When we arrived in Antigua, Guatemala, we booked an overnight tour for the raved-about Acatenango volcano hike. Having heard it was a must-do when in Antigua, we quickly packed the essentials and began our adventure. We didn’t know what was in store for us!
Overexcited and underprepared
These are the two words we would use to describe the 24-hour Acatenango volcano hike. The overnight hike in Antigua, Guatemala, where you hike up to a perfect view of the active Volcán de Fuego.
As well as being generally unfit, still adjusting to the jet lag and coming down from a mild cold, the altitude sickness and cold temperature were killers. It was a hike that challenged us in every way possible.
Because of this, we’ve put together a guide for everything we wish we had known before committing to the overnight Acatenango volcano hike. Along with everything we learnt along the way.
So to everyone as overexcited and underprepared as us; good luck! we hope this helps, even just a little.
Essential need-to-knows for the Acatenango volcano hike:
It’s essential to first understand that it’s quite literally not a stroll in the park. This was a difficult hike even for the most fit people in our group. If you’re not prepared to carry yourself and your pack up 1500m of elevation, to an altitude of nearly 4000m, then we suggest you consider hiring a porter to carry your pack. Or even find a cruisier hike!
Everything the tour company recommends you to bring; bring it!! They’re not telling you to bring warm clothes and 3+ litres of water just for funsies.
If you’re not used to hiking in such high altitudes, take the medication, and take it easy on the way up. And when your fingers start to tingle, don’t freak out. It’s either the side effects of the medication, or the altitude. Either way, it’s your sign to take it slowly!
The only public toilet on the way up Acatenango is the wild bush. Be prepared to hide behind a wide tree or pop a squat somewhere if you end up busting! Now is not the time to be pee-shy.
Lastly, make sure to double and triple-check the weather forecast before you book. We’ve spoken to people who have done this hike TWICE because they booked it for a cloudy day and the view of Fuego was obscured. Don’t be one of the unlucky ones!
Tour Companies for the Acatenango Volcano Hike
We decided to do the Acatenango volcano hike with Soy Tours Antigua. The various people we spoke to who had already done the hike recommended this group for several reasons.
For us, the main point was how easily they catered to the vegan diet (the whole group ate vegan for dinner and breakfast with extra non-vegan things on the side). The food was large portions, and surprisingly delicious for hiking meals! We were provided lunch, dinner and breakfast, as well as hot drinks in the morning and evening.
Another reason was that instead of tents like some of the other companies, we were in small cabins, protecting us from the crazy thunder and lightning, and eventually heavy rain. When we arrived, mattresses and sleeping bags were already set up for us. So cosy!
Soy Tours Antigua also gave us warm clothes, like gloves, hats, socks, scarves, jackets and even sweatpants! There was also the opportunity to hire a backpack, headlamp (pretty essential for the sunrise hike to the summit), walking stick (also essential) and porter to carry your pack.
They were also the best option for us because, unlike the other tour companies, you were able to decide whether or not you wanted to do the extra 4 hours to the Fuego volcano (an extra Q250) once we reached the base camp, and not have to decide before! This was nice because we really didn’t know If we would have the physical or mental capacity for another 4 hours of hiking once we reached base camp…we did not.
The guides at Soy Tours Antigua are experienced and passionate about what they do. If you decide halfway that you would do better without your pack, you can pay for one of them to carry it for you. We had a great experience with this company, felt safe, and looked after the entire time.
List of costs for the Acatenango Volcano Hike
Before we begin, you’ll need to be made aware that everything is paid for in cash. So make sure you head to an ATM before the morning of the hike!
The cost to do the tour with Soy Tours Antigua was Q600pp (roughly $120nzd/…USD). This includes transport to and from your hostel in Antigua, a packed lunch, 2 hot meals, a couple of hot drinks, warm clothes to borrow, and a sleeping bag (already waiting for you at the top).
If you need to hire any other gear, they rent out headlamps (Q40pp), walking sticks (Q10pp), and backpacks (Q100pp).
Or, you can hire a Porter to carry your pack for Q300 (one way!) before you start, or Q400 during the hike.
The second hike for a closer look at Fuego is an extra Q250.
What to bring for the Acatenango Volcano Hike
Firstly, you’ll likely be given a list from your tour company of everything they recommend you to bring. Make sure you check that list off first. They’ll probably check your gear once you arrive at the office too!
In terms of clothing, only bring the absolute essentials. A rain jacket and rain cover for your pack (because it WILL rain), and a set of clean, dry clothes to sleep in. A sunhat and sunglasses, a buff is good too as it gets pretty dusty up there. And of course, warm clothes. The warmest you’ve got. We’re talking beanie, gloves, a scarf, a sweater or thick jacket, long, warm pants, and an extra cosy pair of socks. You will not regret these.
Snacks! Lots of snacks. We even brought peanut butter sandwiches. Anything you think will help give you energy so you make it to the top, bring it. Every break you’ll need a boost, so nuts, muesli bars, candy and the like are all good options.
If you’ve got a headlamp, bring it. Or hire one. Whether or not you’re planning on hiking up to the Fuego viewpoint after the Acatenango hike (which is 4 extra hours, and mostly in the dark!), there is still the sunrise summit hike in the darkness. And also if you need to use the bathroom in the night it makes things a lot easier!
Bring tissues or toilet paper. They don’t provide any. Even wet wipes for an attempt at cleaning up!
Depending on your experience hiking in high altitudes, we still recommend bringing altitude sickness tablets. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Also sunscreen. So important. During the day, the rays are hot and blaring.
Water is generally recommended at around 3-4 litres per person, whether or not you’re a heavy agua drinker. The altitude sickness medication can also dehydrate you, so electrolytes aren’t a bad idea either.
And of course, a positive attitude (you might not make it up otherwise)!
What to expect on the Acatenango Volcano hike
We’ll be straight. Expect no sleep, early starts, and an aching body. Expect to carry your pack up and down the mountain, or spend money on a porter.
While that might sound a little daunting, you can usually count on the incredible views of an erupting volcano right across the valley! It will take whatever breath you’ve got left away.
The demographic of the tour groups is usually backpackers or relatively fit travellers. People who do a lot of hiking normally, or are travelling for the sole purpose of completing popular and challenging hikes across the world. There’s an occasional person (like us) who thinks that just because everyone does it, it’s easily doable…LOL.
The track is steep, and because of this, there are many breaks on the way up to rest and refuel, providing short relief. There are also a few small stores along the way where you can purchase snacks and drinks when you stop (don’t rely on these for sustenance!).
The experienced guides are always checking in on you, and even if you’re at the back of the group, you’re never left behind on your own. With a guide to lead, one at the back, and two in the middle, we felt comfortable at whatever pace we were going.
Our last advice:
Bring the altitude meds, whether you think you’ll need them or not. Even the fittest person can be affected by altitude sickness.
We recommend keeping any bags you don’t need at your hostel, instead of leaving everything you own behind at the Tour office. We left everything at the office and it was just messy and stressful, as we were using our own bags we had to empty everything we didn’t need out of them and leave it behind in a pile. This didn’t ease our minds!
You’ll want to bring a pack with hip and chest support straps. Given the crazy inclines, and then later the slippery declines, it’s a much more comfortable journey when your bag is strapped tightly to you, and not dragging on your shoulders.
Tip the guides at the end of your hike. You’ll see how impossibly hard these guys work, carrying upwards of 40kg on their backs and in their arms, and still being the ones to check in on you! They don’t earn a large wage, so anything you can give to contribute to the families that they leave for nights at a time and their hiking gear is appreciated by them.
Finally, you can always leave if you’re finding it too difficult. If worst comes to worst and you’ve injured yourself, fell sick to the altitude, or are just finding it too tough, you can go back down. They’ve got motorbikes to bring you back down to the bottom, where you’ll be looked after by the tour company you went with.
You will be sore, exhausted, and dirty. But you’ll feel an incredible sense of accomplishment and maybe even disbelief (like us) once you reach the bottom.
After a long hike, you need to fuel up on some tasty food. Check out our guide to the best vegan restaurants in Antigua.
Are you planning on heading to Belize or Honduras Next? Check out our guide on how to get from Belize to Honduras by ferry!
If you are heading to Lake Atitlan check out our review of the best Spanish school in San Pedro and our post on where to find the best vegan food on Lake Atitlan.
