Are you ready to work for one of the most epic views in Guatemala?
So exactly one year after visiting Guatemala for the first time we have finally completed the famous Acatenango hike.
We had every intention of hiking Acatenango on our first visit to Guatemala, but life had different plan for us.
Be very careful where you eat. I got one of the worst case of food poisoning I’ve ever had in all my travels in Antigua.
I know food poisoning can happen all around the world but just so you know it’s a very common occurrence in Guatemala. Every group of travelers we met had someone who had fallen victim to food poisoning. Every single one. Just a warning.
Back to the hike. Okay so let’s start off by saying, this hike is difficult. If you add the additional Fuego hike it’s even harder, add the sunrise summit and now we can easily classify this as a strenuous hike. Is it worth, absolutely!
This post is covers Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Acatenango.
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Volcan Acatenango
What should I expect from acatenango Hike?
Tour companies provide transportation to the trail start which is roughly around 1hr from Antigua. Pick up or meet ups are scheduled between 7 and 8am.
Acatenango sits at 3,976 m (13,045 ft) next to the super active Volcan Fuego. The trail up Volcan Acatenango has four distinct microclimates, local farm fields, old-growth tropical cloud forest, sparse high-alpine forest and mystical volcanic terrain.
The 4.1 mile ascent to base camp covers 4,200 ft / 1,280 m of elevation gain. A steep climb awaits you from the very beginning up until about 40 minutes before reaching camp where you will finally have a bit of flat terrain. Ascent begins approximately around 9am.
You will have around 6-8 breaks depending on your group. Some companies have lunch mid way and some have lunch at base camp.
Once at camp you have the option to add Hike Fuego- 3.1 miles/ 5KM and takes around 3 hours to complete.
Last climb is the Sunrise Acatenango Summit Hike the following morning, with an additional 1000 ft/ 304 m of elevation gain.
Like I said earlier this high altitude hike is difficult.
How Long does It take to Hike Acatenango?
I recommend doing the overnight hike. Some companies offer a day hike but one of the coolest experiences is watching Fuego erupt over and over again at night. It’s truly magical.
It will take approximately 4 to 6 hours to get to base camp. After resting and/or having lunch you have the option to hike to Fuego. This is an additional 3.1 miles (5km) trek and will take approximately 3 hours to complete.
Weather permitting, the following morning depending on sunrise times, you will be awaken around 4am for summit. The time it takes to summit is dependent on where your camp is but can take anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours to summit Acatenango, again it’s all uphill. This climb is approximately 1-1.5miles.
After sunrise you will descend back to camp have a light breakfast and start the hike out. This usually take around 2-2.5 hours.
Total hike distance is around 11 miles (18KM) round-trip.
Plan to be in Antigua around noonish.
Should I do the Additional Fuego hike?
Okay so this is what I recommend. This additional hike does come at an additional cost of 200Q ($25USD) and it’s also very exhausting. If it’s a pretty clear evening and have never seen a volcano or lava up close I say it’s worth it.
If it’s in any way cloudy I would skip it. Every company gives you the opportunity to decide on the additional hike when you arrive at camp and you pay for the additional hike at the end of the tour.
If you’ve had the opportunity to experience other volcanoes up close I would save your energy for the sunrise hike. More than half of those that did the Fuego hike were so exhausted they did not do the sunrise hike.
We have been blessed to experience hours of erupting lava up close in Iceland, so we decided to skip it and in all honestly when people came back not a single person seemed excited about it. That’s just our personal experience.
Now for the seven people in our group who did both the Fuego and Sunrise hike, all preferred the sunrise hike to the Fuego hike.
In the end though it’s completely up to you. I’m just here to give my honest opinion and provide you with as much information I possibly can.
What company should I use to Hike Acatenango?
There are so many companies to pick from.
We went with V-Hiking Tours. The reason I went with them is because it’s a local owned company. Also a huge plus was the homemade breakfast cooked by the owners mom. Which I thought was very unique and didn’t see any other company offer this.
What I liked about V-Hikng Tours:
- Breakfast with local family
- Amazing and caring guides
- Great pace, did not feel rushed at all
- Jaw dropping view of Volcan Acatenango from camp
- Compared to other companies, they did not rush us at Sunrise
- Priced well
What I didn’t like:
- I felt the sleeping bags and pillows needed to be updated
- Better care of toilet area
- A place to wash your hands
Other top reviewed companies
- Wicho & Charlie’s
- OX Expeditions
- Old Town Outfitters
- Trek Guatemala
- Tropicana Hostal & Tour Agency
- Soy Tours Antigua
You can also do a self guided tour but I recommend supporting local companies and booking a tour.
When Should I Hike Acatenango?
Tours run year round but dry season is from late November to mid April.
What Should I Pack?
What you bring will be dependent on the company you choose, but these are the essentials you should bring regardless of the company you pick:
- Hiking Boots or Hiking Shoes
- Comfortable (cotton-free) Quick-Drying Pants and Shirt
- Two Pairs of Socks (one for the evening)
- Fleece or Puffer
- Thermal Underwear
- Waterproof/Windproof Jacket
- Gloves
- Beanie
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Headlamp
- Bandana or Buff
- Personal Hygiene Kit (toilet paper roll, disinfection gel, etc.)
- 4 liters of Water
- Snacks
- 35-45 Liters Backpack
Most companies provide a tent/cabin, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillows and all meals.
Tips For Hiking Acatenango
- Bring at least 4 liters of water, I think 5 is the magic number.
- Don’t forget a bandana or buff for the trek back down, it is dusty!
- Although your travel company does provide all meals it does not provide snacks, I highly recommend at least a few snacks to hold you over till lunch and basecamp.
- Bring layers, it gets very cold at night and sunrise summit is usually cold and windy.
- Don’t forget some wipes, for hands and face because wow you are going get so dusty.
- Hiking poles, these saved me! Bring your own or rent them with your tour company. These are a must.
- Bring quetzals for drink or snack purchases along the trail if needed.
- Drones are allowed.
- This is a high elevation hike, so suffering from altitude sickness is possible. Make sure to know the signs. If symptoms occur, immediately tell your guide.
- Don’t forget to tip your guide and porters!!
Signs of Altitude Sickness:
- Lost of Appetite
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Shortness of Breath
- Problems Sleeping
If you love to be outdoors whether it’s hiking, backpacking, kayaking or camping please follow these guidelines. Leave No Trace Principles helps minimize our impact and aids in preserving our earth as much as possible. If you would like additional information please read this article The 7 Principles.
The 7 Principles:
- Plan Ahead & Prepare
- Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Others
Take Nothing but Pictures; Leave Nothing but Footprints
That concludes this post Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Acatenango.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE:
- Everything You Need To Know About Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
- Everything You Need to Know About Torres del Paine O Circuit
travel resources
Here you can find all the travel site links that we personally use and recommend.
ACCOMMODATION: We find the best deals with BOOKING.COM. The more you book the better the perks like free breakfast with your stay, room upgrades and even higher discounted room rates.
CAR RENTALS: We have always used RentalCars.com and find them to have the best deals, customer service and selection of locations.
FLIGHTS: Our go too for booking flights has always been SKYSCANNER. We always find the best prices on this site.
TOURS/EXCURSIONS: GET YOUR GUIDE and VIATOR are two very reputable sites with easy and hassle free bookings.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s so important to travel with insurance and for this we use World Nomads or Safety Wing.
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