how he did it in that little galley. He even baked a blackberry pie with the berries we brought onboard. I came home with some new recipes.
We really enjoyed the hot water falls that flow into a cool pool. We could have stayed there all day. Thanks for all the fun stops on the agenda. I plan to take my other kids and grandkids on this same sailing trip. The prices are so reasonable you can afford to take your whole family. Thanks again!

I lived in Guatemala from 1966 to 1968, and we climbed Pacaya six or seven times, all the way up to the dormant crater of the original volcano. In those days the lava eruptions were far down the slope of the "old" cone, and you could look straight down and admire the boiling cauldron from a bird's eye view. Every time we climbed Pacaya, "Little Pacaya," as we knew it, became a little larger, and the view more dramatic.

Our last ascent was in 1968, when my father led our cub scout troop of 20 11- and 12-year-old boys up the mountain. (Our original scout leader, a US military officer, had only recently died in a plane crash, but that's another story.) Our approach was on the far side of the slope that nourished Little Pacaya, and as we approached the rim of the crater it was much noisier than we were accustomed to. The moment we reached the summit, it was obvious how much more active Little Pacaya had become, as enormous gobs of hot lava flew up over the crater rim. "Back down! Back down!" my father shouted, and we tumbled back down the slope of loose dead black lava particles, some of us using sticks as improvised ski poles to control our slide.

We climbed many other dormant volcanoes during our time in Central America, but none more memorable.

I went to see the Big Island of Hawaii's volcano around 1996. At that time you could just walk right up to where the hot lava was flowing down. In fact, if you wanted I'm sure you could have stepped in it. I hope someday to venture out to Guatemala and take in the beautiful light show you describe.

This sounds amazing and gorgeous. I'll always remember visiting Kilauea as a child, but seeing the lava flow in action must be an awesome experience. And a hot one, too!