Volcanoes you can visit

Mt. Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii (photo: iStockphoto)

Volcanoes as tourist destinations have never recovered from the PR disaster that was Dante’s Peak. But aside from being a malevolent threat to life and property, volcanoes are one of the world’s most interesting and least understood geological features. At these three destinations you can closely andrelatively safely observe real volcanoes in action.

Since it’s been about 4,000 years since the Thrihnukagigur volcano in Iceland was active, the Icelandic government recently opened it up for tours. Visiting Thrihnukagigur (pronounced three-nuke-a-gear) is an unprecedented opportunity to see inside a volcano and its magma chambers. After a short two-mile hike across a lava field, visitors travel 400 feet to the bottom of the surprisingly colorful main chamber. Thrihnukagigur is the only place in the world where you can actually go inside a volcano.

Unlike Thrihnukagigur, Pacaya is an active volcano located in Guatemala. Since 2006, an increase in Pacaya’s activity has led to the creation of lava rivers that occasionally flow down its slopes. If the volcano isn’t too active, you can climb or ride a horse fairly close to the opening and see the smoke, ash, rocks and sulfurous gas coming out. If you’re lucky, you might even get to roast marshmallows over one of the molten lava rivers.

Mount Vesuvius is probably the most famous volcano in history. Even if you’re not familiar with the name Mount Vesuvius, you’ve definitely heard of Pompeii, the city it destroyed in the first century. The volcano towers above present-day Naples, Italy and is still technically active, though it hasn’t erupted since 1944. The top of Mount Vesuvius offers a gorgeous view of Naples and its picturesque bay, but what really sets Mount Vesuvius apart from other fire-breathing peaks are the ancient remains of Pompeii its base. They’re an interesting historical artifact and proof that nothing matters more in real estate than location.

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