Hiking Volcan Acatenango Experience

One of the most popular activities to do in Antigua, and possibly even Guatemala is hiking Volcan Acatenango. On a clear night it’s one of the best sights you will ever see, as neighboring Volcan Fuego is an actively erupting spectacle! Here is my (Hannah’s) experience of hiking Volcan Acatenango as an inexperienced hiker. 

Facts about Volcan Acatenango

• Height: 3,976 metres (13,045ft)
• It’s the third highest volcano in Central America
• It’s a dormant stratovolcano (if you remember from geography classes at school, its tall, conical and built from layers of lava)
• It’s a twin volcano and connected to Volcan Fuego which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world! 

Hiking FAQs 

• Difficulty rating: challenging
• Distance: approx 13km up & down 
• Time: 1-2 days (4-6 hours up & 2-4 hours down)
• Best experience: Overnight hike
• Max altitude: 3,976metres (13,045ft)

Hike Difficulty

The hike is considered challenging for a few reasons. You have to contend with steep inclines and high altitude. The hike is typically only 12-13km for the round trip but has an elevation of around 1500m (that’s almost 140 floors according to my iphone!). Because of the steep incline up and down your legs will be tired and very achy for the next few days. 

This hike involved no scrambling and there is almost zero chance of snow. On a wetter day the walk will be more slippery so you will need to account for that with appropriate footwear and hiking poles. 

As someone who is not a hiker, I would say the walk was difficult due to the altitude and my limited fitness level but absolutely doable. It’s more about the mental blockers – you can do it, just one foot in front of the other.

I will talk more about Wicho & Charlies (our chosen tour company) later, but they also offer a service where they carry your overnight bags 80% of the way up the volcano, so you are only hiking with a day pack for the majority of the hike which is super helpful. 

Why it’s best to join a tour

The guides

The walk is pretty difficult, even in good weather, but knowing that you have tour guides on hand to help out if you get into any trouble is the best way to do it. These guys are experts and climb the volcano very regularly so are familiar with the paths and how to recognise signs of struggle. 

You will also be hiking at high altitude and if you have not done this before or very often you won’t know how your body reacts to the thin air. 

The accomodation

Joining a tour means you will arrive at base camp with pre prepared accommodation waiting for you. After 4-6 hours of hiking uphill the last thing I would have wanted to do is set up a tent, and even less so when the temperature was freezing!! 

Many tours have different levels of accommodation, from simple tents, to shared dorm cabins to private huts! We opted for a shared dorm cabin which had 8 of us in it. It was surprisingly warm at night and comfortable.

The food

Your tour will most likely include the following meals for an overnight trip:

• Breakfast before your hike
• Lunch part way through the hike
• Dinner at base camp
• Breakfast at base camp before descent 

I will talk more specifically about the food with Wicho & Charlie’s below but we received all of the above plus trail mix type DIY snack bags & hot choc/marshmallows at basecamp!

The equipment 

Most tours will provide access to some rented gear and some gear that comes in the price. It completely depends who you go with. For example our tour included layers and jackets, torches, hats/golves etc but not walking poles. I will go more into it below specifically for Wicho & Charlie’s but I think the majority of tours can offer you rentals of most things. It is however, pretty standard for companies not to provide rental for walking boots. So make sure you bring good footwear (more on the specifics of this below). 

The group aspect

Hiking as a group is not only safer but also so much more fun! Being able to talk with different people makes the time go so quickly and can really help the mental blocks over tricky parts of the hike.

Doing it yourself

We have heard accounts of people hiking Acatenango themselves and taking their own camping equipment and food etc. The path is reasonably easy to follow but like all trails at altitude it can be dangerous if something happens and there is no one else around. It is also really cold at the top so you will need to pack a lot to survive the night comfortably up there!

What are the popular tour companies

Wicho & Charlie’s

Price: from Q1,150 (£115 / US $150)

What makes it popular: great quality of cabins, gear and guides. Vegetarian food and puts money back into the community. Good for all ages and abilities. They also offer 4×4 drive up option.

Tropicana

Price: Q680 per person (£68 / US $89)

What makes it popular: Popular with hostel stayers and good atmosphere. I’d say this is more popular with those on the younger side.

Soy Tours

Price: Q660 per person (£66 / US $86)

What makes it popular: again popular like Tropicana for the hostel crowd.

OX Expeditions

Price: Q760 per person (£76 / US $99)

What makes it popular: famous crater run challenge at the top!

Why we chose Wicho & Charlies

Wicho & Charlies was by far the more expensive option, but I have very little experience with hiking. I have a reasonably low fitness level but I had been working on it and naturally improving with our travels. So I wanted to find a tour where I would feel supported and not like i was holding the whole group back if I was significantly slower than the norm. 

I think the big reason for me, as to why we chose them, was the fact they take your bag up 80% of the way. This way you only have to carry a small day bag with lunch and water for the majority of the hike. 

We had heard so many good things about Wicho and Charlies and even though the price was much higher, for this peace of mind we chose them. The group was of mixed ages (from children to people in their 60s) and mixed abilities and I felt really comfortable the whole time. 

The cabins at base camp looked really good and cosy and they were! We stayed really warm and protected from the wind! The cost of our tour also included rental for ‘essential gear’ like a hat, scarf, gloves, layers, coats, head lamps and water bottles. It also included a small day bag to take up. 

Wicho & Charlie’s also employs local guides and gives back to the community, environments and animals. Which is another plus to booking with them. You can see more about their mission on their website.

What we brought with us

We checked out of our accommodation to avoid paying for a night that we weren’t there. Wicho & Charlie’s has a storage room with lockers so you can keep your luggage safe during your trip. Make sure you bring a padlock to secure your luggage.

Clothes:

• Hiking boots
• Hiking socks
• Spare socks (didn’t need)
• Shorts (start the hike in shorts)
• Long trousers (I changed into leggings when we stopped for lunch.)
• T-shirt
• Long sleeve top
• Fleece
• Spare underwear 

Non clothing items:

• Altitude tablets
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Spare toilet paper
• Phone/camera
• Extra snacks (didn’t eat in the end)

Rented from Wicho & Charlie’s:

• Extra fleece
• Coat
• Gloves
• Hat
• Scarf
• 4 x 1 litre water bottles
• Headlamp
• Daily backpack
• Hiking poles (extra fee)

Timings of the trip

*as of 2025

Day 1

• 06:30 meet at Wicho & Charlies for breakfast and the pre hike briefing 
• 08:30 transport to the start of the trail
• 09:45 start hike
• 12:30 lunch break
• 15:00 arrival at base camp
• 19:30 dinner

If you want to hike Fuego (I didn’t) you will leave shortly after arriving at base camp

Day 2

• 04:30 sunrise summit (optional)
• 06:30 breakfast
• 07:00 descent
• 10:00 transport back to Antigua

My experience

Pre hike

I was a bit scared pre hike. I thought that I wasn’t fit enough or that we’d be in a group of athletes who would laugh at me because I was slow… but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The hike was demanding but not as tough as I thought it would be.

I was also worried about altitude, I’d never hiked at a high altitude before, but we managed to secure altitude tablets from a pharmacy in town (more on that below). 

I was also nervous I’d be hungry so we found protein and cereal bars in the La Bodega supermarket in town.

Hindsight is a great thing and I had nothing really to be worried about, but that’s just my mind!

The night before I made sure to have a filling dinner, not drink any alcohol and have an early night.

Breakfast & pre briefing 

We arrived and met the group. There were probably about 30 guests on the tour which felt like a good number. Shortly after arriving, we had our morning briefing about how the day was going to go. This also included info about the gear rental that we needed and what they recommended for the hike.

After the briefing we went into the gear room to pick out the items we needed. It is made clear which items are included and what are extra items like hiking poles, extra backpacks, extra layers etc. It is first come first serve and gets pretty crazy in that room of people trying to get the best picks. Try and sit close to the entrance to get first picks of the clothing.

You need to hand in some kind of ID when registering your rented gear at the counter, in case you lose it. 

Wicho & Charlie’s recommended hiking poles, which are a small additional cost. Though not required these were so so helpful on both the way up and the way back down. 

After getting all our gear, we had breakfast. It consisted of pancakes, toast, peanut butter, beans, porridge & bananas with tea/coffee and a beetroot shot. It was all really yummy and filling which was perfect.

After breakfast we sorted out our bags. We put our big backpacks in storage and split our things into a bag that would be with us all day, and the extra stuff that we would pick up 80% of the way through the hike. 

In my bag for the first 80% of the hike I took: 2 water bottles, my lunch, snacks, my leggings & extra fleece to change into when it got cold. In my other bag (which we picked up for the last 20% of the walk) was my jacket for the cold, the rest of my rented gear, the rest of my water (1 bottle was needed to cook with for dinner) and my toiletries.

Start of the hike

The drive to the start of the trail took about 45 mins and we arrived for another quick briefing before setting off. We took some pics to symbolise the beginning of the trek and got started. The group naturally split into 2. One faster group and one slower group, and I was more than happy to be in the slightly slower group. 

The hike was fairly steep for the first few hours and we took small breaks every 30 minutes or so. The terrain was fine, no scrambling or climbing, just consistent uphill walking. 

I probably started off going a bit too quickly, so make sure you take it slow even at the beginning. 

Lunch

We picked up pasta salads from the office in the morning and picked a sauce to drizzle on top when we got to our lunch spot. The pasta salad was filling and vegetarian. The stop allowed us to sit down for 15-30mins and change clothes for the next half of the hike which would get colder. I put on my leggings at this point (and went to the loo, aka a wee behind a tree). 

Remainder of the hike

The next section of the hike was similar to the last, with uphill steep sections until we got to the 80% mark of the hike. Here we met the 4x4s which took up our other bags (and passengers who elected to take the 4×4). At this point we had another little rest before continuing with the rest of our stuff in the 2nd backpack. I had one backpack on my back and one on the front for this last section. I would recommend (if you can) clipping the day bag onto your other backpack on your back so you don’t have any bags on your front for ease of walking. 

The final stretch (about 1 – 1.5 hrs) was called ‘Guatemalan flat’ aka flatter than the rest of the hike but still not really! But the excitement of getting close was in the air. 

We arrived at base camp at 3pm and could finally relax! My legs were so tired so when they told us that our 8 bed cabin dorm was up 2 more flights of steps on the hill side I almost cried (haha) but I mustered up the courage to carry on!

Cabin

The cabin was a thick wooden cabin with 4 bunk beds fitting 8 people. Connor and I got there towards the end so had 2 of the top beds. 

We were really lucky with the weather conditions for our hike, it was cold but clear! So we dumped our stuff and headed back out to watch the volcano! 

On a clear day in the day light you will see it erupting by the puffs of ash, and at night is when you can see the lava!

Fuego

Those wanting (and deemed capable by the guides) to hike Fuego went shortly after we arrived at basecamp. I obviously wasn’t ready for that level of hike and nor did I want to. I’d say maybe 30% of our group did the Fuego hike. So we sat and watched the sunset with a fire and waited for the group to come back from Fuego.

Those who decided to hike Fuego came back around 7pm for dinner. Most of them said it was amazing, but SO hard. Worth it for the amazing views and to say you have walked on an active volcano but it was so tricky. Apparently on the volcanic sand it’s like 2 steps forward and 1 step back as you struggle with sliding on the sand. You also have to hike down before the ascent onto Fuego, which means you have to repeat this on the way back, down and back up again. Finally, you are also doing a lot of this in the dark. You will need a head torch but also keep an eye on your group and all stay together as it’s easy to get lost in the dark! Hiking Fuego also costs an extra Q250 (£25 / US $32).  

Dinner

Dinner was super filling – I think at altitude your appetite is reduced – so I didn’t eat too much but tried to put as much back as possible. It was essentially a burrito bowl with loads of veggie toppings and importantly it was a warm meal! We all ate together before heading back outside for hot chocolate and marshmallows by the fire and watching Fuego erupt multiple times!

After heading to bed for around 9pm we woke up at 3:30am. We thought about doing the sunrise summit hike but instead settled for watching the lava until sunrise – which I 100% recommend if the weather is clear. The sunrise hike is pretty tricky and cold as well as in the dark. Multiple people said it was amazing but as half of the walk is in the dark and on volcanic sand its pretty tough, especially before a morning of downhill hiking. 

I’m so glad we just sat and enjoyed the eruptions! 

For those wanting to reach the summit, your only option is to do the sunrise hike in the morning.

Descent 

We had breakfast around 6:30am, before heading down at 7. We took all our things down to where the 4x4s dropped off our bags last time and gave in our bags. Only take what you need for the descent – for me that was just what I was wearing!

Hiking downhill, I was quite slow at first because it’s pretty nerve wracking on the slippy gravel paths, but you soon find your stride, and the poles really help. The guides also show you how easy it is to move more quickly on the downhill whilst staying safe.

After a few hours we finally arrived back at the start point!! I’d done it!!! I couldn’t believe it at all!

At this point I said that this was the hardest thing I had ever done, and that I would never be doing anything similar again. But after a few days the pain of the reality of it quickly washes away and the thought of getting to experience that again and see the lava would be amazing – so maybe i should go back??

Summary

In summary, beforehand I was scared. And yes, it was hard, but totally doable and more of a mental climb rather than physically demanding (but also physically demanding!). I would have struggled a lot more without good walking boots and poles, so I would say these are a must. 

I also think having a good spot to sleep overnight is important too. So be sure to check out reviews and the quality of the cabins before booking.

We were also so lucky that when we climbed (23rd/24th December 2024) the conditions were great. Sun, a bit of wind, but no rain and very little cloud cover. This made the view of the lava at nighttime incredible, but I understand that not everyone gets this.

I think you have to be prepared for not seeing any lava because it’s not a given unfortunately. The January after we hiked Fuego stopped erupting for a good few weeks. No one predicted it and no one was able to say when it would start again.

Also if it is raining when you hike, I think you have to be even more mentally strong as it’ll be a bit of a slog to get up there and maybe slippery on the way down.

Of course there is no guarantee on what your trip will look like, I just hope you get to have an amazing experience like I did.

Hiking boots vs hiking shoes vs trainers

I wore hiking boots. I wear the Salomon’s X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex boots and they are amazing. They are so light weight and made me feel so safe both uphill and on the descent. Connor wore Colombia hiking trainers. He is a lot more experienced with hiking so this was fine for him, but even he would say if you are doing a lot of hiking, boots are preferred for the ankle support. 

Some people on our hike were just wearing trainers. Those with no grip bottoms really struggled. Some wore sports trainers with an element of grip which was fine with our weather, but if it had been really wet, I’m not sure how well they would have done.

Is Acatenango doable for people who aren’t regular hikers

Yes! This was me! Although I am a lot better now, I am still a novice and don’t have a great fitness level. I just went slowly and tried not to feel the pressure to go quickly. If this is your first time at high altitude too, I would really recommend taking some kind of altitude tablets.

If however you do have problems with your heart or breathing, it might not be for you without training and medical advice from your doctor. 

Altitude tablets

You will find pharmacies all over Antigua which is great just generally, but also for altitude tablets (this is not as common in other Guatemalan towns e.g. we couldn’t find any tablets in Xela). 

Most pharmacies in Antigua will sell altitude tablets and they have a reasonable amount of English speaking workers here. The exact name of the tablets is Acetazolamide. Make sure that when they show you the packet that the name matches and that the blister packs are not tampered with. 

The tablets in 2025 cost Q105 (£10.50 / US $13.50) which is fairly standard. If the pharmacy tries to charge much more than this check with another. 

We went to Farmacia Roca De Don Miguelito to get our medication. 

Fuego 

Tour operators will charge you extra to hike Fuego. This extra 3-4 hour climb takes you onto the ridge of the active Volcan Fuego – which is obviously amazing! 

The walk is tricky, it’s in the dark, cold, and on volcanic sand. It’s almost like 2 steps forward, 1 step back on the uphill sections. 

The hike involves a hike down off Acatenango and up to the Fuego ridge. Then to get back you go the same way, down off Fuego and the hike back up the base camp. Many of the people who came back from the hike found it really tricky, even the fittest people in our group. The guides should be on it to assess whether you are capable of the hike or not. One good indication is if you are in the slower half of the group, it’s unlikely that it’s appropriate for you.

Sunrise summit 

If Fuego doesn’t sound like a bit of you, you can wake up at 3:30am to hike up to the sunrise to watch the sunrise. This small hike to the summit is also quite tricky due to the volcanic sand and hiking in the dark. 

As mentioned before, we woke up for the sunrise summit but as the sky was so clear, we actually just sat outside and watched the volcano continue to erupt until the sun rose. 

Would I do it again?

If you had asked me this question in the 2 weeks after the hike, I probably would have said no haha! But after a bit of time you forget how hard it was and just remember all the good. Seeing the erupting volcano is like nothing else I have ever witnessed. Now I know I can do it, I think I would do it again, however we had such amazing weather conditions, would I want to risk doing it again to not see the lava? Who knows?

How far in advance do I need to book

For popular companies like Wicho & Charlies you do have to book in advance if you want a specific date. For most companies you can get away with booking a few days in advance especially if you are flexible with dates. 

I think the only days most people don’t do tours is on 24 & 25th December. We hiked up on the 23rd and back down on the 24th so as this was the last hike before Christmas, we had to book this at least 1 month in advance. 

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