Tourists get a pizza volcano - 19th May 2021

Pacaya is an active volcano close to Guatemala City. It’s producing lava, which has travelled more than 2,300 metres. The lava is slowly covering farms nearby.

The farmer’s problem has become a great opportunity for one man. David Garcia works as an accountant. Now he’s also become a chef. He makes pizza on the volcano's lava.

David Garcia: "I put the pizza together one day, I brought it to the volcano and I put it in a hot cave that was approximately 800 degrees and it came out in 14 minutes. So when I tasted the flavour of the pizza cooked with the volcanic heat, I said, ‘This is a good idea. I can start offering a new tourist attraction here in the volcano that is unique’.”

Garcia’s workplace isn’t the safest. Pacaya is producing clouds of hot ash. During March, these were blown 25 kilometres to Guatemala City and closed its airport.

The volcano is still active but less dangerous. Now tourists are visiting the area again, Garcia’s back at work. He puts on safety clothing to collect his special pizza pans.

David Garcia: "But in a river [of lava] I have to make sure that the pizza doesn't drift away, that it doesn't have a high temperature, so it was difficult for me to learn the technique here so as not to take out the burnt pizza. And it is also a risk to be on the shore because it is at a high temperature of 1,500 – 2,000 degrees, so I have to watch the wind direction so it doesn't affect me."

Garcia has become a social media celebrity. Many visitors are excited to see his volcanic kitchen. They can’t wait to try this lava-flavoured pizza.