Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala

One of Guatemala's most popular destinations is Acatenango Volcano. I did the overnight hike and want to share some expectations vs reality.
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[@jaypalmerittas4607]

I'm glad you had a safe hike to that volcano.

[@mindful_wander]

Thanks. Yea it was a great experience. Super tough though. Have you tried it or been to Guatemala ?

[@queerfusion]

💜Amazing tour, they are priced well too. Maybe this has inspired me to go to Guatemala.😀

[@lipe26714]

Actually, you were looking at even more volcanoes from the summit. You could add to the list volcano Atitlan, Toliman, Paquisis, Santo Tomas and Santa Maria. Is possible to see also Zunil, Tacana and Tajumulco. Definitely a beautiful view.

[@mindful_wander]

Holy cow. Are there that many? One of my guides listed the ones I mentioned (in Spanish, so maybe I missed some things) but perhaps that’s only what we could see that morning. That’s crazy! Thanks for sharing! Have you been up Acatenango yet?

[@lipe26714]

@@mindful_wander Yes, there are 37 volcanoes in the country, many of them visible from Acatenango. I used to hike volcanoes when I was younger, and yes, went to Acatenango a few times (I'm guatemalan).

[@mindful_wander]

Wow that’s incredible. It a such a beautiful place. Have you been to El Paredón? I was thinking of going there next time

[@lipe26714]

@@mindful_wander Yes, I went there some years ago before it became a surf town, to see la poza del nance.. It is a natural sanctuary and breeding spot for sea turtles (kind of unique place in that sense). I'm thinking of going again sometime this dry season, to see how the area is developing. Have you been to Atitlan yet?

[@SB-qs9zu]

Very well presented and super helpful! Gracias!

[@mindful_wander]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you. Are you planning to do this hike?

[@SB-qs9zu]

@@mindful_wander I wish I could as I’m not that young anymore! But wishes for your future adventures! For sure, it’s good to be young and healthy! Enjoy.

[@KenMathTeacher]

I did this hike a couple of years ago (plus the extra fuego hike) and I agree with all your pointers. However I would add that having good hiking boots will probably make the climb easier than sneakers.

[@mindful_wander]

Good point. As long as they are broken in! Thanks! Any cool hikes coming up for you?

[@KenMathTeacher]

​@@mindful_wander Thanks for asking, I would love to do the Dolomites, Aconcagua and Everest Basecamp Trek. How about yourself?

[@frodocomarca535]

Congratulations..! Greetings from Guatemala city.. Hugsssss.!

[@mindful_wander]

Thank you! I really hope to return to Guatemala soon (maybe this year or next). I would love to return to Antigua and visit Atitlán.

[@fuacatarun2run931]

Thanks for the tips

[@mindful_wander]

Thanks for watching! Have you been to Antigua yet?

[@fuacatarun2run931]

@mindful_wander hey yes many times but never at a volcano I am actually talking my whole family next month for the experience thanks for asking.

[@saminkhan510]

Thank you for sharing your experience! My partner and I are planning a trip for March. Praying for clear skies 🙏🏽 Fitness-wise, how would you recommend we prepare? We're thinking a steep 4-6 hour hike in February.

[@mindful_wander]

That's awesome! You're going to love it there. I was thinking of going back sometime too. Fitness-wise, being more physically fit does allow you to enjoy the hike more because it is pretty tough. Generally though, I'd say as long as you don't have any crazy knee or join problems and you're fit enough to do a basic jog in your day-to-day life, you'll be fine. If you really want to prepare, I'd say run a lot to build your stamina and get your heart used to pumping quickly. You may also want to find a place to do some stair exercises to get those large leg muscles used to lifting your body up inclines. Where were you planning to hike in February?

[@l.a.beltranmusic4554]

Did this hike about ten years ago, our base camp looked nothing like that. We had to set up our own tents, make our fire and cook our own food. This looks like glamping in comparison lol.

[@mindful_wander]

No way! This was definitely and admittedly glamping 😆 What did you think of the experience?

[@l.a.beltranmusic4554]

@@mindful_wander One of the hardest things I've ever done, also one of the most rewarding. 10/10

[@marcossperezzy6281]

Rainy season is a spoiler, with daily thunderstorms with risk of getting hit by a lightning on base camp. but, they don't tell you that. Good info in your video and great views from the top, tnks

[@mindful_wander]

Yes, great point! I met some travelers that had already booked the hike even though the dry season didn't kick into gear yet. They had fog and haze and no volcano show. It's quite an intense hike to do with no reward at the end but I guess it could just be a physical challenge. These volcanoes would be such an incredible thing to miss though! Were you one of the groups that did the hike without the reward at the end?

[@christodoulosstavri4736]

Hi Brandon, I am planning to hike acatenango in 2 weeks, do you have any suggestions in terms of the altitude, hike, sportswear etc?

[@mindful_wander]

That's great. Enjoy! The altitude didn't seem too bad to me, my friend, or any of the other hikers. Antigua is approx. 5,000 feet above sea level, so chillin there for a bit gave me a little help in adapting (I'm from Los Angeles which is basically at sea level). Consider bringing a little aspirin with you if you're concerned and take it before the hike. As far as sportswear, bring plenty of layers (preferably very light-weight ones) because it is pretty warm while you're hiking but can be super cold at the summit before sunrise (or at El Fuego at night). For the night hike to El Fuego, I was wearing long underwear, wind-resistant hiking pants, socks, long sleeve thermal, grey hoodie, overcoat with hood, beanie, gloves and face covering. I put on an extra pair of socks once I reached the lookout point. It was still a bit cold (though not too bad) when wearing all of that. Granted they weren't the highest quality clothes, so higher quality stuff could probably be warmer yet lighter. Bring plenty of water. Consider doing some exercise/conditioning before the trip (it's a tough hike for sure). It's also great if you have a portable battery/charger because (at least at my base camp) there was no way to charge your phone or camera. Oh, one last thing, try not to eat too much too close to the time you will hike from base camp to El Fuego. Hiking for 1.5 hours up steep inclines, right after I ate a big meal, was a bad idea for me.

[@sindhurag816]

Hi what month you went?

[@mindful_wander]

Hi! I arrived right at the beginning of November, which is when dry season is supposed to start. It was still a little bit rainy for a week or two but by the time I did this hike (November 16) the weather was perfect! The dry season is supposed to go from November through April

[@saminkhan510]

Was this November of 2023?@@mindful_wander

[@airaemarrez237]

Which camera did you use?

[@Tito-sq1kb]

Noticed you wearing a jacket. I’m guessing it’s cold up there? Taking a 2 month trip to central and South America. Really not wanting to pack a jacket just for this one hike.

[@mindful_wander]

Yes, it was SUPER cold at the top at night (optional hike closer to El Fuego) and in the morning (sunrise hike to Acatenango summit). Would have been miserable without the layers. If you might be in other cold climates from time-to-time, consider bringing a down jacket that packs super light and small. Otherwise, the tour company that I went with had a limited amount of jackets to rent, just for this hike, so you don't have to bring your own. Lastly, this particular hike gets really hot when your hiking during the day, pretty cold when you're resting in the shade during the day, and super cold during the times I mentioned above. Just FYI. All the best!

[@pamelapierce5625]

You can buy a throw away coat at their Pacas...like thrift store clothes