Volcan Tajumulco - DAY 1
What shall we do this weekend? Humm climb to the highest point of Central America of course!!
After getting up at 4am we arrived at the Quetzaltrekkers office and with 16 other bleary-eyed travellers and 4 guides, we clambered into the back of a pick-up truck to the bus station. With the packs hurled onto the roof, we got onto a chicken bus and journeyed out of Xela just as the sun was beginning to rise. In the distance, the rather active Volcan Santiaguito was plumming smoke into the sky.
We were dropped off on the side of the road, packs chucked off the roof and then we began our trek. The path wound up and along the side of the mountain valley and as we climbed we were rewarded with amazing views. The walk was all up, up and up and as the day went on, those who were wearing lovely clean white T-shirts were soon as filthy and covered in dirt as everyone else.
After around 5 hours of hard-going but bloody brilliant walking, we arrived at base camp and our home for the night. A campfire was built, tents were put up and dinner was soon on the go. We gathered around the campfire to keep warm as darkness fell and the temperature dropped. Thank goodness for thermals and wooly hats. Around the campfire, marshmellows were cooked on the open flames and we chatted away, gobbled down dinner and then everyone retired to bed at 830pm!
