Acatenango Volcano Hike: Volcan De Fuego Guatemala

The Acatenango volcano hike is a bucket record trek in Antigua, Guatemala the place you possibly can camp on prime of a mountain and see frequent reside eruptions from a close-by volcano referred to as the ‘Volcan De Fuego’ (which suggests Volcano of Hearth)!

You are able to do the Acatenango hike with a guided group in 1, 2, or 3 days, though the commonest strategy to do it’s a 2 day 1 evening trek, which often offers you adequate time to see eruptions from Volcan De Fuego through the daytime and likewise the glowing purple fireworks at evening.

Is it price it? Completely! The place else on this planet are you able to camp this near an actively erupting volcano and take footage at a protected distance? Not many locations. The Volcan De Fuego places on a spectacular present, with small eruptions each 15-Half-hour!

Guided tour costs are very cheap, and one of many nice issues about trekking Acatenango is that it’s very protected. Nonetheless, that is nonetheless a excessive elevation hike with numerous problem, distance, and elevation acquire, plus you’ll have to deal with a little bit of chilly climate and presumably some extent of altitude illness.

This journey weblog will clarify learn how to do the Acatenango volcano hike, what to convey, greatest time to hike, which trekking guides and tour corporations to make use of, and every part else you must know earlier than you go!

Fast Details*

• Distance: 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) return
• Elevation Acquire: 1,615 meters (5,300 toes)
• Prime Elevation: 3,976 meters (13,045 toes)
• Length: 7 – 10 hours return
• Issue: Arduous

*These stats are for mountaineering to Acatenango summit and don’t embrace the additional/non-compulsory hike to Volcan De Fuego
 

 

Finest Acatenango Volcano Excursions

GetYourGuide has Acatenango trekking excursions for 1, 2, or 3 days, the place you possibly can camp close to the volcano and watch the eruptions, plus a few of them embrace the non-compulsory hike to Volcan De Fuego to see the eruptions even nearer.

These excursions are run by Previous City Outfitters in Antigua, Guatemala, they usually have lots of of optimistic Google critiques from joyful prospects of all nationalities. Different excessive rated tour corporations for this hike embrace Wicho & Charlie’s, Soy Excursions, Tropicana, OX Expeditions, and Excursions & Actions SA.

We’ve used GetYourGuide for plenty of excursions and actions world wide, they usually’re nice! Extremely beneficial.

E book Now: Acatenango Volcano Tour 1 / 2 / 3 days

 

The place Is Acatenango & Volcan De Fuego?

The Acatenango volcano is positioned west of Guatemala Metropolis, overlooking the city of Antigua.

Most individuals base themselves in Antigua for this hike, because it has loads of accommodations and eating places, and it’s solely about 30 kilometers from the volcano (a 1.5 hour drive).
 

About Volcan De Fuego

The Volcan De Fuego is the star of this hike. Whereas Acatenango is an inactive volcano, Fuego is very energetic and it sits proper throughout from Acatenango, far sufficient to be protected for tenting, however shut sufficient to present you wonderful views of the eruptions.

The Fuego volcano often erupts as soon as each 15 to Half-hour, though it may well typically do shorter or longer intervals. Throughout my 3 day hike, it was erupting each 10 minutes on the primary day. By the second day it had slowed down to each Half-hour, and on the third day it was solely erupting each hour, however every eruption was huge.

The intervals are usually not utterly predictable, however in the event you spend a pair days on the mountain summit then you possibly can nearly be sure that you just’ll get to witness a number of eruptions.

 

Acatenango Pattern Itinerary

Right here’s a pattern itinerary for a 2 day, 1 evening Acatenango volcano hike:

• 07:00 – Meet up for briefing, getting ready gear, and many others
• 08:00 – Transport by bus from Antigua to the trailhead
• 09:15 – Begin mountaineering
• 14:00 – Attain Acatenango base camp
• 15:00 – Begin the additional hike to Volcan De Fuego (non-compulsory) if climate is favorable
• 19:30 – Dinner at base camp
• 04:30 – Summit hike for dawn (non-compulsory)
• 07:00 – Breakfast at base camp
• 08:00 – Begin descending
• 10:00 – Attain the trailhead and begin driving to Antigua
• 11:15 – Arrival in Antigua

In fact, that is only a pattern itinerary and your trek could not go precisely like this, however the 2 day treks usually are inclined to comply with this common sample.
 
 

Acatenango Trekking: What To Count on

 

• Beginning The Acatenango Volcano Hike

The Acatenango trek begins with a steep uphill stroll on a dust path that takes you thru Guatemalan farmlands and jungle. The grade is hard and unrelenting from the start. In reality, this primary part is definitely one of many hardest elements of the hike!

The primary path is rarely harmful by way of cliffs or drop-offs, it’s only a grueling exercise. For many of the hike, you’ll even be scorching and sweaty, and making an attempt to shed each layer doable.

When you attain the jungle, the grade is a little more manageable and you’ve got some nicer views, plus extra shade from the solar. You’ll go a few makeshift drink stands alongside the way in which, the place you should purchase snacks and drinks in the event you suppose you may want extra.

 

• Acatenango Base Camp

After awhile, you’ll attain Acatenango base camp and witness your first eruptions from Volcan De Fuego within the distance! You’ll most definitely hear it earlier than you see it.

The scale and facilities of your camp will rely on which trekking firm you e book with, and a few are larger high quality than others. A heat campfire is a given. Some corporations even have little cabins, whereas others have tents.

This doesn’t make an enormous distinction since most individuals will solely be staying one evening anyway, and if we’re being sincere you in all probability received’t get a tremendous sleep no matter how good your camp is.

The vital factor about base camp is that it has a direct view of the eruptions at Fuego — you are feeling like you possibly can attain out and contact it!

 

• Volcan De Fuego Saddle Hike

After you attain Acatenango base camp, your trekking firm will often provide you with an choice to hike over to Volcan De Fuego and see the eruptions up shut! This was the spotlight of the entire journey for me. Roughly half of the trekkers in our group went on this expedition, and we had been all so glad we did.

For this journey, you’ll briefly go away the consolation of the one that you love camp and hike down the steep and sandy slopes of Acatenango, cross the saddle between the 2 volcanoes, after which climb up the aspect of the Fuego volcano till you’re standing on a flat ridge lower than 1 kilometer from the eruptions.

At this distance, the eruptions sound like bombs going off, and you may really feel the Earth rumbling underneath your toes. In the event you go within the night, you too can see the purple lava rocks exploding on the aspect of the mountain.

It’s inconceivable to explain how wonderful that is, however it requires good health. You don’t want any technical abilities for this a part of the hike, however it’s nonetheless going to be very arduous for anybody since you’re already exhausted from mountaineering to Acatenango base camp earlier within the day.

In the event you nonetheless have loads of vitality left over once you attain base camp, I might HIGHLY suggest doing the additional hike to Fuego. It’s among the finest issues I’ve ever seen in my travels world wide.

That is one a part of the hike the place you’ll wish to convey layers of clothes. It could actually get very chilly on the Fuego saddle, particularly within the night if there’s a robust wind and the solar goes down. Come ready!

 

• Acatenango Summit Dawn

Final, however not least, there’s the additional hike to the summit of Acatenango, which most trekking corporations do at dawn. Meaning a wakeup name at round 4:30 AM. This hike is just not close to as arduous because the Fuego hike, however it’s nonetheless a superb exercise with loads of slippery sand.

The dawn on prime of Acatenango is extremely stunning, with a sea of puffy clouds and nice views of Volcan De Fuego erupting, plus you possibly can often spot Volcan De Agua within the distance.

If you need an image of your self (or your group) with the eruption behind you, the summit is without doubt one of the greatest locations to do it! It’s very busy within the morning, however there’s greater than sufficient room for everybody to face and take their footage.

The Acatenango summit can be one of many coldest elements of the hike. We even noticed some icicles up there in December. There’s quite a lot of wind on the summit, however you possibly can duck into the crater for shelter whilst you watch for dawn, so it’s manageable.

 

• Acatenango Hike Issue: How Arduous Is It?

The Acatenango hike is difficult. Very arduous. The general mixture of excessive altitude, a really steep grade, free rocks that sink underneath your toes like sand, and chilly climate all come collectively to make this a extremely powerful one.

Nonetheless, even in the event you solely make it to base camp, the hike continues to be price it. You’ll be able to see wonderful views of the eruptions from the camp web site, so it’s not likely essential to do the additional hike to Fuego or to the Acatenango summit until you continue to have vitality and wish to see the motion even higher.

You don’t must be tremendous match to make it to Acatenango base camp. The guides provide you with loads of breaks alongside the way in which, so you possibly can go at your personal tempo. We had a number of folks in our group who had been positively off form, they usually nonetheless made it to base camp simply wonderful.

One other approach you can also make the hike simpler is to rent an area porter to assist carry your stuff. The value for that is round 150 Quetzales ($20 USD) relying on the burden of your bag, and they’re going to carry as much as 13 kilos (30 kilos) for you up the mountain.

 

• Acatenango Distance & Time

The a technique mountaineering distance from the trailhead to Acatenango base camp is about 4 miles, and it usually takes 4 or 5 hours relying in your tempo.

In the event you resolve to go from base camp to the summit for dawn, that takes one other 1 to 1.5 hours. Going again down from base camp to the parking zone is rather a lot faster and simpler, and solely takes 2 or 3 hours.

In the event you resolve to do the additional hike from Acatenango base camp to the Volcan De Fuego saddle to see the eruptions up shut, that provides one other 3 miles (roundtrip), which takes about 4 hours complete. It’s powerful. All of us struggled with it.

All in all, in the event you do the whole hike to the Acatenango base camp, summit, and Volcan De Fuego saddle, you’re taking a look at 10 to 13 hours of complete mountaineering. That’s no joke. Nonetheless, in the event you solely go to Acatenango base camp and skip the opposite sections, it’s fairly a bit simpler.

The excellent news is that you just don’t must make any form of reserving for the additional hikes. You’ll be able to wait and resolve if you wish to do them after you attain base camp. In the event you’re not feeling it, you possibly can relaxation on the camp as an alternative and benefit from the volcano views.

 

• Acatenango Elevation/Peak

The Acatenango summit has an elevation of three,976 meters (13,045 toes) above sea degree, and the Volcan De Fuego has a barely decrease elevation of three,768 meters (12,362 toes). Base camp is round 3,500 meters (11,000 toes).

Meaning there’s much less oxygen, and once you’re mountaineering, you’ll be huffing and puffing to catch your breath with every step. It positively provides an additional layer of problem to the hike.

The elevation at Acatenango is excessive sufficient to trigger altitude illness (AMS) for some folks, so that you may run into at the very least some extent of complications, crappy sleep, and many others. In case your signs get too extreme, you might have to descend and return to a decrease altitude.

I haven’t heard of individuals getting dangerously sick with AMS on the Acatenango volcano hike, though I wouldn’t utterly rule it out. We had one younger man in our trekking group who was throwing up rather a lot, however he improved instantly once we descended the following day. Take into account, your probability of getting AMS is just not affected by age or bodily health. You may be younger and completely match, and nonetheless get altitude illness.

In the event you’re coming from sea degree, it’s beneficial that you just spend at the very least 48 hours in Antigua earlier than the hike that will help you acclimatize to altitude. The city of Antigua is 1,545 meters (5,069 toes) above sea degree, and Guatemala Metropolis is about the identical, so being in a kind of locations offers your physique an opportunity to regulate a bit bit.

With that mentioned, I’ve heard of many individuals doing the Acatenango hike with out a lot acclimatizing in any respect, they usually had been nonetheless wonderful. I did the hike with two completely different teams of 20 folks, and most of us had solely minor AMS signs. Plus, in the event you do a day hike at Acatenango as an alternative of in a single day tenting, then it’s not likely a priority anyway. You’ll be on the way in which again down earlier than you even begin to really feel the consequences.

Staying hydrated is meant to assist with altitude illness. You’ll wish to drink numerous water earlier than and through the hike. You’ll additionally wish to keep away from alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, and sleeping drugs as a result of they’ll make the signs worse.

You probably have spare time earlier than the Acatenango hike, an amazing warmup hike to do for acclimatizing is the Pacaya volcano trek, which is one other one close to Antigua. It’s not as spectacular as Fuego and you may’t often see energetic eruptions, however it’s nonetheless a enjoyable strategy to prepare.

The Pacaya hike is simpler, shorter, and cheaper than the Acatenango volcano hike, however it nonetheless has a excessive sufficient elevation to assist regulate your physique to altitude. Pacaya’s summit is 2,552 meters (8,373 toes), though most excursions don’t go all the way in which to the summit. You’ll be able to e book the Pacaya trek on-line right here.

 

• Acatenango Elevation Acquire

The vertical elevation acquire on the hike to Acatenango base camp is about 1,110 meters (3,650 toes). In the event you embrace the summit push, it’s a whopping complete of 1,615 meters (5,300 toes). Greater than a mile straight up!

In the event you do the additional hike to the Volcan De Fuego saddle, that provides one other 480 meters (1,600 toes) roundtrip, since you’re going downhill and uphill each methods once you stroll between the 2 volcanoes.

In complete, in the event you do the whole hike to Acatenango summit plus the Fuego saddle detour, you’re taking a look at a grueling elevation acquire of just about 2,100 meters (7,000 toes)! Insane!
 

• Acatenango Climate

The daytime temperatures at Acatenango base camp are nice and even heat if the solar is shining. Nonetheless, the temperatures in a single day can get fairly a bit colder than in Antigua or the remainder of Guatemala.

Within the day time once you first begin the hike from Antigua, it could be a pleasant heat 70 °F (21 °C), however by evening time at base camp it may well drop under 32 °F (0 °C), and in some instances may even get as little as 23 °F (-5 °C). It may also be very windy, particularly on the summit for dawn.

On January 8, 2017, six Guatemalan vacationers died of hypothermia on the Acatenango volcano hike after they got here unprepared and obtained caught in a extreme chilly snap. I don’t wish to scare you by mentioning that, and the trek is loads protected so long as you’re ready, however don’t underestimate the chilly!

Most tour corporations will offer you loads of heat climate gear to borrow, lease, or purchase for the Acatenango hike, so that you’ll positively wish to reap the benefits of that. You may also wish to control any uncommon climate warnings for the day you hike, though it’s uncommon and your guides will in all probability keep on prime of that for you.

You’ll be able to test a climate forecast for the Acatenango mountain summit right here, together with components like wind, rain, clouds, and temperatures. This must be a bit extra correct than the common climate report, though it’s nonetheless not good, so hold that in thoughts.

    
 
 

What To Deliver

• Layers: Deliver a superb jacket and additional layers for the Acatenango hike. I had a t-shirt, two sweatshirts, and a lightweight down jacket. Nonetheless, you’ll wish to begin the hike in a t-shirt and put on the layers later.
• Headwear: You’ll desire a heat beanie hat that covers your ears.
• Gloves: I wore fingerless gloves so I might work my digicam whereas nonetheless staying moderately heat. My fingers had been the coldest a part of my physique on this hike.
• Footwear: Climbing sneakers with good grip are perfect for the Acatenango volcano hike. You’ll be strolling on slippery gravel and steep inclines or declines at occasions.
• Poncho: In the event you climb Acatenango or the Fuego volcano through the wet season (particularly June via September), you’ll positively wish to convey a rain jacket simply in case.
• Water: There’s no potable water supply on the mountain. Deliver extra water than you suppose you’ll want. Guides will advise you to convey at the very least 4 liters of water for the Acatenango hike, and one other 500 mL in the event you plan to do the additional Volcan De Fuego hike to the saddle.
• Snacks: Once more, regardless that most excursions embrace free meals, the standard varies and you should still be hungry after such a whopper hike. I introduced snack bars and beef jerky from the U.S. so I might have one thing further. I ate all of it and wished for extra. YMMV.
• Headlight: Acatenango trekking excursions will present cheapo headlights, however you’ll at the very least wish to convey some further batteries. A headlight is completely required for the Fuego saddle hike and likewise the Acatenango summit, since you might get damage in the event you’re strolling at the hours of darkness.
• Powerbank: In the event you plan to make use of your telephone for taking footage or as a flashlight, then you definately may wish to convey a small energy financial institution. I like Anker, they’re powerful and top quality.
• Digicam: Any digicam with a little bit of zoom is good, so you possibly can take nice footage of the Volcan De Fuego eruptions from Acatenango base camp. Most of my pics on this web page had been taken with a package lens. In the event you do the additional hike over to the Fuego saddle to see the eruptions up shut, then you definately’ll in all probability wish to change to a large angle lens for that.

 

Finest Time To Hike Acatenango

The most effective time to hike Acatenango is through the dry season in Guatemala, which runs from November to April. It’s clearer and fewer more likely to rain throughout these months, so general it’s a good time for mountain trekking.

The wet season in Guatemala runs from Could to October, and there may be fairly a bit extra rainfall, however it tends to come back within the afternoon. Mornings and evenings are often clear, even within the wet months. This season will not be preferrred for trekking Acatenango, however you possibly can positively do it. You’re simply extra more likely to get moist.

As at all times, because you’re coping with a mountain, the climate isn’t utterly predictable at any time of yr, and you can have dangerous climate within the dry season or good climate within the wet season.

In the event you’re anxious about clouds blocking your view of the Fuego eruptions, I might e book an extended Acatenango journey so you’ve gotten extra time on the summit and extra probabilities to see the fireworks.

In conclusion, dry season is greatest for trekking Acatenango if in case you have a selection, however it may be hiked at any time of yr, and the small eruptions are taking place at Volcan De Fuego all yr spherical besides for infrequent transient pauses.

 

Acatenango Deaths & Security

The protection report on the Acatenango volcano hike is fairly spotless to this point. I don’t know of any deaths or accidents from the volcano within the a few years it’s been open for trekking.

In fact, there may be at all times going to be some threat concerned in mountaineering close to an energetic volcano, however the camp is positioned effectively away from the eruptions, so that you’re not likely within the line of fireplace even when there was some form of main eruption.

If you wish to be tremendous cautious, you can skip the additional hike to Fuego and simply watch the eruptions from base camp as an alternative. I’ve by no means heard of anybody getting damage on the Fuego hike, however that will in all probability be the most definitely place for one thing to occur.

The opposite query is theft. As you may know, Guatemala is just not the most secure nation on this planet, and there was a rash of armed robberies on the Acatenango hike again in 2007-2009. Nonetheless, it looks like security has improved on the hike ever since they began charging an entrance charge, and I haven’t heard of any crimes like that taking place right here in at the very least a decade.

This mountain is offering quite a lot of earnings for the native communities in Guatemala these days (simply thousands and thousands of US {dollars} once you add up all of the trekking corporations and entrance charges), so it’s in everybody’s greatest curiosity for them to let vacationers hike in peace and never do something to disturb the money cow.

If you need some further peace of thoughts, you can additionally convey a hidden journey belt (like this one) and put a few of your valuables in it. That’s what I did. Through the first a part of the hike, the views are fairly boring so I stowed my telephone, money, and bank card in a hidden belt to be further protected.

With that mentioned, it was an amazing hike and we didn’t have any crime points in any respect. Despite the fact that Guatemala doesn’t have an excellent status on security, I feel it’s improved rather a lot within the final 20 years, and nonetheless appears to be getting higher.

 

Different Ideas For The Acatenango Hike

• Bugs: We didn’t have any issues with mosquitoes or different bugs on the Acatenango hike. The elevation is just too excessive for mosquitoes so it’s not one thing to fret about. I didn’t even convey spray.
• Cell Service: I had a bit little bit of cell service/telephone reception at Acatenango base camp with Claro and Tigo by way of my T-Cell roaming package deal, and occasional spotty reception on the mountaineering path itself. It was adequate to ship occasional texts to my household and allow them to know I used to be okay, however it wasn’t something very dependable. I’m positive this additionally relies on the place your base camp is positioned on the mountain, so some treks could not have any reception on the camp.
• Drones: You’ll be able to fly drones at Acatenango, and there aren’t any restrictions that I do know of. I noticed a number of vacationers doing it. Nonetheless, it may be a bit difficult with the wind, so that you’ll wish to hold that in thoughts. Plus there are many different folks tenting on the mountain, so that you’ll wish to be thoughtful and hold a long way.
• Entrance Payment: The present entrance charge for trekking Acatenango is 110 Quetzales ($14 USD) per particular person. You pay this at a Guatemalan authorities sales space partway via the hike. Nonetheless, your trekking firm could already embrace this charge within the complete value of the hike, in order that’s one thing you possibly can test.

 

Climbing Acatenango With out A Information

For the common hiker, there are a lot of causes I wouldn’t suggest mountaineering Acatenango with no information: navigation, logistics, comfort, security, and many others. You’ll have a significantly better and extra pleasurable expertise in the event you e book a guided tour and go together with a bunch of enjoyable likeminded folks.

With that mentioned, it’s actually doable to hike Acatenango with no information in the event you’re decided and have prior expertise with the route. One of many challenges will likely be discovering a great place to camp, since I’ve heard the trekking corporations are fairly territorial about house on the mountainside.
 

Is The Acatenango Hike Value It?

Sure, the Acatenango volcano hike is completely price it! It’s bucket record materials. Really a as soon as in a lifetime expertise.

Despite the fact that the hike to Acatenango and Fuego is without doubt one of the hardest hikes I’ve finished, the payoffs match the issue. For my part, there isn’t any query that this is without doubt one of the prime 10 greatest hikes on this planet. It would even be within the prime 5 for me.

To face subsequent to an erupting volcano, really feel the rumbling within the floor, and watch the exploding lava rocks is simply priceless. Exterior of Guatemala and Indonesia, I’m undecided if I do know of any locations on this planet the place you are able to do that.
 

Extra Guatemala Journey Ideas

Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this volcano trekking information for the Acatenango hike and Volcan De Fuego in Guatemala.

Don’t neglect to take a look at my information for Tikal Nationwide Park in Guatemala earlier than you go!

Blissful travels!