Hiking Acatenango volcano has to be one the best things to do when travelling in Guatemala. Acatenango is by far the most famous volcano hike in Guatemala. Located near Antigua, it stands at 3976m and is quite the hike! From the top you will get panoramic views of the valley and nearby towns.
The real drawcard of this hike however, is the incredible vantage point to view Fuego Volcano. Fuego is a highly active volcano providing breath-taking views of eruptions and lava flows. Before travelling to Guatemala, I didn’t even think it was possible to watch an active volcano erupt in real time. It really is such a magical and awesome thing to witness! Hiking Acatenango volcano will be a highlight of any travel itinerary.
When is the best time to hike Acatenango?
You can hike Acatenango volcano year round, but the time of year that you go will have some impact on the weather and visibility you will experience. The best time to visit is the dry season from November to April. Our guide said that his favourite month to do the hike was in January because it was generally the clearest weather. The downside of going in the dry season is that it gets really cold overnight.
Visibility can be a real problem for the hike, particularly in the rainy season. We climbed Acatenango volcano in October, towards the end of the rainy season. We were lucky and had relatively good weather for the duration of the hike. Although, we had some heavy cloud cover in the evening which obstructed our views of Fuego. Even during the rainy season, there were enough breaks in the cloud for us to have a clear view and look on in awe as Fuego erupted before us.
What to expect when hiking Acatenango volcano
Although there are a lot of different tour companies that offer the Acatenango volcano hike, the itineraries are all pretty similar. You are picked up from your hotel early, have breakfast and start the hike around 9am.
I actually found the first part of the hike to be one of the most difficult. You are dropped off on the side of the road and have to trudge uphill in what appears to be a mixture of volcanic gravel and soil for around an hour. But don’t despair! It isn’t all this difficult. And if you find this bit easy, you will have no problems with the rest of the hike.
The middle section of the hike passes through a cloud forest. While still consistently uphill, it feels a lot easier, possibly because the weather is lot cooler. The scenery is really beautiful so make sure you take plenty of breaks and enjoy where you are.
As you get closer to base camp, you will notice the vegetation get drier. The next part has a few steep sections so just take it slow and take as many breaks as you need. You will be rewarded with a flat section before you make the final climb to base camp.
We arrived at base camp at 1:30pm. Our guide said that most groups take 4-5 hours, but some take up to 7 hours. Just take your time. It’s not an easy hike, but if you are relatively healthy, you will make it.
Once you are at base camp, you will have a bit of time to relax and hopefully get to see the first of many eruptions!
The optional hike to Fuego volcano
Most tour groups will offer an additional hike to a summit closer to Fuego. This is optional and usually comes at an additional fee, but if you’re lucky, you can get incredible views of Fuego erupting. If you’re unlucky, like we were, you can do an extra 3 hour return hike and get nothing but wet clothes and a headache. The hike to Fuego was tough and the hike back to base camp was even tougher. However I am sure if you had good visibility, this would be entirely worth it!
If you’re undecided on the Fuego hike, talk to your guide about the weather, the visibility and the possibility of doing it in the morning when it is clearer. Unfortunately, it wasn’t worth it for us this time but if you are there during the dry season you have a much better chance at a truly breath-taking experience.
The alternative option is to just stay at base camp on Acatenango volcano and enjoy the view! As the night gets darker, you start to see the glow of the lava with each eruption. It is such a magical experience so try not to go to bed too early!
Day 2 of the Acatenango volcano hike
Your guide will wake you up at 3:45am to start the hike to the summit of the Acatenango volcano for sunrise. It’s a little under an hour to the top but the views from the top are out of this world. Early in the morning you are much more likely to have clear skies, even in the rainy season making this a highlight.
After sunrise, you will head back to base camp and have breakfast. Then you’ll begin the hike down. The way back down follows the same route as the day before. It can be pretty hard on the knees so this is where walking sticks are worth their weight in gold.
The hike back to the pickup area takes about 2-2.5 hours, depending on how many breaks you take.
Choosing a tour company for the hike
If you’ve done any research on the hiking Acatenango volcano you are probably already overwhelmed with the number of tour companies to choose from. The prices also vary substantially between tour companies which can make it a hard decision to make.
If you’re someone who likes to book ahead, this Acatenango volcano tour is bookable online and comes with amazing reviews.
If you look online you can tours for $300+. If you wait until you get to Antigua, you can find tours for Q250. These tours will vary wildly, so here a few things to consider when making your choice.
Is the accommodation in tents or cabins?
This is probably a more important consideration during rainy season. I love camping but we had some bad weather while on Acatenango and I was so grateful to be warm and dry inside my cabin.
Is entry to the park included in the tour price?
The cheapest tours that you find are unlikely to include the entry fee for the park. This is Q110 and can be paid in cash on arrival.
Are there any additional inclusions?
Most tour companies will cover all your meals for the duration of the hike. Some tours will include extras such as rain jackets, warm clothes or walking sticks, while with others you will have to pay extra to hire these items. It’s worth asking some questions about what is and isn’t included before deciding on a company to go with.
Is the company locally owned and run?
Travelling gives you a unique opportunity to support local communities. There are some big tour companies in Antigua that are foreign owned, which you can usually spot by their higher prices. Do a bit of research as there are some really great local companies that are worth supporting.
We booked our tour with V Hiking.
We had a cabin with a great view of Fuego volcano. Because we were a little unlucky with rain overnight on our hike, we loved that we could just sit inside our cabin with the door open. We were still able to see Volcan de Fuego while all rugged up and warm in our sleeping bags. Our guide was great and the company is owned by a lovely local family that were so helpful and friendly.
What to bring
It’s a difficult hike to pack for because there is a good chance you will have a range of weather along the climb. It’s also worth nothing that camping at the top can get VERY cold. Layers are essential. For clothes, I brought the following:
- Comfortable long pants
- 2 T-shirts – one to wear on day 2
- Hiking boots
- Two pairs of socks – one warm pair to change into in the evening
- Thermal top
- Down jacket
- Waterproof windbreaker
- Beanie
- Gloves
Some tour companies will provide warm clothing in the tour price. Others will have the option to rent some if you need to so make sure you ask before you book.
Other items to pack include:
- Head torch
- Toiletries
- Phone/camera and power bank
- Panadol – It’s not uncommon for people to get a slight headache at the top from the altitude, so best to be prepared
- Other medications
- Sunscreen
- Spare plastic bags – there’s a decent chance you will get some rain so thinking about how you will keep your things dry
- At least 3L of water
- Snacks
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitiser
- Cash – there are a few stops on the way up that you can buy a cold drink. Cash only.
- Backpack that will fit everything in – I only had my small day pack and managed to squeeze everything in. Most tour companies recommend a 35-45L bag if you have one.
Tips for hiking Acatenango volcano
- Hire or bring walking sticks. I’d never used them before this hike, but there are some very steep inclines and declines and slippery terrain. They’re life savers.
- Take your time. The guides are used to people taking breaks and you will enjoy the hike so much more if you go at a pace you are comfortable with.
- Bring cash for extra drinks. There are some small shops on the way up that sell cold drinks. Taking a break with a Gatorade is a game changer.
- Don’t risk getting your getting your only warm clothes wet. It gets really cold up there. Staying warm and dry is super important.
- If you have the option, wear clothes that are easy to wash. They will get smoky from sitting around the fire at night and it’s hard to wash a down jacket well while travelling.
- Take photos when you get the chance! You’re hiking a volcano in Guatemala, you never know when the weather will change and you could miss your opportunity.
- Consider doing the hike over 2 nights. Not all tour companies will offer this, but it is worth asking if there is a 2 night option. If I return to Acatenango, this is what I would do. That way you have a full day at base camp to relax, watch Fuego, do the optional Fuego hike etc. The only thing I wish was different about our tour was that we had more time to just sit and admire where we were and take in how special it all was.
Is it all worth it?
My answer to this is a resounding yes! Hiking Acatenango volcano is difficult, but it is one of the best things to do in Central America. An hour into the hike I thought that I had made a huge mistake and was doubting if I would be able to make it to the top. Now that it’s all done, I’m already mentally planning the next time I can do it. It’s tough, but its doable for most people and worth every second of the struggle!
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