The plant communities of the alpine zones of the volcanoes Tajumulco, Tacaná and Acatenango, i.e. the vegetation above the upper timberline of the subalpine Pinus hartwegii forest were for the first time studied phytosociologically. Two communities were distinguished and described, namely (1) Luzula racemosa-Arenaria bryoides and (2) Lupinus montanus-Calamagrostis vulcanica. Indirect ordination (DCA) of the phytosociological data were used to ponder affinity among plant communities. DCA ordination helped further to elucidate soil moisture and disturbance as likely environmental factors governing the distribution of these alpine plant communities.