Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Volcan Acatenango
Magnificent views of an active volcano from your tent, volcanic explosions every twenty minutes, a lush cloud forest, volcano-sprawled landscapes, a magical sunset and an epic sunrise; that’s what awaits you on the Volcan Acatenango hike; one of the best things to do in Guatemala and a true bucketlist experience.
Hiking Volcan Acatenango, also widely known as Acatenango Volcano, is without a doubt one of the most incredible things to do in Guatemala for adventure travellers.
Volcan Acatenango rewards hikers with unparalleled views of the smoke, lava and ash spewing from its highly active neighbour Volcan Fuego which has been erupting continuously since the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Guatemala 500 years ago.
The aptly named Fuego, meaning fire, has constant low-level eruptions which are best viewed from the side of Acatenango less than 2 kilometres away. You may have heard about Volcan Fuego from its devastating eruption in June 2018, which sadly claimed more than 150 lives.
As well as the unique vantage point of Volcan Fuego, hiking Acatenango Volcano provides panoramic vistas of the volcano-sprawled region; this experience truly provides some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes I’ve ever seen!
Standing magnificently at 3,976 metres tall, Acatenango Volcano is Guatemala’s second-highest peak and Central America’s third-highest volcano.
While this overnight Volcan Acatenango hike is no easy feat, it’s one of the best things to do in Guatemala and a real bucketlist experience! Just imagine camping next to an active volcano; it’s sure to be one of the most epic, if not THE most epic, place to sleep!
In this guide to hiking Volcan Acatenango, I’ll share the hiking route, and logistics including where to stay, where to book tours, the best time to hike and more.
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Hiking Volcan Acatenango
The first section of the Volcan Acatenango hike is probably one of the hardest. The loose scree will make you feel like you’re taking three steps forward and two back. Your body will also still be acclimatising. Keep going, the second section is a lot easier!
Our Top Tip: spend a few days in Antigua before hiking to allow your body to acclimatise. A few people in our group hiked as soon as they arrived and they really suffered.
After about an hour and a half, the path opens up into farmland. Take a break here to get your breath back and contemplate why you’ve put yourself through this (just kidding – it’s worth it I promise!)
From here, the trail ascends into a lush cloud forest. This section is incredibly scenic with huge green trees shading you from the sun. The path is still pretty steep but you can enjoy the scenery and actually have a conversation.
After a couple of hours, you’ll reach the tree line and the cloud forest gives way to a high alpine forest. This is a great spot for lunch as you’re out in the open and can admire the volcano-laden and mountainous surroundings.
Finally, you’ll enter the volcanic zone where the trail turns to loose, crushed rocks and the landscape becomes barren. You’ll definitely feel like you’re now on a volcano. Here, the path flattens out while you make your way to the other side of Acatenango Volcano.
Suddenly, Fuego comes into view.
Puffing massive amounts of smoke out of the crater, your aches and pains will disappear and you’ll be left with the adrenaline and joy needed for the last steep push to base camp.
Volcan Acatenango Base Camp
You’ll arrive at base camp at about 4pm; roughly five and a half hours from the trailhead with lots of breaks.
Take a minute and allow for the magnitude of where you are to sink in.
From the campsite, you can hear and feel Volcan Fuego’s eruptions. Its volcanic activity can change a lot day by day. We were very lucky, we were treated to constant eruptions approximately every twenty minutes.
You’ll have a couple of hours before sunset and then the temperature will drop drastically. We bundled up and lit a fire – which I’m sure most of the tour groups do.
Sunset was unlike anything I’d ever seen!
The colours against the volcanic backdrops were nothing short of magical; nothing can put it into words. You couldn’t help but sit silently and smile to yourself and appreciate Mother Nature at times like this.
Your dinner will be served around the campfire and you may also enjoy passing around a bottle of rum and toasting marshmallows (this was all brought up by our guide).
As darkness descended, you’ll no longer see the smoke billowing from Volcan Fuego. Hopefully, however, you’ll be able to see the lava.
The earth rumbles, followed by a loud bang which is immediately followed by lava exploding into the sky like an orange firework and trickling down the volcano. (Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera and my phone wasn’t able to capture this. It did mean I could be truly present in the moment though.)
You’ll be up at about 3:45am to begin your ascent to the summit so try and get an early night. Sleep was near impossible for me with the ongoing eruptions but I couldn’t help but admire the magic.
The Final Ascent of Volcan Acatenango
Your ascent to the summit will take about an hour and honestly, it’s brutal!
Steep loose scree making you feel for every step you take, you’ll also slide down. Keeping your balance is a struggle. The altitude gets to everyone and you’ll need a break every few minutes to catch your breath. Just to top it off, you’re in complete darkness and it’s freezing cold.
Our Top Tip: bring a head torch. You’ll need your hands to climb and steady yourself.
Let the constant eruptions next to you keep you going. You’ll be at the summit in no time and sunrise over your surroundings will be worth it.
Make sure you bring layers and gloves with you for sunrise. You’ll work up a sweat navigating the incline of scree, however, waiting for the sun at the top is unbelievably cold!
The sun will start to come up and your surroundings will slowly reveal themselves and the view before you will no doubt leave you speechless.
Everything you’ve put yourself through is worth it.
Looking out across my surroundings at the silhouettes of a string of other volcanoes in the distance was exhilarating!
As it gets lighter, you can start to make out Antigua, Guatemala City, even more volcanoes, lakes and as far out as the coast. All the while, Fuego spews out eruptions of ash, lava and smoke. It’s mesmerising. I’d never felt so small.
Descending Volcan Acatenango
You’ll take in the views for about half an hour then make your way back to camp for breakfast. This proves to be a hell of a lot more fun than on the way up!
There’s no way to walk down slowly, you have to embrace the run/ski/fall approach and laugh when you wipe out, which you inevitably will do.
It should take about 15 minutes to get back to camp which seems ridiculous given the hour on the way up.
The sun will be up when you’re back at camp and the heat of the day will be starting. Enjoy your final meal facing the eruptions of Volcan Fuego then start your descent.
The descent will only take about two and a half hours. It’s a killer on the knees so make sure you bring knee support if you suffer on the downhill.
On the last section of loose scree before the start of the trail, it’s easier to give into gravity and again take the run/ski/fall approach as it’s quite impossible to walk.
And that’s it – the Acatenango Volcano hike is completed! Safe to say it’s incredibly challenging, especially with the altitude and heat but it’s one of the most magnificent and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. It’s 100% one of the absolute best things in Guatemala so don’t miss it!
To Know Before Hiking Volcan Acatenango
Where to stay to hike Acatenango Volcano
The best place to stay to hike Volcan Acatenango is Antigua; a quaint town surrounded by four volcanoes and known for its Spanish colonial buildings and delicious food.
We’d recommend spending a couple of days in Antigua before the hike to acclimatise and also enjoy the town as there are many fantastic things to do.
One of the best things to do in Antigua is to hike to Cerro de la Cruz to enjoy the sweeping views over the town and the imposing Volcan Agua towering in the distance.
Booking an Acatenango Volcano Hike
There are many options when it comes to booking an Acatenango Volcano hike it may seem quite daunting. Prices currently range from around $38 up to around $190 per person depending on various factors including:
- The number of guides you get per group (the more you pay, the smaller your group)
- The amount and quality of the food you get
- How many people you’ll share a tent with
- The equipment the guides provide you with – bags, sleeping bags, coats, gloves etc and their quality
I did this hike when I was travelling on a serious budget so the food wasn’t great although I was provided with a coat, gloves and a big backpack to carry everything. My sleeping bag was already in my tent which was great – sometimes you have to carry them.
You can book a tour on arrival in Antigua at your accommodation or tour office. However, if you’d like to have everything booked, paid for and organised before you travel for peace of mind then book a tour through Get Your Guide.
Get Your Guide has a variety of Volcan Acatenango hikes varying in food quality and group size etc. They include round-trip transportation from Antigua and a professional and knowledgeable guide.
The best time of year to hike Volcan Acatenango
During the rainy season (May – October), you have the least chance of seeing Fuego at its most active. There’s also the possibility of tours being cancelled.
January and February provide the highest chances of seeing lava trickling down the sides of Volcan Fuego.
What to take
What you’ll need to take on your Volcan Acatenango hike slightly depends on your company so find out exactly what they provide before you book. You’ll need:
- Warm clothes – it’s unbelievably cold once the sun sets and the tents and sleeping bags aren’t well insulated. You’ll also need them for the summit
- Gloves – you’ll need to use your hands on the scramble up to the summit or to hold your stick so your hands will be out
- Headtorch – again you’ll be using your hands to scramble or hold the stick so bring a headtorch
- Rucksack – you’ll have to carry your warm clothes, food, water, and maybe a sleeping bag (depending on the tour company) so you’ll need a big bag. Check with your tour company if they provide this – ours did
- Hiking shoes – trainers are possible, however, the terrain is very uneven and you’ll need something sturdy for the scree
- At least 4 litres of water
- Plenty of food – the guides should provide you with lunch, dinner and breakfast but you’ll need snacks. Meals provided may also not be very big
- Altitude sickness tablets if needed
- A walking stick – these can be rented from the trailhead
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Portable charger – you’ll be so annoyed if your camera/phone runs out of battery
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries and toilet paper – toilets are incredibly basic and obviously there are no washing facilities
Any last wisdom?
- Don’t think about how many people have slept in the tent/sleeping bag before you or the quality of equipment, food etc; it’s not worth it. Just enjoy the experience and some of Mother Nature’s finest work
- Rent a walking stick from one of the locals at the trailhead – you’ll be super thankful for this I promise!!
- Check exactly what the tour offers in terms of meals and equipment before you book it and make sure you’re happy There are shops in Antigua where you can buy warm clothes if needed
- Take more food and water than you’re provided with
- There’s an entrance fee to the Acatenango Park of Q50 ($6) – check if this is included in your tour price
- It’s possible to do this hike without a guide if you have the correct equipment and substantial hiking experience
- Volcan Fuego’s eruptions aren’t guaranteed – volcanic activity varies day-by-day so you won’t always see the lava. It may also be cloudy or foggy which will hamper your view
- As this is one of the best things to do in Guatemala, there are a lot of tour groups hiking Acatenango Volcano at the same time so be prepared for crowds. Timings may also differ slightly depending on how far the base camp is from the summit/trailhead.
I hope this guide to hiking Volcan Acatenango has been helpful and inspiring. If you’re up for an adventure you’ll absolutely have the experience of a lifetime and tick off one of the best things to do in Guatemala. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment or contact us.
For another epic volcano hike, check out our ultimate guide to Bali.