Hiking Telica Volcano is one of the greatest accents of wild Nicaragua. It’s a stellar adventure for hiking lovers. The hike to one of the most active Nicaragua volcanoes is quite challenging due to it’s length and unmaintained trail. Hovewer it’s doable, we did it in 2019 and this is a complete guide which will lead you straight to the volcano crater from San Jacinto Village. There is another way to the top – La Quimera, but the volcano views are much more spectacular through San Jacinto trail.
Hiking Telica volcano – the most active crater in Nicaragua.
If you have any doubts whether you can manage hiking Telica Volcano without a tour guide – I’ve collected all essential information after hiking it myslef on how to do it safely and enjoy this memorable adventure.
Hiking Telica volcano on your own is more than doable but you need to know a few things before you leave and prepare well for this long hike. If you are hiking in the summer months, would be good to have some trekking experience in tropical climates. However, if you are well equipped, bring the essentials and have a good fitness level it will be extremely joyful. We read tons of information online before we left for this trip, it is mostly advised not to go alone, which in my opinion is purely to encourage tourists to hire a guide.
However, if you decide to hire a tour guide, the cost is pretty standard for all volcanoes: around $50-$70 per person, and at least two people are required.
Is hiking Telica Volcano hike safe?
The most common information we heard was that the trail to the top is not maintained so it’s easy to lose the path. After the trip, I can say that hiking Telica Volcano without a tour guide is definitely doable. It’s a highly adventurous hike and local people will help you navigate the right direction. Follow these tips and advice and you will have no problem getting to the top of Telica on your own. Telica Volcano hike is generally considered safe for female travelers. Sunrise tours with camping at the top of Telica Volcano are extremely popular and lots of people decide to take an overnight 2-day hike to sleep on the mountain.
Safety tips on hiking Telica Volcano.
CHECK VOLCANO ACTIVITY: Important: check volcano activity with the monitoring station before you leave for a hike.
CHECK WEATHER FORECAST: The best time for hiking Telica Volcano is during the dry season from November to April.
OFFLINE GPS MAPS: Additionally, you may want to download offline GPS tracks (we found very cheap Komoot offline maps), which were very helpful. Offline maps are always nice to have backup in case you have trouble finding the route.
Hiking Telica Volcano without a tour guide.
All these guidelines will help you plan the trip and complete this spectacular trail. We hiked Telica in the summer months in very high temperatures. Due to the length of the hike you need to stay hydrated and make sure you have comfortable hiking shoes.
There aren’t many tourists hiking Telica Volcano – there was only one other French couple ascending the mountain on the day and they were accompanied by a guide.
- The only people we met on the trail were a French couple with a guide and one group heading to the top, when we were going down.
- WE WERE THE ONLY TOURISTS AT THE TOP OF TELICA VOLCANO!
- You need around 4-5 hours to reach the top – so there’s no too much time to wander around, as you don’t want to get caught by the twilight.
- You may meet some local people, who you can ask for a way up.
Bus to Telica Volcano?
Take a local bus to reach San Jacinto – a lovely small rural village. There’s a bus stop in San Jacinto village but it’s best to ask the driver for Telica Volcano and he will stop just at the starting point for hiking Telica Volcano – near a huge road sign.
99% of travelers take this bus to hike Telica Volcano, so they know you’re looking for some direction. 🙂 If you travel from Leon to San Jacinto, after getting off the bus, walk to the other side of the street and go through the village (see the photo). There is a huge road sign Telica Rota – this is your starting point for hiking Telica Volcano.
Leaving from Leon you need to go from “Terminal de Buses” and ask for a bus to San Jacinto. If you say Telica they send you to the bus that takes you to the TOWN of Telica which is still 2 hrs away from the volcano starting point (thanks Fiona for an update ;)).
San Jacinto - starting and check point for Telica Volcano.
STARTING POINT FOR THE TREK: Hervideros San Jacinto Village with two big road signs Telica Rota and Bienvenidos San Jacinto is your starting point for hiking Telica Volcano.
You will go through a check point and pay a C70 entry fee for foreign visitors.
ON THE LEFT there will be another road sign with a terrain map. I advise taking a photo, you might need it later.
- Go through the village to cross a small bridge. After the bridge there are “hot springs” (boiling muddy holes), and you’ll feel a strong smell of sulfur. The whole scenery is just unbelievable.
- You’ll see children running and playing on the field covered with boiling holes and heavy sulfur smoke – a bit crazy 😉
- Pass boiling mud fields on your left and follow the path ahead.
You need to go through the barbed wire – yes this is your trail! Walking further, you’ll pass another volcano – Santa Clara on your left (photo below), also visible on the attached map.
Signs on the way to Telica Volcano.
Walking through the fields you should have Santa Clara on your left and Telica on your right side. There are hundreds of stories on how long it takes to get to the top of Telica Volcano. We are in a reasonable shape and we easily did it in one day, alone, in a disturbing heat.
The trick is to stick to the following signs – treasure signs:
- look out for a red ribbon – it’s tied on the trees – it means YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK,
- there is another trail leading to the top La Quimera – the ribbons along the trail are blue!
- follow the horse shit! THEY POINT OUT THE MAIN TRAIL 🙂
- pay attention to painted direction signs on rocks/stones,
- there are many arrow signs made from wooden sticks left on the path by local people or other tourists,
- you can always ask for the way locals on horses.
This might sound brutal but horse shit is the best sign you can find on the way to Telica summit. Horses are used to carry gear, water and camping equipment used for organized tourist groups, who are staying overnight near the volcano crater. If you don’t find any of the above signs double check if you are on the right trail. There are a few crossroads on the way, so there’s still a chance to take the wrong way.
Telica volcano tour.
There are many Telica Volcano tours with camping options at the top of the crater. The most popular is a sunset tour – we heard it’s an amazing experience watching the sunset over the volcanic landscape and floating lava on the bottom of the crater. However, spiders and scorpions are not unusual in this area 🙂 With no doubt, this all together is pure wilderness but highly adventurous.
Can you imagine at the time we reached the crater, there was NOBODY at the top except 3 local guys selling beer and coconuts 🙂 NO tourist, no hikers. Pretty unusuall nowadays haa?
Most recommended Telica Volcano Tour for sunset watching:
Camping in Telica Volcano.
On the way down we met an organized group hiking Telica Volcano for a sunset tour. The group was carrying lots of wood to set up a fireplace near the camping spot. The perspective of mountain sunset, full moon and lava watching over one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua sounds overwhelming.
How long is Telica Volcano hike?
Start the trip as early as you can – we got up at 6am to take a bus to San Jacinto. We reached the village for 8 a.m. (the village with two big road signs – Telica Rota – starting point). It took us 4-5 hours to hike 10 km to reach the top of the volcano. The trail is not too hard but the last 1,5 hour is quite steep. You will need 3 liters of water per person if you are hiking in the middle of dry season.
Don’t be surprised with lizards and snakes crossing your way – the beauty of hiking in nature. Remember – they are more scared than you are! The last 30% of the trail there are no crossings, just clear path leading to the top.
The last hiking section unveils the impressive active volcano crater. Telica view is simply breathtaking. I’ve hiked tens of volcanoes in different parts of the world but this volcanic smoking beast is extraordinary. The volcano smoke blankets the surrounding area.
It’s possible to walk around the crater. Most of the area is covered with sulphur ashes, the smoke is disturbing but it’s possible to hang around without a mask.
What to pack for hiking Telica Volcano?
- Clothing – depending on the season. We trekked in the middle of the summer and it was extremely hot.. so if I had a choise I would hike without any clothes 🙂 Bring hat and cover your body to avoid heat stroke.
- In rainy season it may get wet and windy – so you should definitely take a rain jacket and some extra layers (one dry set of clothes to change).
- Stay hydrated! We took 3 litres of water per person and it still wasn’t enough in summer season. Luckily we purchased some drinkns and fresh coconut at the top of the volcano from the local people.
- Good & comfortable hiking shoes is a MUST! Always test your shoes before taking long hikes. Even best brands don’t guarantee comfort. The last thing you want are blisters, especially in hot weather conditions.
- Sun lotion and sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Headlight – this is something I always have with me for any trip /even daytime hikes/.
- Definitely some food/lunch. You won’t be able to buy anything on the way up.
On the way back - sunset in San Jacinto!
Hiking Telica Volcano summary.
- THE LENGHT of the trail up which is 10 km one way = 20 km in total.
- CRATER DIAMETER: Telica crater measures approx. over 1 kilometer across.
- CRATER DEPTH: Telica crater depth is around 120 meters (about 400 feet)
- Telica Volcano elevation is 1061 m (3480 feet).
- It will take 8-9 hours both ways if hiking San Jacinto trail.
- It’s one of Nicaragua’s most active volcanoes (some say the most active volcano in the country).
- Always check the volcano activity and weather forecast before you go. There is a seismic station monitoring the volcano activity.
- it is possible to do Start at San Jacinto and finish at Santa Teresa.
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Hello, at what time were you up in the crater ? People pften recommend to go at night, but in the dark for a tourist alone ? I don t know…
Hey Gabriel. There are hiking groups to spend overnight at the crater, but they were accompanied by guides, carrying wood, tents, etc. This is a very long hike and you need to pay attention to signs to stay on the right path, personally, I wouldn’t be going at night myself. But on the other hand the active volcano must be looking magnificent at nighttime and a lot of people messaged me they accomplished the hike alone and it was a great experience.
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