YOUR EXPERIENCE AT RANCHO PACAYA

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A stay at Rancho Pacaya is a "re-generating" experience, an opportunity to "heal" from the toll of "modern life" while reconnecting with many of our earth's life cycles that we depend on for our sustenance and survival. This experience is not necessarily for everyone and one needs to consider the following aspects before reserving your stay on the farm:

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Access to RP:  ONE MUST EITHER HIKE UP A HILL FOR 10-15 MINUTES OR PAY A LOCAL HORSE OWNER Q50 TO TAKE YOU UP BY HORSEBACK FROM THE RP PARKING LOT. The hike includes breathtaking views of the Calderas Lake and the Pacaya crater and is well worth the adventure if one can do it.

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Hours of operation:  RP is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Entrance to the RP Parking Lot (and to the farm) Friday-Sunday is between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., although vehicles may exit until 7:00 p.m. on those days. For non-public hours visitations or special events, please contact us at +(502) 3567-2185. 

 

Day Pass only: All visitors to RP must arrive must enter through the Rancho Pacaya Parking Lot in San Francisco de Sales where temperatures are taken and a brief Covid questionnaire imparted. To enter RP, one has the option of either hiking up a beautiful private path up the hill for 15-20 minutes - 300 steps in all - or be taken up by horseback by locals who will charge you Q50 (approx. US $7) to take you to the main structure at Rancho Pacaya. Once in RP, one has use of the facilities, hiking trails, restaurant, and may participate in any of the day's talks, yoga classes, farm tours, and other activities, all included in the Day Pass fee. . 

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Camping. RP's multiple breathtaking views in all four directions make it an ideal place for camping, yet one MUST BRING ONE'S OWN CAMPING GEAR. We rent individual grills for cooking if you wish to bring your own food, yet INDIVIDUAL BON FIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED for the safety and air quality of one's fellow campers, yet there is a nightly group bon fire for those camping on the mountain. IN THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY NIGHTLY TEMPERATURES MAY DIP INTO THE LOW 40s WHICH, WITH WINDS ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, CAN BE QUITE COLD. CAMPERS ARE ADVISED TO BRING WARM CLOTHING, WARM BEDDING/SLEEPING BAGS AND GROUND CUSHION TO INSULATE YOU FROM THE COOL GROUND. 

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Rooms. RP has four rustic yet cozy rooms in a beautiful bamboo structure which are available for rent. Each room has two comfortably-designed cedar bunk beds allowing for a maximum of four persons per room. The rooms share a hygenic adn smart dry-composting toilet adjacent to the structure. As ALL water is captured from rainwater for drip irrigation during the 7-month dry season, low-flow luke-warm-at-best showers are available in the main structure about 150 yards from the rooms - not for the faint-hearted. 

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Dry-composting toilets.  There are no water wells at Rancho Pacaya as the earth is volcanic ash and porous. We therefore utilize dry composting toilets where, instead of flushing with water, one places a few scoopfuls of sawdust into the composting chamber after each use. After a 6-month composting period together with organic additives, this process eventually creates a hygienic and rich fertilizer for use on our trees.  

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Three healthy meals. Meals and sandwiches can be purchased separately at the main lodge The majority of the food served at Rancho Pacaya is organic, locally grown, and prepared on the premises by a chef. The meals are served with 2-3 main dishes offered, always one of them vegetarian.  The hours of the main meals are as follows:

          

                                      Breakfast:           7-9 a.m.

                                      Lunch                 12-2 p.m.

                                      Dinner                 5-7 p.m.

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Besides the three meals, in between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner one can order sandwiches made with in-house fresh-baked bread. One can request the sandwiches to go to enjoy on the mountain or to take as a meal to the Pacaya Volcano.  

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Yoga. Your stay at RP includes participation in yoga class if you choose for no additional cost. Yoga is proven to be highly effective in reducing stress-related conditions such as chronic anxiety, back pain, and tension headaches. Bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and join us and connect with your inner peace. 

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Educational presentations and tours.  Although one may come to RP to enjoy the spectacular views, healthy food, or nearby activities, the purpose of RP is to study and promote regenerative agriculture and other technologies and techniques which are critical to avoid the environmental cataclysm which global warming is bringing upon us. As such, visitors to RP will be able to attend discussions on global warming, regenerative agriculture, and other topics related to the environment. Tours of the farm will also be available throughout the day.   

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Security.  San Vicente Pacaya is the municipality with the lowest rates of criminality in Guatemala. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and prepared. RP contracts armed security guards and all key personnel are connected to the guards and to each other via radios. We practice what we feel is our best preventive medicine against crime - maintaining a respectful, supportive and inclusive stance towards our rural community.

 

Personal involvement in the project.  We believe that everyone who comes to Rancho Pacaya has unique gifts and talents, and you are encouraged to share yours with the community. This may be anything from teaching us how to prepare your grandma's fabulous lasagna to singing a song for those around the evening campfire. Our source of greatest joy and long-lasting meaning in life comes not from "getting", but from "giving" our unique gifts, our unique brand of Love to this world, so come and share your gifts with us! 

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