Acatenango & Fuego Hike
Hiking trips to volcanoes in Guatemala
There is one impressive show of nature that you cannot miss when you’re in Antigua in Guatemala: an active volcano. Approximately every 15 minutes, Fuego erupts and you can see a cloud of smoke from afar. If you want to see it from an even closer distance, you can! There are guided hikes from Antigua to the volcanoes Acatenango and Fuego. Charlie was amongst those brave enough to climb an active volcano.
Off to Acatenango with CA Travelers
For experienced hikers, it might be tempting to want to make it up to Acatenango on your own, but it is not recommended. For safety, you should book a guided tour. Seriously, this hike it no joke!
Charlie did the 2-day tour with CA Travelers and the meeting point was as their office in Antigua at 7.15 on the Saturday morning. It started with a yummy breakfast and all tour participants could get to know each other a little before the adventure really started. After breakfast, there was a minibus waiting for the group to bring them to the outdoor center which was around 15 minutes away. There, they got all the equipment that was provided for the hike:
- Backpacks (better if you have your own and if you need one, you should tell them in advance)
- Winter jackets
- A camel pack with water
- A head torch
- A sleeping bag liner
- Winter gloves
- Lunch box with some pre-prepared meals for the weekend
After everything was packed, they got back on the bus and drove around 45 minutes to the entrance to the Acatenango Nationalpark. This is where the adventure would really start.
Ready to climb a volcano
Before they started, they had the option to hire walking sticks and a porter – somebody to carry the backpack. The first was a no-brainer. Yes, hiking sticks come in very handy for the uneven and steep route to Acatenango. Charlie had mixed feelings about hiring a porter. She couldn’t help but feel a bit as if this was a form of slavery. On the other hand, and the guide from CA Travelers emphasized this, was it a way for the locals to earn their living and feed their families. At the same time, there was one other member of the group who didn’t have a backpack that could hold all his belongings. Charlie had her big backpack and there was still a lot of space. They decided to put everything in Charlie’s backpack and hired a porter together. Charlie’s porter was Jaime and he made sure all along the way to never be too far away from Charlie. He and the other porters also provided tips and knew the way up to the base camp as good as the guides.
Their work is truly impressive. Charlie was happy that she did not have to carry weight on her backpack during this already challenging hike. The porters though did it as if it was nothing.
Some of them even returned home after the hike to come back up in the early morning and then carry luggage down again. One can only admire that work ethic!
The climb to Acatenango
The group started the ascend at around 11.30 a.m. and they were prepared that the first and second section would be the hardest. That was no lie! It was steep, uneven, slippery and in parts even muddy. With every inch that they got higher, the air got colder and thinner. It was hard to breath and Charlie could feel her heartbeat in her stomach. Some also mentioned a slight pain in the lungs. After a while it got easier to breathe again, however, do not expect to feel at your highest level of fitness at any time during the climb.
The group had several breaks on the way up and the guides and porters always made sure that everybody was well. One member of the group for example had a cramp and fell. He didn’t get hurt and one of the guides was immediately there to help and check on him.
By around 4 p.m. they reached the base camp and everybody was assigned a cabin and a mattress. They sat around a fireplace and enjoyed a hot chocolate. From there, they had the perfect view of the volcanoes Agua and Fuego as well as the valley beneath. It was cloudy at first, but the sky cleared quickly. It changed within minutes and was impressive to watch.
Hiking the volcano Fuego
For the most adventurous, there was the option to climb to the volcano Fuego too. The view of the volcano and the frequent eruptions was already magnificent from base camp. At night, you could see the red lava flowing down the side of the volcano if you were lucky. That’s what Charlie hoped to get in front of the camera. She decided to join for the hike to Fuego. That would be another 4-5 hours up and down steep slopes in 11000 ft height. Once again, she was happy to have hired walking sticks and to have brought her proper hiking boots.
Some people did the Fuego hike without walking sticks and in trainers. They somehow made it, but it is not recommended. The first bit is a steep descend and the ground is slippery on a narrow path. After about an hour, you start the ascend to Fuego. From now on, it gets even steeper and the route in some parts is more of a rock scramble than a hike. In all honesty, think twice if you want to do it and consider your own fitness level carefully. Some people in the group were in tears on the way back and Charlie seriously questioned why she had decided to join for this additional adventure.
That night, nature clearly showed who’s the boss. As they reached the top, it was so misty that they couldn’t see anything. Charlie had changed from contact lenses to glasses before the hike and that was a bad decision. She couldn’t see a thing. If it wasn’t steam blurring her glasses, it was rain drops. She struggled to see the path on the way down. Additionally, it was very windy at the top and the cold made it hard to enjoy this bit. It probably would have been worth it if they had been able to see the volcano and the eruptions. Without visibility, it wasn’t worth the effort they had made to get this far.
One the way back to the base camp, the sky suddenly cleared up and some people of the group decided to go back up to see the eruptions. Charlie and some others though continued the return journey to the base camp. They already felt exhausted, it was nearly 9 p.m. and they hadn’t had dinner yet either.
Back at the camp, they cooked the pasta they had in the lunch boxes over the fire place, drank wine and had some marshmallows for dessert. It was perfectly planned by the guides and Charlie was once again impressed. On the way up she had seen some other people carrying boxes up. That must have been the wine they now enjoyed with some newly made friends around the campfire.
Watching the sunrise from the top of a volcano
The next morning provided another opportunity for an additional hike. This time it was up to the summit of Acatenango to watch the sunrise. Those that wanted to participate, had to get up at 3.45 a.m. The guides would leave exactly at 4 a.m. There were no exceptions as the sunrise doesn’t wait!
Charlie had decided to skip this hike. The one to Fuego the day before had been strenuous and she did not need another challenge. Plus, they could see the sunset from the base camp too. Charlie had set her alarm to 5.30 a.m. in order to not miss it. The sky was clear and the view was perfect as the sun slowly rose behind the slopes of the neighbouring volcano Agua.
Those that had not gone for the morning hike gathered around the fire place again and enjoyed a hot tea with breakfast. It had been cold at night and in the early morning.
At 7.30 a.m. the whole group started the descend from Acatenango. It took a little over two hours and if the legs weren’t already tired, they surely were now! The last sections were very steep and slippery and Charlie was once again happy to have hired the walking sticks. Once those had been returned at the bottom, the group got back on the bus and drove back to Antigua. There, they returned the rest of the provided equipment and enjoyed a freshly made smoothie, courtesy of CA Travelers. They then returned to the initial meeting point in Antigua by bus where it was time to say goodbye to the newly found hiking friends.
Charlie was back at her accommodation by 2 p.m. and she had never been happier about a shower and a bed.
Acatenango packing list
You should carefully check the information provided by the tour guides before the adventure begins as they provide good information about the things you should bring. Here’s Charlie’s list:
- Hiking backback (you have the option to rent one, but availability is limited)
- Winter jacket (You can get one, but might prefer your own)
- Gloves (you can get them, but might prefer your own)
- Headtorch (you can get one, but it’s never bad to have a spare)
- Sturdy walking boots
- Snacks (you get 4 delicious meals, but you certainly will want snacks along the way)
- Warm layers (it does go below 0 degrees Celsius at night)
- Warm socks for the night (Charlie even had leg warmers)
- Beanie
- Suncream
- Hand sanitiser
- Tooth brush and eco-friendly tooth paste
- Toilet roll and/or tissues
- Wet wipes
- Power bank (if you want to keep your phone charged)
Frequently Asked Questions about the hike to Acatenango
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes! The Acatenango tour is very popular and spaces are limited. Book is as early as possible.
Do I need to bring food?
You get 4 meals during the tour with CA Travelers: breakfast at the tour office, packed lunch, dinner and breakfast the next morning. You should bring snacks to get your energy boost during the breaks.
Where do you sleep at Acatenango?
There are wooden cabins at the base camp at Acatenango. You have a mattress, sleeping bag and pillow.
Are there toilets and showers?
There are toilet cabins at the base camp, no flush though and there is no running water. You should bring wet wipes, toilet paper and hand sanitiser. There are no showers and it is so cold that you would not want to undress anyways.
Do I need pyjamas?
No. Just bring additional layers to wear during the night to keep warm. Other than that, you will sleep in the same clothes you wore during the day.
Can you use your phone at Acatenango?
During the hike, there was from time to time signal, but it is mostly off-grid. To keep your phone charged, you should bring a power bank. Keep all batteries and battery-powered devices inside your sleeping bag at night as the cold will affect their lifespan.
How long does it take to hike up Acatenango?
From the entrance to the Nationalpark, it takes between 4 and 6 hours to reach the base camp of Acatenango.
Can you hike Acatenango on your own?
If you are an experienced hiker and know how to prepare and what to bring, you can hike Acatenango on your own. However, if you have the slightest doubt about outdoor adventures, it is better to go with a guide. That will also give you access to the cabins for the night and you won’t have to bring camping equipment.
How fit do you need to be to hike Acatenango?
It is not an easy hike and you should only do it if you have a good level of fitness. You don’t need to be an athlete, but consider any issues you might have during normal sports activities before starting the hike. The altitude also makes this much harder than other hikes with similar profile.
