Volcano · Guatemala
Santa María
Its Santiaguito lava domes have been growing since 1922.
Status right now
No current reports
Santa María is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 4 Nov 2026, 22:40 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Guatemala
- Region
- Central America
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 3,745 m (12,287 ft)
- Coordinates
- 14.757° N, 91.552° W
- Smithsonian number
- 342030
What kind of volcano is it?
Santa María is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul 1990 | 3 | 4 | – |
| 2 Sept 1978 | 3 | 1 | – |
| 2 Nov 1929 | 3 | 200 | – |
| 25 Oct 1902 | 6 | 10,000 | – |
4 significant eruptions near Santa María in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- FuegoGuatemala · 79 km
- PacayaGuatemala · 111 km
- MasayaNicaragua · 659 km
- PopocatépetlMexico · 889 km
- PoásCosta Rica · 942 km
- ColimaMexico · 1,387 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.