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World most extreme places

Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala

From series “Volcanoes and Traps That Changed the Face of the Planet”
Height: 3,772 meters.

Early 18th century was also marked by a strong volcanic eruption. That year the disaster occurred in Guatemala. In 1902, the eruption of Santa Maria volcano happened there. It is considered one of the most violent eruptions of the 20th century. The incredibly powerful explosion occurred after 500 calm years. The diameter of the crater left after that is 1 500 meters.

Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala Santa Maria volcano is the part of the chain of stratovolcanoes. After the eruption of 1902, it regularly reminds us of its power. Next, the less powerful eruption occurred in 1922. Seven years later, the volcano released into the atmosphere a cloud of easily flammable gas that killed 5 000 residents of nearby towns and villages. The height of the volcano is 3 772 meters. Researchers found out that the first powerful eruption of this structure occurred about 30 000 years ago.

During a volcanic explosion in 1902, about 5.5 cubic kilometers of volcanic material were thrown to the earth surface. One side of the volcano was completely destroyed by an explosion. The power was so great that even inhabitants of Costa Rica have heard it, besides the fact that about 800 km shares them with Santa Maria volcano. The terrible tragedy of the early 18th century took the lives of 6 000 people. Currently, the diameter of the crater is 3 300 meters. It is still considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. The last major eruption occurred in 2011. However, thanks to the timely evacuation, it was managed to avoid human victims. Next - Etendeka-Parana Traps


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Santa Maria Volcano - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'Cajero 5B' located in 19 km ( check the route on the map).
Fuel station: 'Puma' in 9 km
Supermarket: 'GNC' in 9 km
Parking: 'Parqueo Archis' in 10 km
Apotheek: 'Farmacia Meykos' in 10 km
Police station: 'Policia Municipal de Transito de Quetzaltenango' in 9 km
Cafe/restaurant: 'El Sabor de Texas' in 4.68 km
 Cities nearby

Best hotels near Volcano Santa Maria

Hotel Modelo

Located in 9 km from Volcano Santa Maria
Route on the map:
Rooms: 19
Hotel Modelo's restaurant opens from 07:00 until 21:00 and serves a free à la carte breakfast each morning. There is also a French restaurant … More: photo, rates and booking
Hostal Don Diego

Located in 10 km from Volcano Santa Maria
Route on the map:
Rooms: 20
Each room and dormitory at this property comes with tiled floors and garden views. They all feature a shared bathroom with a toilet and shower. … More: photo, rates and booking
Takalik Maya Lodge

Located in 22 km from Volcano Santa Maria
Route on the map:
Rooms: 10
Each room Takalik Maya Lodge has rustic décor with bamboo and wooden furnishings, and a terrace overlooking the mountains and gardens. There is a … More: photo, rates and booking
Hotel Posada de Don José

Located in 27 km from Volcano Santa Maria
Route on the map:
Rooms: 21
At Hotel Posada de Don José you will find a 24-hour reception with a tour desk and laundry service. The Don José's bar-restaurant serves … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

Santa Maria
0 km - Santa Maria
The active stratovolcano of Santa Maria is situated to the west of Guatemala, in the immediate vicinity to the city of Quetzaltenango. It’s about 3,770 meters high. According to scientists, the first eruption of Santa Maria volcano occurred about 30,000 years ago. …
Samabaj
38 km - Samabaj
From the series 'Famous Sunken Towns'

The ancient Mayan city of Samabaj had been regarded as a legend for many years, till its ruins have been found in one of the lakes in Guatemala. This important archaeological discovery occurred in 1996, and later, scientists were able to specify that Samabaj has sunken …
Guatemala Stone Head
180 km - Guatemala Stone Head
The impenetrable jungle of Guatemala, inhabited by the Mayan tribes since ancient times, conceals one of the most mysterious artefacts on earth. Here, in the midst of the luxuriant thickets of the exotic trees, lies the huge sandstone statue discovered by the …
Pyramids of Copan
285 km - Pyramids of Copan
The Pyramids of Maya can be found not only in Mexico, but also in Honduras. To the followers of the walks through the archaeological districts one can recommend the tiny town of Copán. Three thousand years ago, when the unique pyramids were built, Copán was one of …
Chicoasen Dam
294 km - Chicoasen Dam
Chicoasen Dam is a rock-fill Mexican dam. It was beginning to build in 1974. In 1980 it has begun to work, since that time, it became the biggest dam in North America. Its height is 261 meters and length 485 meters. The reservoir’s size is 52 600 square meters, about …
Ilopango Volcano
295 km - Ilopango Volcano
The capital city of El Salvador is located near the famous Ilopango volcano. During the history it erupted twice. The first eruption, which occurred in the 5th century BC, was the most powerful and destructive. After the first destructive eruption, the whole territory …

Top destination around Santa Maria Volcano - Quetzaltenango

In southwestern Guatemala, tourists can visit a very interesting city named Quetzaltenango. As the official name is quite long, local people often call their home by its Mayan name – Xelaju or Xela. This region is very popular with tourists because of the hot springs and various handmade items made by local craftsmen. The city is not particularly rich in attractions. Despite this, foreign guests enjoy visiting Quetzaltenango to explore it and make a pleasant and useful journey to the nearby villages where guests can admire the breathtaking landscapes, see how the wood fabrics are made, and maybe even buy attractive local clothes.

According to the historic record, the city of Quetzaltenango was founded on May 7, 1424. However, the archaeological excavations in the area prove that there was a settlement in this area long before that date. By the time when Quetzaltenango was officially mentioned in the documents, the city had existed for at least three centuries. Spanish conquerors were the first European settlers. They tried to make Guatemala a Spanish colony. At that time, the indigenous people were not strong enough to resist the armed enemies, so the invaders captured the territory within a short period.
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