My Acatenango Volcano Climb: The Epic Bucket List Experience

HOW DIFFICULT IS THIS OVERNIGHT HIKE IN GUATEMALA?

The Acatenango volcano experience is definitely a challenge with its steep slopes, however, it ranks as my #1 Bucket List Adventure. So…it’s well worth it.

If you’re looking for my comprehensive guide on how to prepare and what to expect for the Acatenango hike, check out my detailed guide here.

This post is my personal journey – the raw, unfiltered experience of what it’s actually like to climb this active volcano in Guatemala, including my mistakes, struggles, and the incredible moments that made it all worthwhile.

Why I Chose This Adventure

Planning a two-week Guatemala trip centered around a yoga retreat at Lake Atitlan, I wanted to maximize my experience in this beautiful country. Immediately, I gravitated toward charming Antigua and the intimidating yet exciting challenge of Acatenango.

After reviewing details on the elevation and hiking time, I figured I’d be very much up for the challenge. I work out regularly, I enjoy hiking, and I love a good physical feat.

What I didn’t realize was that I’d made a huge oversight that would leave me stunned and feeling wildly unprepared. (Hint: it involves altitude and acclimation – but more on that later!)

My Pre-Hike Preparation and Mindset

As someone who genuinely loves exercise, I was feeling extremely confident about the hike. I was not only anticipating completing the main trek but was excited about doing the extra 4-5 hour extension to Fuego in the evening.

“More exercise? Amazing!” I thought naively.

I researched tour companies thoroughly and settled on Tour Guide Salvador, which had great reviews and reasonable prices. When we met up as a tour group and got debriefed, I felt completely prepared.

I remember thinking how manageable this would be for me. After all, I’m fairly fit. How hard could it really be?

The Overnight Experience

The Acatenango overnight hike pushes you to physical and mental limits while rewarding you with nature’s most spectacular volcanic show.

My journey through steep trails, challenging terrain, and breathtaking views became the adventure of a lifetime.

Here’s my personal account of conquering this Guatemalan giant.

Day 1: Tour Company Pick Up & Gear Up

As mentioned above, after a lot of research, I selected Tour Guide Salvador as the tour operator  The price was great, and their communication was awesome.

The tour company picked me up from my specific hostel, and we received a very thorough orientation at the company’s office.

We learned about the general flow of the schedule and were introduced to our 3 guides. One of the guides also reinforced “it’s not a race” (which I think my fitness instructor ego needed to hear).

We had time to get geared up, go to the bathroom, and decide if we wanted to rent a walking stick from a local who was on site. Our tour company gave us each a hiking backpack, warm clothes (jacket, pants, gloves, winter hat), and lunch box for us to individually carry.

Also, I can’t stress enough how critical it was to rent that walking stick!

The Grueling Ascent

The first hour felt amazing. The variety of scenery was breathtaking – farmlands and villages, cloud forest, alpine forest, and eventually the volcanic terrain.

And then it got really hard.

For the majority of the hike, I found myself in the back of the group. Second to last and not even that far ahead of an older woman.

“What was wrong with me?” I kept thinking. This wasn’t matching my self-image as someone relatively fit.

As we got closer to base camp, I tried to hike 5 minutes without stopping and only lasted perhaps 1-2 minutes at a time. I felt disheartened and filled with self-doubt.

The constant push upward on loose lava rock was exhausting. With each step up, I would slide back a little, covering maybe half a step at a time and consuming a lot more energy than anticipated.

By the time we reached base camp, I had completely abandoned the idea of doing the Fuego extension.

The Fateful Fuego Extension Decision

I was overjoyed when we finally reached base camp. The views of Fuego erupting were outstanding, and I was so happy to rest. I told myself I definitely shouldn’t do the Fuego extension.

Then I overheard someone who had done this overnight volcano hike before say how incredible the Fuego extension was.

Apparently, resting for about 1-1.5 hours washed away any sanity I had left, and I decided to join the group heading to Fuego.

BIG MISTAKE…

We had to descend down into a valley and then start ascending up part of Fuego. The descent was tricky, but about 5 minutes into the ascent, I knew I had made a HUGE error in judgment.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so close to a panic attack in my life. Not only was I exhausted, but it was fairly dark already, I still had more to climb, and I realized I didn’t have a headlamp (oops). The tearjerker was… we had to do it all again, in reverse, completely in the dark.

I was the last one up and trailing behind by quite a lot.

The Fuego Viewpoint: Worth It?

The viewpoint itself was surreal. It was super windy, and the darkness and lava were unreal. I don’t think I’ll ever be that close to fiery lava and an erupting volcano ever again in my life.

When it was time to leave, I tried to hold my tears back and told the other group members, “please don’t leave me behind.” It was pitch black out there.

We took the descent back down towards Acatenango super slowly, and the group and guide were supportive. On the harder final ascent back to base camp, someone else in our group needed even more breaks than me (her blood sugar was low), which was somewhat comforting for my ego.

It took our group a total of 5 hours to complete the full Fuego extension – longer than the estimated time.

Night at Base Camp

When we got back, I was a shell of a person eating dinner, drinking hot chocolate, and eating a toasty marshmallow. It was between 11pm and midnight when I went to sleep.

I told myself I shouldn’t do the sunrise hike to the summit at 4am. Thankfully, I said I would just wake up and decide in the morning.

The accommodations were basic but sufficient – individual tents in a shelter protected us from the elements, though the temperature dropped dramatically at night.

Day 2: The Ultimate Sunrise Summit Reward

I’m so grateful that I decided to climb one more ascension on this excursion.

The 4am moonlit hike to Acatenango’s summit for sunrise was one of the most revered sunrises of my life.

A good night’s sleep was all I needed for that extra (crazy) motivation to tackle another climb. They said it would take about an hour. It took me an hour and a half, and I was the last person up.

It was arduously steep and fairly chilly. However, the views were breathtaking and exceedingly rewarding.

Standing at the summit, watching the sunrise over the landscape with Fuego erupting in the distance, I literally thought:

“When am I ever going to see something like this again in my life?“

There’s a certain feeling amidst the tranquil embrace of a sunrise, the awe-inspiring spectacle of Mother Earth’s volcanic eruption, and the profound serenity found in the well-earned rest following strenuous physical and mental exertion.

The Descent and My Altitude Revelation

The descent went much faster and was much easier than the climb! However, during the last hour, I could really start to feel the strain on my knees and quads.

The walking stick was imperative, but even with it, given the loose lava rock, I still slipped a bit and fell on my butt a few times (it wasn’t too bad, though).

The rest of the day was filled with lots of rest and recovery. And a nice, hot shower!

Here’s where the revelation comes in:

I was sitting at my hostel the following morning, and like every breakfast there, everyone was talking about this challenging overnight volcano hike. Something made me realize I needed to check the units of measurement for the elevation.

BINGO!!!!!

When planning my trip and considering my previous high elevation hikes, I thought I had been hiking at a much higher elevation than Acatenango. When I was in Cusco, Peru, I knew I was around 11,000 feet, and Machu Picchu was around 8,000 feet. But, when I looked at Acatenango, I read the summit was around 4,000 meters….

Do you see it now? Feet….meters….BIG DIFFERENCE!

*Insert palm in face while rolling my eyes*

If I use the SAME unit of measurement, the starting elevation for the Acatenango volcano hike is around 8,000 feet (similar to Machu Picchu). The summit is around 13,000 feet high, making it the highest I’ve ever reached.

I realized all of this after finishing my hike. No wonder I was EXHAUSTED!

Lesson. Learned.

Always compare the same unit of measurement and take more time to acclimate because it DOES make a huge difference.

FAQ’s

That was my experience, but are you still curious if YOU should do it?

Is the Fuego extension worth it based on your experience?

Honestly, if I could go back and decide again, I wouldn’t do the Fuego extension. When I was almost halfway through the Fuego extension, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. I didn’t acclimate properly, and my body and brain were really struggling.

I realized later that I could have been enjoying the constant eruption view from our base camp. I did the extension mostly for the exercise (my ego got in the way).

However, if you do acclimate properly and are up for the challenge, then I’d say “go for it!” Just be smart in your decision overall. I would never say “you’re missing out” if you don’t do it.

How did you mentally push through when you wanted to give up?

When hiking, especially during the most challenging parts, I kept reminding myself “I’ve got all day.” This simple mantra helped me take the pressure off and just focus on one step at a time.

Also, seeing others struggle too helped me realize that it wasn’t just me – this hike is genuinely challenging for most people, especially with the altitude factor.

Do I really need a walking stick?

Oh my gosh, YES! I never use hiking trekking poles or a walking stick when I go hiking. When reflecting upon all of the hikes I’ve done, I don’t think I’ve really needed them for the most part.

However, for this Acatenango volcano hike, consider a walking stick mandatory.

I’ve never been on such a consistently steep hike and, again, the loose lava rock for footing means it’s easy to slip. Even with my walking stick, I slipped and fell (fairly gently, thankfully) about 3 times on my descent.

I’m thankful that my tour company offered walking sticks at a small, extra rental fee (perhaps $5-10 for the overnight hike), and it was so worth it. I like saving money like anyone else, but don’t skimp out and not have one.

Will I get altitude sickness?

There are multiple symptoms one can get from altitude sickness: nausea, headaches, rapid heartbeats, loss of appetite, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, swelling, and dizziness.

When I struggled to acclimate in Guatemala doing the Acatenango volcano hike as well as in Cusco, Peru preparing to visit Machu Picchu, I did get the extreme fatigue as a symptom. Some of my group members in Peru felt a bit nauseous and got headaches, however.

Everyone adapts differently and if you’re not from a high-altitude location (right before coming to Guatemala), you should be cautious.

If you get motion sickness (in a car or on a boat), you might be more prone to altitude sickness since you might have a more sensitive vestibular system. The physical responses in the body (sensory signals related to motion vs. decreased oxygen levels at higher elevations) are technically different, however.

OVERALL TIP: Take at least 48 hours to acclimate in Antigua, stay very well hydrated, and avoid alcohol before you attempt this challenging volcano hike in Guatemala.

What would you do differently if you hiked Acatenango again?

First and foremost, I would spend at least 3-4 days in Antigua acclimating before attempting the hike. The altitude makes a massive difference in your energy levels and overall experience.

Second, I’d skip the Fuego extension and instead enjoy watching its eruptions from base camp. And finally, I’d bring my own headlamp rather than relying on my phone’s flashlight!

Is this hike worth it despite the challenges?

Absolutely, 100% yes. Despite the physical struggles, the altitude challenges, and my near-panic attack on Fuego, this experience ranks as my #1 bucket list adventure I’ve ever completed and would ever recommend to others.

There are a small handful of opportunities similar to this active volcano hike, however they are usually on islands and are less accessible. Guatemala is also incredibly beautiful and very affordable.

This Guatemalan sunrise summit view is something I’ll never forget – it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was worth every difficult step.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the Rundown: When creating my bucket list adventure of 7 items (featured on the Zero to Travel podcast – coming soon), I only ranked my #1 on the list. And it was THIS hike.

The Acatenango volcano hike should be on everyone’s bucket list. It might be within reach for many, and for some, you might need to train a little for it, but when I was at the summit for sunrise, I knew I was experiencing something rare and extraordinary.

This experience taught me about:
–My physical limits and how to respect them
–The importance of proper preparation and acclimation
–How the most challenging experiences often yield the most rewarding moments

This hike is the epitome of a bucket list item. Once in a lifetime, truly.

For a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for the Acatenango volcano hike, including what to pack, when to go, and which tour company to choose, check out my detailed guide here.

Ready to explore more ways to stay fit and healthy on your travels or plan epic adventures across the globe? Here are some ideas…

✴️Guatemala’s Active Volcano Hike: A Complete Guide for the Overnight Trek of Acatenango 2025
✴️Conquer the Challenge: Thrilling Via Ferrata Expedition at Mt. Norquay in Banff National Park
✴️Travel Fitness: 11 Best Ways to Stay in Shape on Vacation

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