Are you traveling to Guatemala and want to hike the impressive Acatenango but don’t know how to do it? Then, this is the post for you! From the hike difficulty to the best company to book the tour with, in this Acatenango hike guide you’ll find everything you need to know before embarking on the adventure of hiking Acatenango.
What is Acatenango?
Acatenango is a volcano close to Antigua, Guatemala, and hiking it is considered one of the must-do activities in Guatemala for all adventure seekers. What makes this volcano so special is that it’s joined with Volcan de Fuego, an active volcano. Fuego is almost constantly active; it erupts around every 15 minutes.
From the distance, even from Antigua itself, you can see the lava and ashes coming out of the crater, a unique experience that not many countries have to offer. But even though you can see the eruptions from afar, hiking Acatenango provides the best direct views of Fuego, since you’ll be facing the crater directly and from the same height.
As I mention in this other article, hiking Acatenango is one of the best things to do in Antigua!
Which is the best time of the year to hike Acatenango?
The best time of the year to hike Acatenango is from November to April, the dry season. This is when the chances of being caught in the rain are lower and there’ll also be fewer clouds in the sky that could potentially block the view of Fuego. Out of these months, November and April would be ideal, as the temperature won’t drop as much as during the winter months (December-March).
Anyhow, there’s really no bad month to go on this hike. During the wet season, you might encounter some rain, but rainfall in Guatemala usually lasts for a couple of minutes and then stops. It’s not uncommon to have clear mornings and nights and experience some rain in the afternoon.
You can check out this article to find out how you could include the Acatenango hike to your itinerary.
Is the Acatenango hike fit for everyone? (Acatenango hike difficulty)
I won’t lie, this is not an easy hike, but everyone who’s in acceptable shape can do it. You don’t need to be an experienced hiker; most people taking the tour are just regular tourists.
There are teenagers and elderly people hiking, and they can reach the camp base with no problem (I did the hike with my 55-year-old mom and she even went to Fuego). You can take your time, walk slowly and make as many stops as you need. It’s not a race and the guides are there to help you if you need it.
Having the right equipment and booking a tour with an excellent company will guarantee that the whole experience is a success, no matter your age or hiking experience.
What does hiking Acatenango imply?
In this section, I will give you the most detailed information from the beginning to the end of this adventure.
A quick overview of the Acatenango hike
The tour starts around 8 AM, when your agency will pick you up from your accommodation and take all hikers to their office. Everyone will get ready, and you’ll start the hike around noon. You’ll get to the base camp right before sunset, leave your stuff in your assigned tent, and either stay there or continue your hike to Fuego (more on this in the detailed explanation).
You’ll spend the night on the base camp, watch the sunrise, and start your hike back down after breakfast. The hike will finish around noon.
A detailed explanation of the Acatenango hike
To start the hike, you must be in Antigua and you should book a tour with a registered agency. Don’t attempt to hike Acatenango on your own; it’s extremely dangerous, as you could get lost or suffer hypothermia due to the extremely low temperatures you might find.
You’ll see many agencies that offer this tour, both on the streets of Antigua and online. Always check their reviews, as some don’t provide the appropriate equipment at the base camp, meaning you might end up sleeping in wet tents.
I booked the tour with CA Travelers and I only have positive things to say about them. It’s not the cheapest agency, but I wouldn’t try to save money on such a difficult expedition. Having the appropriate equipment, plenty of food, and experienced guides will make the whole difference between having one of the best experiences of your life and hating every minute of it.
You can check out more information about the tour on their website here: https://ca-travelers.com/tours/acatenango-tour/. From now on, in this section I’ll talk about their tour.
What’s the price of the Acatenango tour?
- Around 70 dollars
What’s included in the Acatenango tour?
- Round transportation
- Experienced guide
- Camping gear
- Clothes: winter jacket, gloves, hat, rain cape, flashlight
- Camelbak with water
- Food: three full meals + snacks (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available)
What should you bring?
- Cash to pay for the park fee
- Personal ID with picture
- Hiking shoes
- Warm clothes
- Backpack
- Toilet paper
Things to have in mind when hiking Acatenango
- You can purchase hiking sticks before starting the hike from the locals.
- If you don’t have a 40-liter backpack or bigger, you can rent one from the agency.
- CA Travelers will keep your luggage in their storage at their office during the hike for free.
- You can pay some locals to carry your backpack all the way up if you find it too heavy or are afraid that the hike might be too strenuous for you.
- The food provided is more than enough in most cases, you don’t really need to take extra snacks.
Hiking Acatenango Schedule
On the day of the tour, you’ll be picked up at your accommodation at around 8 AM to go to the agency’s office. All hikers will meet there and you’ll get ready together to start the hike. You’ll change your clothes, leave your luggage in the storage and get on a van that’ll take you to the start of the trail.
Around noon, you’ll start the hike up. The whole group will make several stops along the way to rest and have some food. You can even ask to make an extra stop if you need it; the guides are there to help the group and take their individual needs into account.
It will take you between 4 and 6 hours to reach the base camp. The truth is, the hike is hard as it’s long, the hill can be steep and the weather will also play a part. At the beginning, it will probably be extremely hot, but the higher you hike, the colder it will get, even reaching temperatures below 0 degrees (32 Fahrenheit). On top of that, it can rain (especially during the rainy season), meaning you’ll get wet.
All these hazards can be overcome just by wearing the right clothes. At the end of this article, you’ll find a list of the things you should have with you when hiking Acatenango.
Just before sunset, you’ll get to the base camp, located at 13,000 feet. CA Travelers has its own camp with tents that you’ll share among 2 people (people who are part of your group, you won’t have to share with strangers); inside the tents there are mattresses, pillows, blankets, and everything you need to be comfortable but mainly to keep yourself protected from the cold. There’s also a bonfire, a kitchen and a toilet.
The views you get from the camp are unbeatable. You are just in front of Fuego, the sun is setting, all around you are mountains and volcanoes, you are above the clouds. The most intrepid will now venture into another challenge: getting closer to Fuego’s crater (more info below).
The rest will stay at the camp to enjoy the views of Fuego erupting, have dinner and then go to bed. The group will wake up before sunrise and hike all the way up to the top of Acatenango (around 1 hour) to see the sunrise from there.
Then, everyone goes back to the camp, has breakfast and starts the hike down. The hike down is pretty easy; it takes around 2 hours, the steepness of the hill is on your side this time, and your backpack will be less heavy as most of the food and water will be gone.
At noon, everyone’s already back and a van will take you back to the agency’s office to pick up your luggage.
Hiking Fuego from Acatenango
As I mentioned at the beginning, Acatenango and Fuego are joined, which means that you can cross from Acatenango to its neighboring volcano. You don’t have to choose from the beginning if you want to go to Fuego or not.
Once everyone’s at the base camp, the guide will ask who wants to join and you can decide there depending on how tired you are feeling. Take into account that you have to pay an extra fee to go to Fuego (around $30 extra).
The hike to Fuego is shorter but certainly tougher. Not everyone can do it and not everyone should do it. Everyone knows their limits and if you are already too tired or don’t have much experience hiking, I recommend staying at the camp.
For those who are unsure, I would say go for it. It will be hard, but I don’t think you’ll ever have the opportunity to be so close to the crater of a volcano that’s erupting right in front of your eyes.
It takes around 2 hours to reach Fuego and once you are there, you’ll be standing as close as you can to the crater. With CA Travelers, you’ll get there right after sunset, meaning an even better view of the bright red lava shining below a sky full of stars. Some companies will take you to Fuego when there’s still daylight, but then you don’t get to see the red lava; it just looks like ashes coming off the crater.
You’ll spend almost an hour admiring the eruptions and then the group will head back to the camp to join the rest of the group for dinner. The hike back takes another 2 hours.
What should you bring with you when hiking Acatenango?
The first thing you must do is talk to the tour agency and check with them what equipment and food they provide. As I mentioned before, some will give you almost everything you need, while others won’t provide much. For your reference, here’s a list of everything you need to hike Acatenango:
- Hiking shoes (or at least sport shoes)
- Warm clothes, including a big jacket (if you are hiking during the winter, you can even consider wearing thermal items)
- Gloves and a scarf
- Hiking sticks, you can purchase them at the base of the mountain for less than 2 dollars
- Backpackers backpack (at least 40 liters)
- Snacks
- Plenty of water
- Flashlight, it’s not essential but can be useful
Tip: Choose waterproof clothes and take an extra pair of socks if you are hiking during the wet season, as well as a small towel to be able to dry yourself. Temperatures drop a lot at the summit of Acatenango and wearing wet clothes will make you feel even colder.
Conclusion
Getting to see an active volcano erupt right in front of your eyes is an experience of a lifetime that you’ll never forget. Guatemala is one of the few countries in the world where you can do this, so don’t miss out on the opportunity. But it’s also a tricky hike that implies some physical effort and facing changing weather conditions, so make sure to gather all the information you can in advance and choose a good company to book the tour with. I wish you a happy hike!
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