Hiking guide for Acatenango volcano

Everything you need to know about the 2-day hike to see an active volcano

The Acatenango volcano hike is one of the most thrilling experiences you can encounter in Guatemala, if not from around the world! Hiking up a volcano to see an active volcano spewing hot lava and ashes in the air, who wouldn’t want to see that?!

So, if you decide to come to Guatemala (and you should!), this hike is an absolute must to incorporate into your itinerary! In this blog post, I will reveal how to book this hiking opportunity and what you should expect!

You might also like: 5-day itinerary to Antigua

For your information, all these pictures were taken in April 2023.

Some information about the Acatenango and Fuego volcano

Acatenango volcano is a 3.976 meter (13.044 ft) high volcano near Antigua in Guatemala. This is a dormant volcano and hasn’t erupted since 1972.

From the basecamp of the Acatenango volcano, you’ll be able to see another volcano parallel of Acatenango, which is named Volcano de Fuego (translates into ‘Volcano of Fire’). And you can take this literally! There are around 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles) away from each other. The volcanoes are actually connected to each other and there is a way to hike from the Acatenango volcano to the Fuego volcano.

Fuego is actually the main attraction of the hike, as this volcano is still active till this day! Normally, this volcano erupts every 15 to 30 minutes with ashes and lava spilling out of the top! Hence the name that is given to this volcano.

Summary of the Acatenango and Fuego volcano hike

Acatenango

Length

Around 7 kilometers

Duration

4 – 6 hours

Height difference

2425 to 3763 meters

Difficulty

Hard

Fuego

Length

Around 3 kilometers

Duration

5 – 6 hours

Height difference

around 3200 to 3600 meters

Difficulty

Very hard

When is the best time to hike to the top of Acatenango?

There are two main seasons when you can do this hike: in the dry season between November through April or the rainy season between May through October. The best time to do this hike is most likely during the dry season as the weather is better. The only downside is that at the top of Acatenango, it can be very cold! Even to freezing temperatures of -5°C.

During the rainy season, there is a bigger chance that you’ll need to hike in the rain. But it mostly rains for a few hours and you have dry weather for the rest of the time. Also, there is more chance that clouds prevent the view while at the top, but this clears up most of the time and you still get a cool view of Fuego erupting! If this doesn’t bother you, this will still be a great time! But be sure to bring proper gear and a rain jacket!

When we arrived at the top, there were a lot of clouds. Our whole view was blocked by it, but after a bit of waiting, the clouds cleared and we had a whole evening, night, and morning with a great view. So even in the dry season, you still need to be lucky as you are at high altitudes and the weather can be unpredictable.

Do you need to have experience to do this hike?

It’s not necessary to be an experienced hiker, but it comes in handy that you have a basic fitness level or a bit of stamina. I don’t have the best condition and I was suffering at times, even though this wasn’t my first hike. It’s also a mental game as you want to give up a few times during the hike, but the most important thing is to not give up.

The altitude can also take a toll. I live in the flattest country ever with the lowest altitude, so I’m not used to being at such heights. I felt uneasy and dizzy sometimes, but I didn’t give up and that’s the most important part. It doesn’t matter if you’re first or last, as long as you make it to base camp!

But if you’re worried about this hike, you still can prepare a bit at home before doing this hike. For example, you can start running or hiking to improve your condition.

Can you get altitude sickness?

Yes, you can get altitude sickness on this trip. The highest point of this hike is at 3.976 meters (13.044 ft) so there is a liability that you can get sick. This can start at 2500 meters (8.202 ft), but it’s different per person. Some may experience it soon and some may not. Advise with your doctor beforehand about what is best for you.

The best tip to prevent altitude sickness is to acclimatize before doing this hike. Spend a couple of days in Antigua, which is based at 1.533 meters (5.029 ft). Before doing the hike to Acatenango, you could climb another volcano named Pacaya. This volcano sits at 2.500 meters (8.202 ft) and can help you to get used to heights better. As a bonus, you get another nice volcano hike!

On our tour, there were a few people who got some symptoms of altitude sickness. But no one needed to turn around or was so sick they couldn’t continue. If you take your time on the hike, everything will be all right. Also, the guides have pills for altitude sickness with them, so if you need them, just ask. They keep a good eye out for you and will make sure you’re safe!

How to organize the Acatenango hike?

You can do this hike on your own, but it’s not recommended! It’s a very hard hike and it gets quite cold at the top! Also, you can get lost at the top or when you get sick from altitude, there is no one to help you. Normally, Mel and I don’t hire a guide as we don’t like tours that much, but this time, we made an exception. And we needed one!

So, my advice: go on a tour! We went with Soy Tours and this was a great option for us. They offered everything we needed like clothing and food. Not only that, but they also offer porters who can bring your gear to the top. As we always bring a lot of camera gear (which is very heavy) with us, we opted for this option. Otherwise, our bags would’ve been too heavy with all the camera gear and with 5 liters of water per person.

I would recommend Soy Tours for your tour. We met a lot of travelers before doing this hike who went with this organization and they all spoke with a lot of gratitude, especially for the guides. And it turned out to be true. The guides were so patient and never abandoned you, even if you were the slowest of the group. They also made sure you didn’t feel sick and made some jokes along the way to make the trip more fun!

Different options for hiking Acatenango

There are three different hiking tour options you could do: day, night, and overnight tour. We did the overnight tour, where you will be sleeping at the top of Acatenango. But, there are other options if you have less time or don’t feel like sleeping in a tent. Keep in mind that both the day and night tours have a bit more limitations and you won’t see everything you want to see of the volcano. Both the day and night tours are much harder because you have to climb and descend on the same day. All the tours cost Q500 (around €60) with the entrance fee included. If you want to hike the extra hike to Fuego, you’ll pay an additional Q200 (around €25).

Day Tour

The day tour is from 4:00 AM to 3:30 PM. You will hike the volcano in one day, without staying overnight at the top. This is ideal if you don’t have a lot of time in your itinerary and want to do as much as possible if you don’t like wild camping. It’s important to notice that you will be at the top at around noon, so you won’t see sunrise and sunset at the top. Also, the chances of seeing lava are very low as the black of the night makes it easier to spot the red glow.

Night Tour

The night tour is from 8:00 PM to 12:30 PM. You will climb the volcano the whole evening and night, to arrive at the top right before sunrise at 4:00 AM. Afterward, you’ll have time to enjoy the view over the volcano. After sunrise, you’ll get breakfast and start descending, back to Antigua. If you don’t like wild camping, this is the tour for you! And as a bonus, you’ll have sunrise at the top and the chances of seeing lava are much higher!

Overnight Tour

We did the overnight tour, so if you want a detailed itinerary, read further below! The overnight tour is from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, the next day. You will have the whole morning and afternoon to climb the volcano. You’ll even get a chance to hike an extra hike, to the Fuego volcano. If you don’t do this, you have the whole afternoon enjoying the amazing volcano views. Otherwise, you will be hiking for 5 hours longer to Fuego and back.

You can stay awake as long as you want to see the volcano erupt from base camp. And if you are up to it, there is an option to hike to the top of Acatenango at 4:00 AM to see the sunrise over Fuego. This is also optional and if you don’t feel like it anymore, you also can enjoy the sunrise from the base camp.

This is one of the biggest reasons why I loved the overnight tour so much. You’ll have a lot of options about what you want to do. Mel did the Fuego hike with a friend, Doriano, while I stayed behind and watched the sunset from afar. Some people didn’t go to the top for sunrise and that’s all okay! Plus, this is truly an experience that you will cherish forever.

Day overview of the hike to Acatenango and Fuego

7:30 AM | Getting picked up from our hotel

Soy Tours messaged us the day before that we needed to be ready at 7:30 AM at the entrance of our hotel. We were one of the first ones to get picked up. The last group was picked up at 8:15 AM, so it can be quite a difference depending on where your hotel is located.

To be honest, I was very nervous at the beginning of this hike so the whole bus ride wasn’t really pleasant for me. I was scared that once at the top, we wouldn’t be seeing anything because of the weather predictions.

The bus ride can be quite bumpy, so if you get car sick pretty quickly, make sure you come prepared. Especially in Antigua with the bumpy roads. I was happy that we got out of Antigua for that specific reason.

9:15 AM | Stop at the office to get food, clothes and introduction

We arrived at the office to get information and safety advice about the hike. They told us everything we needed to know: about the weather, the hike, the food, … Also, this was the moment to get a thick winter jacket, some other clothes like gloves and hats, and the lunch that they packed for us.

10:15 AM | Starting the hike to the top

And off we go! We started our trek to the top at around 10:15 AM. This was the time we still had good hopes, as we didn’t know how heavy it was going to be. First, you’ll walk for about an hour on loose gravel. You’ll get plenty of stops as this can get quite heavy. Especially, if you need to carry a heavy backpack.

11:50 AM | Arriving at the registration

This is the official entrance of the hike, which seemed a bit demotivating as we were walking for over an hour. But it was the perfect place to catch your breath. You’ll need to fill out some forms with your name, which tours you’re going with, and what your motivation is for this hike. Here is where you would pay the entrance fee if you would do the hike alone, but if you’ll go with Soy Tours, the park entrance fee is included so you don’t have to worry about that! You will continue to walk through a tropical forest from now on.

1:00 PM | Lunch break

After walking through the tropical forest for some time now, you’ll make a half-hour stop to eat lunch. This was provided by Soy Tours and I’d choose the vegetarian meal, while the others choose one with meat. So, it’s also possible to ask for a different diet plan. We got plenty of snacks to keep us energized. And we did need it as we only were halfway there. At this point, we were at a height of 3100 meters, but we still needed to climb to 3763 meters. Still a lot of climbing to do!

3:30 PM | The last part of the climb of Acatenango

After climbing for hours straight, the guides came with good news. We’ll only have to do the last part and this is relatively flat, with a few climbing parts over rocks, but not as bad as the beginning. This is the part where you feel like you’re walking on a volcano as it’s only volcanic stone. This part only took 30 minutes and then we will arrive at the base camp!

4:10 PM | Arriving at base camp

FINALLY! We arrived at base camp, after what felt like hours and hours of just walking and being out of breath. I was so happy to arrive, but also to finally get a glimpse of the mighty Fuego volcano. This is what I came for whatsoever. There were a lot of clouds, but I was still positive that they will stay away. But that did not happen. A lot of clouds came and the view was gone. I was too tired to think too much about it at that time and just wanted to rest for a little bit in my tent.

We got assigned to the cabin at the bottom. There were 4 tents in total at this cabin. I peaked in the cabin at the top and there were a lot of tents, much more than with us. Then it was time to decide if you wanted to hike to Fuego, another 5-hour hike.

5:15 PM | Leaving from Acatenango to Fuego

The guides asked who wanted to do the Fuego hike and around 10 people joined, including Mel and Doriano. I decided to stay behind as I knew that it would be too hard for me and I would slow the group down, immensely. I’d rather just sit with the campfire and my camera to enjoy the view.

The guys left around 5:15 PM. For the first part of the hike, you’ll need to go down Acatenango and then go back up via Fuego. They arrived at the viewpoint after sunset and the guys were dissapointed by this, but the group started hiking pretty late for some reason.

They got pretty close to the lava, which is probably a very exhilarating feeling! The group came back at around 10:10 PM, so it took them 5 hours to complete the trip. Mel’s honest opinion about the hike: it was so much harder than the Acatenango hike and if you’re not fit enough, just skip it. But if you’re up to it, it’s one of the most exciting things I’ve done!

7:00 PM | Eating dinner at the campfire

As I stayed behind at Acatenango, I got my dinner at 7:00 PM when it was already dark. The guides first rewarded us with a bag of chips and some typical alcoholic beverages, before starting the dinner. They gave us the perfect amount of time between watching the sunset and getting our dinner ready. Everyone was too hyped to eat anyway, because seeing the Fuego erupting for the first time was our top priority.

After we got enough pictures and videos, they brought our dinner. The people who went to Fuego, got their dinner after they returned, so that’s a long time without food. That’s why it’s important to bring loads of snacks. I stayed awake, taking pictures, until Mel and Doriano returned. It was quite cold, sitting still, so I was glad that I could take pictures right next to the campfire.

I had the most amazing time with the group as well as alone after everyone went to bed. I just could keep watching those spectacular views. But after some time, you just need to go to bed as there was a very early wake-up call!

4:15 AM | Starting the sunrise hike to the top of Acatenango

The guides wake you up at 4:00 AM sharp and you can decide then and there if you want to climb to the top of Acatenango to watch the sunrise over Fuego. This took us one hour even though it was not far. We were just extremely tired of the lack of sleep and oxygen. Above all else, we needed to climb 300 meters, which is still heavy. But we made it, with A LOT of breaks.

But that didn’t matter anymore, because once we were at the top, we could enjoy the most amazing sunrise over Fuego. And we were treated with a few spectacles of the volcano spewing lava and ashes! The guides only let us stay for 30 minutes at the top, but that wasn’t enough for us. So, we asked if we could stay longer and it was allowed. We just needed to be more in a hurry for packing our bags and eating our breakfast.

7:00 AM | Eating breakfast with a view

We hurried down and got our breakfast, which I was honestly very surprised by. I love a good pancake as breakfast so it was nice to start our day like that. We got some time to enjoy the views a bit longer, as long as we were packed and ready by around 8:00 AM.

7:55 AM | Time to say goodbye and hike down

After we packed all our bags, it was time to say goodbye to this beautiful place and hike down. This took way less time than going up, but it was still very hurtful for your knees. In some places, it was very steep and some people fell a few times. Here is where the walking stick was very helpful. It helped us from slipping or going too fast.

We arrived at the office at around 10:50 AM, so the total hike down took us 3 hours. Afterward, we got rewarded with some beer (or a Cola if you don’t like it). You have some time to rest and relax, but you still need to give all your rented stuff back, like backpacks, gloves, and the lunch box. It’s now time to say goodbye to the strangers that became friends, with which you shared the most unbelievable experience. We drove back to our hotel at 11:20 AM and it depends on how late you arrive back. Just know that you won’t do a lot that day and that you deserve some fast food!

My own experience

The hike is hard, believe me, but it’s not impossible. I did it and so can you! To be honest, I did have a hard time going up. Especially when we got to the higher altitudes. I felt a bit dizzy and I felt a bit nauseous. But taking it slow helped me get to the top. There were a few other people who did feel a bit of altitude sickness, but it all got better after taking it slow.

And it’s also very important to not give up. I would’ve been so disappointed if I missed that view, so I didn’t give up. I also felt more relaxed by the fact that the guides stayed with you the whole time.

And I also don’t regret not doing the Fuego hike. I know I would only keep the group behind and I wouldn’t enjoy the rest of the hike anymore. I’m sure of that, so I was just glad to watch the volcano erupt from aside.

In conclusion, do what feels best for you, take it slow and just don’t give up!

Safety of Acatenango and Fuego

As you already know, you will be standing very close to an active volcano. If you walk to the Fuego volcano with the extra hike, you will be as close as 300 meters to the hot, spewing lava! It’s incredible and scary at the same time. So, saying that it’s a safe experience is a bit excessive. There is always a certain risk involved with this activity.

For example, a deadly eruption occurred in June 2018 where 190 people were killed. Thousands needed to be evacuated from areas around Guatemala’s Fuego volcano. And just now, 2 weeks after we returned home, on the 4th of May, there was a ‘high level’ eruption and they had to evacuate thousands of people around the volcano.

But fear not, you won’t be left to fate as there are lots of guides along the way. They are specified in these experiences and know what to do in case of an emergency. Also, they have everything with them to help you if you would feel sick, like medicine for altitude sickness. And best of all, they don’t abandon you and truly care about you. They notice if you feel a bit sick and walk with your pace!

Gear you need to hike Acatenango

You should pack a few things in your backpack while climbing to the top! Remember, it can get quite cold at the top with temperatures of – 5°C (or 23°F), so it’s very important to pack a lot of layers. That way, you won’t get cold at the top and in your tent while sleeping.

Packing list:

45L backpack (if you don’t have this, you can rent it at Soy Tours for Q80)
Thermal underwear
Fleece sweater
Gloves and a hat (if you don’t have this, Soy Tours offers this for free)
Long pants (if you don’t have this, Soy Tours offers this for free)
A thick winter jacket (if you don’t have this, Soy Tours offers this for free)
Two extra pairs of socks, thick ones preferably
Good hiking shoes
Between 3 to 4 liters/Gatorade of water per person
Extra snacks, especially if you plan on hiking to Fuego (for example candy, chocolate bars, nuts, …). You can also buy them at Soy Tours so take some extra cash.
Food that is included in your tour
Flashlights (if you don’t have this, you can rent them at Soy Tours for Q25)
Rain gear in case of bad weather
Toilet paper
Sunscreen
Deodorant as you won’t have a shower available
Walking sticks (you can rent them for Q20 at the entrance of Soy Tours)
Your camera gear

Most things are included in the tour, like jackets, pants, hats, and gloves, and you can rent backpacks, walking sticks, and flashlights. That way, you don’t have to take all these things from home, giving you more space in your suitcase. This was truly a game changer as a winter jacket takes up so much space in your suitcase. And believe me, you will need it!

The food on the tour to Acatenango

Food is included in the tour and the price. They give out lunch and dinner for the first day and breakfast for the second day. Don’t forget to eat breakfast before you get on the bus to start your hike. There are regular options, but also vegetarian and vegan options. You just have to inform the tour about this. The lunch box is the only thing you will have to carry to the top.

For lunch, we got a lunch box with rice, beans, and some vegetables and fruits. Moreover, we got some juice and a chocolate bar as a snack. A friend of mine got a lunch box with meat, so the rice with beans was altered to chicken.

For dinner at the base camp, we all got mashed potatoes with mashed beans, some vegetables, and two tortillas! I liked the high-caloric meal, which tasted delicious by the way. On the side, we also got a bag of chips, some alcoholic beverages to taste, and a hot chocolate by the campfire. Our stomachs were truly full after such a hike.

After the sunrise hike to the top of Acatenango, we got our breakfast. This included two pancakes with syrup, a hard-boiled egg, an apple, a chocolate bar, and some coffee or tea. The pancakes were really good and I was surprised we got such an extensive breakfast at the top of the volcano! The guides truly showed off their cooking skills. And eating breakfast with such views was very rewarding.

Sleeping arrangement at the top

I liked the sleeping arrangement. There are two cabins located at the base camp, one at the top and one at the bottom. In those cabins, there are tents located which are protected from the wind and rain. So, you will be warmer when you’re sleeping.

There are tents in different sizes: for 2, 3 and 4 people. If you are a group, you will be put together in one tent. Inside the tents are 15 centimeters (6 inches) of high-density foam mattresses so you won’t be sleeping on the ground. And to top it off, the tent includes a liner, a sleeping bag, and a pillow. All this is already there thus you won’t need to carry it to the top. I think this is the most luxurious you will find on top of the volcano!

Another thing you’ll probably want to know is the toilet arrangement. There is a toilet provided at the top, but don’t expect something fancy. And in my opinion, it was a bit highly located and hard reachable, especially in the dark. You’ll need to see for yourself if you get to the toilet. If not, you can always pee in nature.

Top tips to prepare yourself on this hike

Is it possible to prepare yourself for this hike? Yes, it is, but it’s best to give yourself some time to train for it. You can do a lot of cardio or hiking at home to prepare yourself, but nothing will ever compare to hiking with less oxygen and climbing 1.500 meters. But all the small parts can help, of course. If you have a strong will, you will get there! And take that walking stick, it was the best thing we rented from the office. Especially while going down, as a lot of people fell on the ground. It’s slippery and I would’ve fallen too if it wasn’t for the stick.

On the hike itself, bring enough drinks and snacks! You could not bring enough snacks for every stop or break you have. We brought a lot (and I mean a LOT of candy) to get us to the top. We also brought 3 bottles of Gatorade (600 ml per bottle) per person with us. It’s advised to bring between 3 to 4 liters of water with you and that’s not a lie. Otherwise, you will get it rough.

Last but not least, bring enough layers with you! Especially thermal underwear is important as it will help keep you warm. We were lucky as it wasn’t as cold as they told us, but I can imagine that it can be a lot worse. And you won’t fall asleep if you have it cold, believe me.

Photography tips for Fuego volcano

Photographing a volcano is not a daily occurrence and you don’t want to do this hike all over again, because your pictures were blurry. So, I will give you some of my tips for photographing the Fuego.

Choose the right equipment. Decide beforehand which (camera) equipment you want to take to the top, as it’s extra weight. But, remember that this is a once in a lifetime experience! That’s why we took a porter as we had too much camera gear with us. So, bring a camera with a zoom lens to capture the volcano from a distance. And don’t forget to bring full spare batteries and memory cards.
Take your tripod with you. I know it sounds like a hassle and it weighs more in your backpack, but it’s so worth it. That way you can lower your ISO when the sun is about to go down. Also, you’ll get steadier shots when it’s dark.
Consider the lighting. The best time to photograph the volcano is during sunrise or sunset when the lighting is soft and warm. Avoid shooting during the middle of the day when the light can be harsh and unflattering. That’s why an overnight tour is the way to go!
Play with your camera settings. Use different shutter speeds as they could lead to different effects. For the picture on the right, there was a shutter speed used of 1/10, which made the lava more visible in splashes. But for the other picture, the shutter speed was set at 3.2 sec which created a stream of lava.

Other things to do near Acatenango hike

If you do the Acatenango hike, your home base is probably Antigua. But there are a lot more things to do near this beautiful town, like Hobbitenango, Pacaya, Chichicastenango, and many more! Or do you want to know more about Lake Atitlan, which is only a 2-hour drive away from Antigua? There, you’ll have a lot of small towns to visit throughout the lake.

Travel blogger

Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!

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