What is the highest mountain in Central America?

The highest mountain in Central America is Volcán Tajumulco. This Guatemalan stratovolcano rises to 4,203 metres in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, making it both the highest point in Guatemala and the highest summit in the Central American region.

Tajumulco has two summits, one of which contains a crater roughly 50 metres wide. It is built from andesitic and dacitic lava, volcanic rocks produced by the region’s active subduction-related volcanic arc. Although historical reports mention eruptions during the 18th and early 19th centuries, the volcano’s actual eruptive history remains uncertain and its last eruption is not securely established.

The mountain stands near the town of San Marcos, about 14 kilometres away. Climbers commonly approach it from the hamlet of Tuichán, with the ascent taking roughly five hours under suitable conditions. Cloud and mist can obscure views, particularly from April through September.

A frequent mistake is choosing Volcán Acatenango or Volcán Santa María, both famous Guatemalan volcanoes. They are prominent and visually dramatic, but neither reaches Tajumulco’s elevation. Tajumulco’s distinction is regional, not merely national.