Guatemala’s Pacaya volcano has been in a fairly active period since about 1961. Earlier this year, a new fissure vent opened, and rivers of lava began flowing out, threatening several nearby communities. The lava has been advancing slowly, and locals and tourists have been making visits to the lava flows. Some have come to take in the spectacle and make a few photos, but others have come on pilgrimages, offering prayers, hoping to slow Pacaya’s activity—and at least one person turned the red-hot rocks into his own pizza oven, cooking up a meal for other visitors.
Pilgrims, Prayers, and Pizza on Pacaya Volcano
- Alan Taylor
- May 17, 2021
- 25 Photos
- In Focus
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A man watches as red-hot lava flows during an eruption of the Pacaya volcano at San Vicente de Sales municipality in Guatemala's Escuintla region on May 8, 2021. #
Luis Echeverria / Reuters -
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Lightning strikes as lava flows from Guatemala's Pacaya volcano, as seen from Cerro Chino in the San Vicente Pacaya municipality, on May 2, 2021. #
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People watch as lava flows from Pacaya volcano at La Brena farm in El Patrocinio village on March 25, 2021. #
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Lava flows down the slopes of Pacaya volcano near El Patrocinio village in San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, on April 17, 2021. #
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On May 5, 2021, a woman carries a cross during a pilgrimage to pray that the Pacaya volcano decreases its activity and spares nearby villages. #
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People stand near the edge of slowly moving lava near El Patrocinio village on April 16, 2021. #
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In San Vicente Pacaya, residents carry likenesses of the town's patron saint, San Vicente (right); Jesus Resucitado (center); and the Virgin Mary during a religious procession at El Rodeo village on April 28, 2021. Residents of El Patrocinio and El Rodeo villages make pilgrimages calling for the cessation of Pacaya's volcanic activity. #
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A woman carries a cross during a pilgrimage to Pacaya volcano in San Vicente Pacaya on May 5, 2021. #
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A man sprinkles holy water toward lava flowing from Pacaya volcano, praying for it to decrease its activity, on May 5, 2021. #
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Residents kneel in prayer, facing the volcano in Cerro Chino, on May 5, 2021. #
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The erupting Pacaya volcano, seen from San Vicente Pacaya, on February 17, 2021 #
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Red-hot lava flows during an eruption of Pacaya volcano on May 8, 2021. #
Luis Echeverria / Reuters -
Lava flows in San Vicente Pacaya on May 5, 2021 #
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People watch as lava flows slowly past, in San Vicente de Sales municipality on May 8, 2021. #
Luis Echeverria / Reuters -
Family members pose for photos near lava flowing from Pacaya volcano near El Patrocinio village on April 16, 2021. #
Moises Castillo / AP -
A man pokes a lava flow with a stick near El Patrocinio village on April 15, 2021. #
Moises Castillo / AP -
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A view of the Pacaya lava flow, seen from the community of Las Granadillas, on March 29, 2021 #
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Lava flows in a river down the slopes of Pacaya volcano, as seen from Cerro Chino, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
(1 of 6) David Garcia carries a table used to prepare food in San Vicente Pacaya municipality, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
(2 of 6) David Garcia prepares a pizza to cook on the hot volcanic rock nearby, part of the lava flow from Pacaya volcano, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
(3 of 6) David Garcia lays out his cheese and toppings. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
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(4 of 6) David Garcia places his pizza on the hot rocks of a lava flow on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
(5 of 6) Cheese begins to melt as a pizza is cooked on hot volcanic rocks on Cerro Chino. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
(6 of 6) David Garcia serves pizza to tourists after cooking it on the lava flow nearby, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
A woman watches as lava flows from Guatemala's Pacaya volcano in San Vicente Pacaya municipality, Guatemala, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty
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