Hiking Acatenango Volcano

Summary

• a beautiful volcanic hike that is challenging at times, giving you panoramic views of other volcanoes and an ever changing topography

• in the evening, enjoy the views of Fuego erupting in the distance and in the morning, soak in the sunrise during the summit hike to the crater

• make sure to bring plenty of warm gear, buff and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from dirt and wind

After visiting Guatemala for 6 years, it was time to climb one of the volcanoes that I so often saw from the streets and rooftops of Antigua. Guatemala has many volcanoes in its landscape, some are great for a day hike such as Pacaya and others require more time. After hiking Pacaya a few times, I was ready to change it up and increase the challenge with Acatenango. 

Acatenago’s elevation is 13,045 feet. It is currently considered a dormant volcano with a history of multiple eruptions. It stands next to Fuego, which is an active volcano and known for its frequent activity. 

There are multiple tour companies that you can choose from for the trek. Our group chose Wincho and Charlie’s, and for the most part had a positive experience. They had a cozy set up at basecamp with Adirondack chairs surrounding a fire while looking at Fuego. They provided very filling meals and lodging was in small huts, compared to some companies with participants sleeping in tents. I do feel that the guides could have been more encouraging so if you are new to hiking, you’ll have to do some self pep-talking. 

The hike was roughly 24 hours long in totality from the initial step on the mountain to the final step returning. We started hiking at 10am, took multiple rest breaks and got to base camp around 3pm. Once at basecamp, the guides will go over the option to hike Fuego that evening, which is an additional 4-5 hours of hiking, with an estimated time getting back to camp around 8-9:30pm. This is a challenging hike but if it’s a clear night and Fuego is erupting, you are sure to see exquisite views. Unfortunately, Fuego was not erupting while we were there, so I personally refrained from hiking this optional addition to save my energy for the sunrise summit on Acatenango. 

We went to bed around 9:30 pm but no one slept well due to the cold, noises and higher elevation. At 3:30am I woke up with one of my friends to get ready for the summit hike, which is also optional. The group that we were in had roughly 30 people in it and 7 us hiked the summit so if you would prefer to sleep in, or watch the sunrise from camp around a fire, that is also an option. The summit hike takes roughly 1-1.5 hours depending on speed. 

The summit hike was quite steep and the terrain was sand-like. The wind rapidly picks up as you leave the tree line and become more exposed on the mountain. We arrived before sunrise and had incredible views of the stars and the cities below while we cuddled for warmth in the crater. In all of my hikes, I have never experienced wind like I did on the top of the crater, feeling almost the inability to fully stand up due to the strength of the wind. The actual sunrise was magical and there were breathtaking views all the way down as the warm sunlight beamed on the trees and surrounding volcanoes. Since the summit is quite steep, the way down goes very fast as you easily descend down on the sandy rock. We enjoyed taking our time down the summit trail, soaking in the views but if you were to go without stopping it should only take around 20 minutes to get back to basecamp.

At basecamp we were greeted with hot coffee and a warm breakfast. We packed up our belongings quite quickly and started making our way back down the rest of the mountain at 7:30am. The hike down provides picturesque views and some respiratory reprieve. It does also, however, provide some pain to the joints so wear a brace or sleeve if you have knee problems. You will reach your initial starting spot a few hours later and be shuttled back to Antigua reflecting on the incredible experience you just participated in. 

Make sure to bring:

• WARM clothes. It gets very cold at night and if you are hiking to the summit, the wind and cold at the ridge of the crater can be breathtaking. If you are prone to cold feet and hands, I would recommend bringing some hand warmers as well. 

• Enough water. You carry all the water you will need on the hike (a hydration pack comes in handy for additional storage)

• A buff and sunglasses. There is a lot of dirt and wind and you can use these to protect your face and eyes. 

• Snacks. Our company provided very filling meals but I would still recommend packing your own snacks especially if you are doing the additional hikes. 

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¡Salud!