Hiking Acatenango Volcano: Everything You Need To Know

Guatemala is located on the โ€˜Ring of Fire,โ€™ a region along the Pacific Ocean rim where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Because of the countryโ€™s location along this ring of fire, Guatemala is home to several active and dormant volcanoes. Guatemala’s most famous active volcano is Fuego Volcano (โ€˜Volcรกn Fuego). Fuego is ALWAYS erupting, so hiking up another dormant volcano, Acatenango Volcano, is a popular overnight hike to view Fuego erupting throughout the night. In fact, hiking up Acatenango Volcano is one of the best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala.

In this article, you will learn everything about what is needed to hike Acatenango volcano. We learned so much during the entire process, both the hike AND planning before, and we want to detail everything we learned.

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Hiking Acatenango – FAQ

Volcan Fuego - Hiking To Acatenango Base Camp
The view of Fuego Volcano from Acatenango Volcano basecamp

How Long Does It Take To Hike Acatenango Volcano?

The time it takes to hike up Acatenango volcano depends entirely on your abilities. But most people will be able to reach Acatenangoโ€™s basecamp area in 4-5 hours from the trailhead.

Is Volcano Acatenango Active?

No, Acatenango volcano is a dormant and safe volcano to climb. Every day, hundreds of hikers are hiking and summiting Acatenango. But it is Acatenangoโ€™s sister, Fuego Volcano, that is still very active and continuously erupting.

When Did Acatenango Last Eruption?

Acatenango last erupted in 1928 and has been dormant since. But Acatenangoโ€™s neighbor volcano, Fuego, is continuously erupting. The last major eruption was in 2018, killing hundreds of people who lived in the villages below.

What Is the Best Time To Hike Acatenango?

In Antigua, there is a 6-month dry season from November to April. After April, the rainy season arrives from May to October.

Because of the climate, the best time to hike is during Antiguaโ€™s dry season. But the climate on Acatenango can differ greatly from down in Antigua, and there are no guarantees of great climbing weather no matter when you go.

For the best chance to hike Acatenango in great weather, you can refer to this handy Acatenango Weather Forecast website. But even tour guides in Antigua will admit that the weather in Acatenango is difficult to predict.

Is It Safe To Hike Acatenango Volcano?

Though there is always a chance of a major eruption from Fuego Volcano, the chance is small, and hundreds of hikers are hiking through Acatenango and Fuego daily.

However, there have been reports of theft at campsites when hikers leave their tents unattended to hike Acatenangoโ€™s summit. This is one of the major reasons we suggest going with a tour group instead of hiking Acatenango yourself. But we have also heard of many people hiking Acatenango safely by themselves.

How Much Does It Cost To Hike Acatenango

Entrance Fee: 50Q (~$6 US)
Camping Fee*: 60Q (~7)
Tour Guide Cost: 250-700Q ($33-$90)
Optional Hike To Fuego: ~200Q ($26)

*The camping fee is not always collected at base camp. Sometimes, the locals come and ask for payment. Sometimes they donโ€™t. You are more likely to have to pay this camping fee on the weekend than during weekdays.

What Does Hiking Overnight to Acatenango Volcano Involve?

โ€œHiking Acatenangoโ€ usually involves three different sections. The first section is mandatory; the next two sections are optional.

1. Hiking to Acatenango Basecamp

All overnight hikes to Acatenango involve a 4-5 hour hike to Acatenangoโ€™s base camp. This is the camping zone where all tours and individual campers set up their tents. In this camping zone, virtually all sites have a view of Fuego Volcano. So, at night, you can camp and see Fuego bursting lava rocks all night long.

2. Hiking to Acatenango Summit

Once at the Acatenango basecamp, you may have the option to hike to the summit of Acatenango for sunset and/or sunrise. It is about a 1.5-hour hike from the base camp. And if the weather is good, you can see several lakes (including Lake Atitlรกn), several far-off volcanos, and even Guatemalaโ€™s Pacific coast.

3. Hiking to Fuego Volcano

Fuego volcano erupting at sunset near Acatenango volcano
Fuego volcano erupting at sunset from Acatenango basecamp

Onward hiking to Fuego Volcano is popular once you reach Acatenangoโ€™s base camp. This is a 4-hour round trip strenuous hike, allowing you to get up close and personal to Fuego volcano as it erupts. You get so close to Fuego that you can feel the earth shake below you during many of the larger eruptions

Hiking Acatenango: Day Trip vs Overnight Hike

The vast majority of travelers hiking Acatenango do so as an overnight hike. This allows you to witness Fuego volcano erupting at night. This is special because you can only see the red color lava stones at night. During the day, you wonโ€™t see any red color on Fuego.

Hiking Acatenango as a day trip is only for people on a time crunch, tight budget, or dislike camping.

If you are interested in hiking Acatenango, and your budget allows, we highly recommend visiting Acatenango overnight and camping at basecamp.

Can You Hike Acatenango Without a Tour Guide?

Yes, hiking Acatenango alone without a tour guide is absolutely possible. First, you must decide whether to hike Acatenango as a day or overnight hike.

Acatenango Day Hike

A โ€˜chicken busโ€™ stop is at the Acatenango trailhead. All the official tour groups stop at this same stop. Find the right bus that passes through Acatenango and get off at the stop. The trail to the summit of Acatenango is straightforward and well-worn. But using the offline Maps.me app can help you find the right path. The hike from the trailhead to the summit should take 6-8 hours.

Acatenango Overnight Hike

To do the Acatenango overnight hike without a guide, you will need a tent, a winter sleeping bag (it can feel -5 to -15 degrees C after windchill), food, and 4-5 liters of water. Once you get to the camping zone, you will see that most of the flat areas are reserved for tour groups. Many of these sites have permanent camping structures already set up. But walk enough around the camping zone, and you will see several empty spots to pitch your tent. If you are an experienced hiker and tent camper, doing the Acatenango overnight hike is very possible.

Acatenango Tour โ€“ Choosing the Right Tour Company

Though it is possible to hike Acatenango without a guide for experienced campers, most visitors choose to go with a tour company. However, choosing the right Acatenango tour is tricky and confusing. But we learned a lot about the process.

In this section, we break down everything you need to know about how to choose the right Acatenango tour company for you.

Benefits of Going With a Tour to Acatenango Volcano

Although you pay more money to hike the same volcano and have the same views, going with a tour company offers several key benefits:

  1. Tent & Sleeping Gear | Many reputable tour companies will already have their campsite set up, so you donโ€™t need to carry your tent and sleeping bag to Acatenango base camp.
  2. Clothing & Hiking Gear | If you donโ€™t have the proper cold-weather clothing and hiking gear, itโ€™s no problem. Tour companies often provide complimentary essential gear or for a small additional fee.
  3. Food and Cooking | All the necessary meals will be bought and prepared for you. You may have to carry your own food, but they will buy it for you and prepare your hot meals at the campsite.
  4. Convenient Transportation | Comfortable shuttle buses are provided from Antigua to the trailhead and back to Antigua.
  5. Social Atmosphere | Depending on the day you go, your hiking group might be anywhere from 5 to 20 people. Weโ€™ve found that bigger groups arenโ€™t necessarily bad, allowing you to socialize and bond with others over the hiking experience.
  6. Support Local Economy | Tour groups almost always hire ONLY locals who grew up in the surrounding villages. They will be your tour guides, your driver, and porters. By choosing a tour company, you are helping to support these people who live on the land you are hiking through.

The Confusion When Choosing the โ€˜Bestโ€™ Acatenango Tour Company

Many tour companies in Antigua want to take you to Acatenango. And they all claim that they are โ€˜the best.โ€™ The best views, the best food, the best social atmosphere, and only supporting local economies.

So it can be confusing as to which tour company is the best for you.

In reality, the experience of hiking Acatenango is roughly 90% the same, no matter which tour company you choose. You will be hiking the same trail and witnessing the same gorgeous eruptions of Fuego Volcano.

But the last 10% can really make or break your experience. We discuss what you should look out for when visiting the different Acatenango tour companies in Antigua.

What To Look For When Choosing the Best Acatenango Guide

  1. Sleeping Arrangement | Some tour companies provide tents to sleep in. Other companies provide proper shelters. Some companies provide private tents and shelters. With other tours, you must squeeze into tents and shelters with other hikers. We were provided sturdy A-frame sheet metal shelters on our tour that fit eight people. These shelters really helped protect us against the wind and rain, and we preferred these instead of sleeping in tents. You should ask the agency what their sleeping arrangement is.
  2. Food Quality | Some tour groups provide cheap meals (think rice & unseasoned boiled vegetables) to save money. Other tour companies are more generous and provide more nutritious hiking food (chicken and lentils). Our tour provided vegan meals, but each of our meals was high quality and calorie-dense. We were never hungry during our time on Acatenango. Ask each tour agency for pictures of the meals they provide to their clients.
  3. Exact Location of Campsite For View of Fuego | Even though you are hiking up Acatenango, the real sight is Fuego Volcano, which erupts red lava stones at night. And though all campsites will have views of Fuego, some have less obstructed and better viewing angles of Fuego volcano. Ask each of the tour agencies for pictures of Fuego from their campsites.
  4. Additional Side Hikes Offered? | All tour groups will get you to Acatenangoโ€™s base camp. But not all tours will offer side hikes to Fuego Volcano or Acatenangoโ€™s summit for sunset. We discuss these side hikes further below in this article, but we think they are worth it! Itโ€™s good to ask the tour agencies if they provide these side hikes.
  5. Group Size | Some cheaper tours will try to pack as many people as possible into each group. Weโ€™ve heard of group sizes as large as 40. Other agencies will try to limit their group sizes to 10 or 15. Although you wonโ€™t know the exact number of people in your group until you show up the morning of the hike, itโ€™s good to ask each agency their maximum group size.

So, with the above five things to consider when choosing an Acatenango tour group, which tour groups do we recommend? Below, we discuss four different Acatenango tour groups and list their advantages and disadvantages.

Disclaimer: We were not paid or offered anything in return for the below recommendations. What we write below is either from our first-hand experience, or those of our friends who took other tours.

Top 4 Acatenango Tour Companies

Wicho & Charlieโ€™s – Acatenango Tour

Tent owned by Wicho and Charlie's tour company on Acatenango volcano

We went with Wicho & Charlieโ€™s for our overnight Acatenango hike and had an amazing experience. We would recommend this tour group without hesitation.

Pros:
  • Delicious meals (all meals are vegan, but high quality and nutrient-dense)
  • English-speaking guides who love their job
  • Sleeping in sturdy A-frame, sheet metal shelters. High-quality sleeping bags.
  • Optional hikes to Fuego and Acatenangoโ€™s summit for sunset.
  • Sheltered dining room area.
Cons:
  • A little pricier than most other tour companies. We paid 450Q per person.
  • We had great views of Fuego from our campsite, but we think other campsites have better angles.
  • For the price of the tour, we were disappointed to see that they rent 40-liter backpacks for 50Q. We think backpacks should be included if you need them.

For more information on our Wicho & Charlieโ€™s experience, skip down to our Hiking Itinerary section.

CA Travelers – Acatenango Tour

We visited the CA Travels tour agency and came away impressed. We had close friends who chose CA Travels and enjoyed their tour experience.

Pros:
  • Delicious meals: BBQ chicken & rice for lunch, spaghetti bolognese for dinner. They even have gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.
  • Tents are already set up at the campsite. They are 3-person tents but are for two people. So if you go as a couple, you get a private tent.
  • Good quality sleeping bags
  • Great value. Our friends paid 350Q per person.
Cons:
  • No optional side hikes to Fuego Volcano or Acatenango Summit for sunset.
  • Sleeping in tents instead of sturdier shelters.

OX Expeditions

This is the premier Acatenango tour agency in Antigua. OX Expeditions is the oldest company to provide tours to Acatenango and was started by foreign trekking enthusiasts. They are the most expensive tour group but always have the most up-to-date gear.

Pros:
  • Great guide service
  • Optional hikes included to Fuego Volcano
  • Great quality equipment
  • Good viewing angle of Fuego Volcano at the campsite.
Cons:
  • The most expensive tour group is $89 US per personโ€”questionable value for money.
  • You must carry all your tent and camping equipment to the base camp. While hiking down, we saw the OX Expedition group carrying their camping gear up the volcano. Unless youโ€™re seeking an โ€˜authenticโ€™ trekking experience, why?!

Tropicana Tours

Tropicana Tours are tied to Tropicana Hostel in Antigua. This should already tell you what kind of tours they provide.

Pros:
  • Cheapest โ€˜good-qualityโ€™ tour. 300Q per person.
  • The best views of Fuego Volcano from the campsite.
  • Social atmosphere with the hostel crowd.
Cons:
  • Travelers are squeezed into tents
  • No optional side-hike to Fuego Volcano
  • Large group (if large groups arenโ€™t your thing)
  • No hiking gear is included for free. Everything, from hats to gloves to sweaters to hiking shoes, is rented for a price.

Which Acatenango Tour We Chose

We chose to go with the popular tour company Wicho & Charlies. We felt that for the price we paid (450Q per person), we got great value for our experience.

Sleeping | A slept in a group A-frame, sheet metal shelter that fit a people. A 6โ€ air mattress was provided, and a high-quality sleeping bag and pillow. Weโ€™ve heard of others being too cold to sleep when in their tents, but we were never cold all night long.

Food | All our food was vegan, and as meat eaters, we thought the food was great! The food was delicious, well-prepared, and nutrient-dense. We were also given a snack pack filled with fruits, peanuts, and granola bars. We were never hungry at any point during our hike.

Guides | All our local guides could speak great English and really loved interacting with all the hikers in our group. They knew the terrain and shared some of that knowledge during the hike. They all really seemed to love their work and took pride in the quality of their service.

Optional Hike To Fuego Volcano | For 200Q per person more, we were given the option of hiking with a guide to Fuego Volcano. That hike was tough! But we got incredibly close to Fuego right at sunset. Absolutely worth the trek if you want to get up close and personal to Fuego Volcano.

Hiking Acatenango โ€“ Our Hiking Itinerary

Day 1: Morning

Wicho & Charlieโ€™s Acatenango tour office
Morning meeting at Wicho & Charlie’s Acatenango tour office in Antigua

On the day of our departure for Acatenango, we met at the Wicho & Charlieโ€™s office in Antigua, Guatemala, at 8 am. Once there, we were briefed about our overnight hike to Acatenango and were advised what clothes to bring and how much water to put in our backpacks.

The most basic clothes, such as jackets, fleece sweaters, hats, gloves, and headlamps, were free to rent. Other less essential items, like trekking poles, hiking boots, and socks, could be rented for a fee. Backpacks were also available for rent, which we thought should be provided for free.

Group photo on bus to Acatenango Volcano
Group tour selfie on the bus to Acatenango!

Our shuttle bus then picked us up at 9:30 AM, and it was an hour to get to the Acatenango trailhead.

Once we alighted our shuttle, we were introduced to our three trail guides and promptly began the hike at 10:45 am.

During the first hour, we hiked through steep farmland at the volcanoโ€™s base. Many farmers here use nutrient-rich volcanic soil to grow everything from corn to beans to avocados.

It wasnโ€™t until the second hour of our hike that we entered the Acatenango Regional Park and had to pay our entrance fee of 50Q (~$6 US). Once we were in the park, we were immediately surrounded by a lush tropical forest. It was a drastic landscape change from the farmland we were hiking earlier.

Within 2 hours of starting our hike, we finally sat in a small clearing to eat lunch. At Wicho & Charlieโ€™s, lunch was a bowl of mixed rice and beans with artificially minced meat (made from dehydrated soy) and guacamole. It might not look like much in the photo, but it was delicious!

Day 1: Afternoon โ€“ Continuing to Acatenango Basecamp

Hiking up to Acatenango basecamp
Almost there! Hiking to Acatenango basecamp

After lunch, we continued to hike through the forest. Eventually, the trees became less dense as we climbed higher and higher in altitude. But we made plenty of rest breaks along the way, roughly every 20-30 minutes.

By 3:30 pm, we arrived at basecamp and got our sleeping arrangements sorted out. At Wicho & Charlieโ€™s, they have chairs already set up by a campfire so you can rest your feet while looking over at Fuego Volcano.

By 4:15 pm, those who wanted to hike over to Fuego Volcano had to depart now so that we could arrive by sunset. It was an additional 200Q (~$26 US) per person and an arduously steep hike, but absolutely worth the effort.

Day 1: Evening โ€“ Sunset Hike to Fuego Volcano

Couple standing in front of Fuego Volcano at sunset
Sunset at Fuego volcano

We arrived at the viewing point ridge close to Fuego just before sunset at 6:15 pm. From this point, we could see both the sunset to the west and Fuego right next to us! It was cold and windy on the ridge, and we stayed for about an hour snapping pictures of Fuego until it was time to leave.

Wicho & Charlies Acatenango Tour Dinner
Lentil curry dinner with Wicho & Charlie’s

It was a long 2-hour hike back to base camp, and we arrived just after 9 pm. Gratefully, a hot meal of lentil curry over rice awaited us. After dinner, we enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate and went to sleep. We were extremely grateful for the sturdy A-frame shelters, which did a great job protecting us from the wind and rain that night.

Day 2: Morning โ€“ Sunrise at Acatenango Volcano

We woke up just before 4 AM with the intention to climb up to Acatenangoโ€™s summit for sunrise. The view of Fuego Volcano was clear, but because of the thick cloud cover just below Fuego, our guide admitted that we wouldnโ€™t get the far-reaching views of Guatemala today.

So, we opted to skip the sunrise hike and take more nighttime photos of Fuego just before the sun came up. There is a great sunrise viewpoint just three minutes from our base camp, where we went to watch the sun rise.

Breakfast at Wicho & Charlie's Acatenango Basecamp
Breakfast at Wicho & Charlie’s Acatenango basecamp tent

After sunrise, we ate our breakfast of instant oatmeal and more hot chocolate.

By 7:45 AM, we began hiking down. It only took about 2.5 hours to get back to the trailhead, and that is where we met our shuttle bus to take us back to Antigua.

Top Tips for Hiking Acatenango Volcano

Top Tips For Hiking Acatenango Volcano
Standing in front of Fuego volcano after sunrise

1. Bring Hiking Poles for Hiking Acatenango

The path up to Acatenangoโ€™s base camp is steep and sandy. So, having a pair of hiking poles can really help you. If you donโ€™t have hiking poles, or the tour company doesnโ€™t provide/rent them, you can rent fair-quality wood sticks for 5Q each. These hiking poles/sticks are even more invaluable if you plan to hike to Fuego Volcano and/or to Acatenangoโ€™s summit. Those paths are extremely steep and sandy.

2. Check the Weather App Before Booking a Tour Date

Check the Acatenango Weather before finalizing and booking your tour date. Many tours are non-refundable, and you will hike rain or shine. On this weather website, look for clear nights, clear mornings, low wind, and NO RAIN.

However, as with all weather websites, take these predictions with caution. The weather always changes and is unpredictable, especially in the mountains.

3. Donโ€™t Be Afraid of Larger Groups

In general, we like to visit places with fewer tourists, outside peak visitor hours, or, if we have to join a group, join a smaller, more private group. The size of our Wicho & Charlieโ€™s group to Acatenango was 15. Originally, we would have shied away from a group that size, but it turns out we really enjoyed meeting and talking with everyone in our group. It was fascinating to meet others from different countries and cultures and experience the same arduous hike together.

4. Avoid the Weekends, Especially Saturday, if Possible

Having mentioned in Tip #3 not to fret about being part of a larger group, we really advise not hiking up Acatenango on the weekends, especially on Saturdays. Tour sizes that go on the weekends can be massive, with potentially over 1,000 hikers on Acatenango at once. Not only do Guatemalaโ€™s domestic tourists hike Acatenango on the weekends, but many foreigners in Antigua will be taking Spanish classes during the weekdays and will opt to hike Acatenango on the weekend. If you can hike Acatenango anytime between Monday and Thursday, the volcano will be considerably quieter when youโ€™re there.

5. Perseverance & Determination Is the Most Important

The hike up Acatenango is strenuous. The path is steep, sandy, and hot. People will say you need to be fit, that you need to train weeks ahead of time, and that you even need proper hiking gear to make it. All these things are important but not necessary. The most important thing to have is perseverance and determination to reach the end.

Weโ€™ve seen hikers wearing city sneakers successfully hike Acatenango volcano. And weโ€™ve seen people with little to no hiking experience successfully hike Acatenango. You just need to be able to put one foot in front of the other, no matter how tired you are, and youโ€™ll make it to your base camp well before sunset. Just remember to take plenty of breaks and drink lots of water, which brings us to our last tip…

6. Bring Plenty of Water

You’ll need a MINIMUM of three liters of water to make it to Acatenangoโ€™s base camp and back down. If you intend to hike to Acatenangoโ€™s summit or to Fuego Volcano, you will need at least four liters.

Between the two of us, we brought a total of 12 liters of water (6 liters for each of us). Our tour guides took 2 liters from us (and each hiker) to make dinner and breakfast. We also hiked to Fuego Volcano for sunset. By the time we returned to the trailhead the next day, we only had 1.5 liters of water left.

Drinking lots of water also helps to prevent altitude sickness. So keep drinking!

Optional Hike 1: Hiking to Fuego Volcano โ€“ Is It Worth It?

Hiking To Fuego Volcano For Sunset - Is Fuego Worth It?
Is it worth to hike to Fuego volcano for sunset?

On the day we arrived at Acatenangoโ€™s base camp, we were allowed to hike onwards to Fuego Volcano for sunset. This was an arduous 4-hour round trip hike that gets you dangerously close to Fuego for some incredible eruptions. But this hike is HARD. For us, it was harder than the hike to get to base camp. Not only was the hike to Fuego steeper and sandier than to Acatenangoโ€™s base camp, but we were already pretty tired when we started. So, did we think the hike to Fuego was worth it?

The answer is…IT DEPENDS! It depends on what you want from your hike to Fuego Volcano.

If the reason for the hike is to get up and close to Fuego and to really feel the earth shake with every large eruption, then you absolutely need to hike Fuego. From the final viewpoint, you can see rocks flying into the sky and landing only several kilometers before you.

Note: Being so close to an active volcano is quite dangerous. If there happens to be an unusually large eruption while you are there, you will be in harmโ€™s way. Hike at your own risk.

If your reason for hiking to Fuego Volcano is simply to โ€˜get a better picture of Fuego,โ€™ then the answer isnโ€™t so clear. The problem with this reason is that you spend 4 hours hiking to Fuego and back. We were only actually looking straight at Fuego for 45 minutes. Thatโ€™s 4 hours of lost time not admiring and photographing Fuego from basecamp. And with a proper zoom lens, you can still get fantastic photos of Fuego from base camp.

To get that perfect photo of Fuego, you must wait for a big eruption, which doesnโ€™t come along that often. Small and medium eruptions are much more frequent. But to get that really good shot, you need to sit and wait for it. So if that big eruption doesnโ€™t happen during the 1 hour that you are standing close to Fuego, then you are out of luck and have to head back to basecamp before it gets too cold and late.

Optional Hike 2: Hiking to the Summit of Acatenango Volcano โ€“ Is It Worth It?

Hiking To Acatenango Summit
Hiking to Acatenango volcano summit. Is it worth it?

Hiking to the summit of Acatenango for either sunset or sunrise (or both!) is another optional hike from base camp. Just like with the hike to Fuego Volcano, it is a very strenuous 1.5-hour hike to Acatenangoโ€™s summit. But once you are there, you are met with amazing 360-degree views all across Guatemala.

So, is it worth hiking to the summit of Acatenango Volcano?

The answer is…again…IT DEPENDS! And the biggest factor is the weather. If the weather is foggy, cloudy, or rainy, you wonโ€™t see much when you reach Acatenangoโ€™s summit. All that hard work to hike to the top for minimal views.

But if the weather is clear, or even semi-clear, hiking to Acatenangoโ€™s summit is the quintessential thing to do when hiking Acatenango. From the summit, you can clearly see many of Guatemalaโ€™s volcanoes in the distance, Lake Atitlรกn, and even the Pacific coast!

And you even get some really gorgeous views and photos of Fuego from up there.

What To Wear & Pack When Hiking Acatenango

Remember, even at Acatenangoโ€™s base camp, you will be above 3,600m in altitude. Though temperatures are quite comfortable during the day, temperatures drop quickly once the sun starts to set. Temperatures at night can reach around 0ยฐ C, but with wind chill, it can feel closer to -5 to -15ยฐ C.

That being said, itโ€™s important to layer up at night. When youโ€™re hiking, you might only be hiking in your t-shirt. But by sunset, youโ€™ll definitely be wearing every layer you bring. Itโ€™s cold at base camp and even colder and windier at Fuego and at Acatenangoโ€™s summit!

What To Wear to Acatenango

  • Windbreaker
  • Down Jacket
  • Fleece Sweater
  • Wool Baselayer
  • Warm Hat
  • Gloves
  • Neckwarmer / Scarf
  • Wool Hiking Socks
  • Hiking Shoes

Many Acatenango tour agencies also provide for free (or for rent) the clothes needed to spend the night at base camp.

What To Bring to Acatenango

Assuming you join a tour that already provides sleeping arrangements at basecamp (tent/shelter + sleeping bag), you will need to bring these additional items:

  • Minimum 3 liters of water (5 is recommended)
  • Toilet Paper
  • Alcohol Wipe / Spray
  • Plastic Bag (for your garbage)
  • Headlamp
  • Trekking poles
  • Hiking Bars (We Brought 4 EACH) & Fruits

Final Thoughts: Hiking Acatenango Volcano

Supporting Acatenangoโ€™s Local Communities

Everyone who joins an official Acatenango hiking tour directly supports the locals living in the villages surrounding Acatenango Volcano.

When we were hiking, I got to speak a little bit with our local tour guides about working as hiking guides. Many of them started hiking Acatenango as early as 11 years of age and earning money as simple porters carrying bags for hikers up and down the volcano.

Gradually, they can become guides as they gain hiking and English language experience. Some have hiked up and down Acatenango thousands of times over the years.

At the end of our tour, our guides made sure we knew that they really appreciated our business, which directly helped to support their livelihood.

The Power Of Mother Earth

We love hiking in nature, but there is something about witnessing an active volcano up close that is so powerful and thought-provoking that there is something much greater than ourselves. From the stars to the mountain tops, to endless ocean views, and to actively erupting volcanoes, Mother Earth is so incredibly beautiful, dynamic, and dominant. It makes us feel so small and insignificant but part of a greater force in the universe.

Hiking Acatenango Is Not Easy, But Certainly Doable!

Arriving at Acatenango’s base camp is a huge accomplishment! All the planning before the hike and the hard work during the hike will finally pay off when you finally get to your campsite.

And when I saw our entire group get to our site, I realized just how doable it is to hike Acatenango! No matter your hiking experience or athletic abilities, everyone can do this trek. As we mentioned before, all you need is determination and perseverance to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you will make it!

Once you arrive, kick off your shoes, grab a seat, and enjoy the views across Guatemala and of Fuego Volcano. Relax, you made it! Unless you want to scramble up to Acatenangoโ€™s summit for a stunning sunset, that is ๐Ÿ™‚

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