If you’ve dreamed of seeing a volcano erupt, this bucket list hike is for you! Volcán Fuego in Guatemala is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America, and has experienced small eruptions constantly since 2002. Fuego has also had several major eruptions over the past 500 years. The first known eruption was in 1524.
The best way to see Fuego up close is by joining a guided hike up Acatenango, which is a dormant volcano right next to Fuego. The hike up Acatenango involves spending one night on the mountain, and it’s a steep and difficult climb. However, it’s definitely worth it to be able to watch a real volcano explode over and over.
This guide is all about hiking the Acatenango Volcano to see Fuego. It includes details about the trek, including the difficulty and what to expect along the way. This is based on my experience doing this hike in January 2024.
Overview of the Acatenango Hike
The hike to Acatenango has a few stages and options. Everyone will hike to the basecamp to spend the night, but then you have the option to hike to the Acatenango peak (typically done at sunrise) and/or to hike closer to Fuego (typically done at sunset).
Here is a breakdown of the distances and elevation gain for each (one way):
From the trailhead to basecamp: 5 miles (8 kilometers), 4,202 feet (1,281 meters) of elevation gain (this may vary a little bit depending on where your basecamp is located)
From basecamp to the Acatenango Peak: 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers), 1,132 feet (345 meters) of elevation gain
From basecamp to the Fuego view: 3.2 miles (5.1 kilometers), 1,896 feet (578 meters) of elevation gain
Need To Know: The elevation of Acatenango basecamp is 11,155 feet (3,400 meters), so you may experience altitude sickness if you’re coming from sea level. I planned this hike for the end of my Guatemala trip so that we had a little bit of time to adjust.
How to Hike the Acatenango Volcano
When it comes to hiking Acatenango, you will first need to decide which company to go with. While a guide is not strictly required, this is by far the safest, most convenient and easiest way to accomplish this hike.
I had a great experience going with Wicho & Charlie’s! One of the best parts about this company is their initiative to help the stray dogs that you’ll see on the trek, and give back to the community. They provide support to a local animal shelter. They also have a commitment to avoiding single use plastics, and provide plant based meals.
Itinerary for Hiking Acatenango Volcano
This is the itinerary with Wicho & Charlie’s, it varies slightly by company.
Day One
6:30 AM: Meet at the shop, eat a provided breakfast, rent any gear you need
8 - 9 AM: Leave for the hike
10 - 10:30 AM: Start hiking.
The hike to the peak includes a few different stages. First, you’ll hike next to farms. There are some narrow areas that involve hiking next to barbed wire, which can be especially right when there is another group hiking down.
Soon, you’ll enter a cloud forest, which is more peaceful than the farms. This part of the trek has mossy trees and is beautiful, but is also very steep. It’s the steepest and hardest part of the trek.
The final stretch flattens out a little bit, and on a clear day, you’ll get some wonderful views of the nearby Agua Volcano.
Our group had about 25 hikers and 5 guides. As we continued to hike, we kept breaking up into smaller groups based on pace. I stayed in one of the slower groups, and it took us about 4.5 hours to reach basecamp (with lots of breaks).
4 PM: Optional hike to Fuego
Day Two
4:30 AM: Optional sunrise hike to the top of Acatenango
The hike to the peak of Acatenango is once again, quite steep. But luckily, it’s short (and absolutely worth it!). We took a different route to get down that essentially involved ‘skiing’ down deep, volcanic dust. It was fun, but a buff was very much needed with all of the dust in the air.
8 AM: Hike back down
Hiking back down from Acatenango basecamp was ROUGH due on the steep areas. I was happy for it to be over!
12 PM - 1 PM: Return to office in Antigua
Need recommendations for the rest of your Guatemala trip? Check out my 7-day Guatemala itinerary
Things To Know Before Hiking Acatenango
- Typically, you have the option to hire a porter to carry your extra things (you’ll need to at least carry your water and other essentials during your trek). Wicho & Charlie’s actually uses a pick-up truck to bring your extra bag most of the way up the mountain. From there, you can either carry it the rest of the way (this is a flatter portion of the hike) or hire a porter to carry it.
- Wicho & Charlie’s has many options for rental gear if you don’t bring everything you need. However, I recommend at least bringing your own clothing and backpack so that you know you’ll be comfortable and have the right fit. They do not rent shoes.
- In my opinion, going down was harder than going up. It’s rough on your knees! I think that trekking poles are a must.
- It gets really dusty during parts of the trail, especially hiking down from the Acatenango Peak. Wearing a buff is a must.
What To Pack for the Acatenango Volcano Hike
- Base layers (it can be very cold overnight at the top of the volcano)
- A hat, gloves and scarf (Wicho & Charlie’s provides these for free)
- A headlamp (also typically provided)
- Trekking poles (a must with how steep this trail this is)
- Hiking shoes or boots with good traction
- Hiking socks
- Your hiking and sleeping clothes for 2 days and 1 night
- A water bottle and/or water bladder
- A day pack, plus a small duffle or additional bag to be transported up the mountain for you (needs will vary by company)
- A raincoat or poncho
- Sunscreen
- A power bank to charge your phone (I love this lightweight one!)
- A first aid kit
- Sleeping bag liner (optional)
- Camera (optional)
- A buff. It was extremely dusty when I hiked down from Acatenango after sunrise.
- Gaiters to keep dirt and rocks out of your shoes (optional)
- Toiletries
What you don’t need for the Acatenango hike?
Sleeping gear or food, as they are provided by most tour operators.
FAQs about Hiking Acatenango
How hard is the hike to Acatenango?
I would consider the hike to Acatenango to be quite hard. It’s extremely steep for a large portion, meaning you’ll be huffing and puffing on your way up, and your knees will be hurting on the way down. However, you don’t necessarily need hiking experience to complete this trail. If you’re in reasonably good shape and have the right mindset, you can do it!
I also think that watching Fuego erupt and enjoying the views are 100% worth the struggle! This is an experience you’ll never forget.
How often does Fuego erupt?
During my visit, Fuego was erupting every 20 minutes or so. However, current conditions can vary. This Smithsonian website publishes weekly reports so you can learn about what Fuego is doing right now.
What are the sleeping arrangements like?
Most companies have the option to choose between sharing private dorms or paying a little extra for a private cabin, or semi-private option. My husband and I paid for the private cabin with Wicho & Charlie’s and it was quite nice!
A sleeping bag, mattress, blanket and pillow are provided (but be sure to check the exact offerings that your company is providing).
How should I prepare for the Acatenango hike?
If you’d like to train for the hike up Acatenango Volcano, I recommend focusing on steeper trails and/or using the stairmaster at the gym. It’s also a bonus if you can prepare by spending time in a higher altitude.
Can you hike up and down Acatenango in one day?
Yes, some companies offer transportation and guiding for hiking up and down Acatenango in one day. I would not recommend this because it greatly reduces your chances of watching Fuego erupt. If you run into foggy weather, it would be disappointing to miss out on the views if you don’t have much time.
Final Thoughts
I hope this helps you learn what to expect when hiking the Acatenango Volcano! It’s a tough, but incredibly rewarding hike and makes for an epic edition to a Guatemala trip.
For more bucket list cities and adventures around the world, check out these guides:
- How to Spend a Week in Guatemala
- How to Spend 3 Days in Mexico City
- How to Spend a Weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- The Best Things To Do in Madeira, Portugal
- The Perfect Patagonia 2 Week Itinerary
- How to Spend 2 Days in Joshua Tree National Park
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