Hiking Volcán de Acatenango

The overnight Volcán de Acatenango hike in Guatemala will go down as one of the most epic experiences I’ve ever had. This volcano, located a short drive from Antigua, Guatemala, towers far above tall buildings and civilization, yet is a center piece of the landscape surrounding the area. Looking at it is marvelous. Hiking it is even harder.

I’ve been hearing about the volcanoes in Guatemala visitors can hike for years. The idea of hiking an active volcano peaked my interest the first time I heard about it and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Finally, when the time came around for my partner and I to dedicate some time off for a new adventure, Antigua, Guatemala was the winner. The top priority for the trip: hiking a volcano. Little did I understand the mental and physical endurance that would be required for the adventure…

As soon as we set off on the hike with our overnight tour group, it became clear how difficult this hike was going to be. It was straight up a sandy path, and over 5,000 ft. of elevation gain in under 10 miles. Anyone who hikes knows what that means… steep, steep, and more steep.

Each resting point was met with grunts, sighs, and lots of snacks. No matter the hiker age or experience, it was clear this volcano beast was kicking our butts. I was naive to start out this hike thinking “I got this. I live at elevation. I hike and ski a lot. I may actually get bored with all the rest stops.” Pssshhh, silly me. I was merely a slow, struggling ant on this volcano mountain, home to multuple climates and a summit reaching above the clouds.

The duration of the uphill hike demanded respect for not only the landscape surrounding us, but even more so for the local guides from Soy Tours Antigua who do this multiple times a week for the cost of an average priced meal in the U.S. They were tough, friendly, kind, and resilient. They carried equipment on their backs and would run down and up that same trail that nearly killed all us visitors the first time so we could have hot meals, water, and snacks at the base camp.

When we reached the base camp, there were sighs of relief and feelings of awe. We were up in the clouds with incredible views, basic shelter in place, benches to sit on, fire, and interesting people to talk to. That was all we needed.

We spent that night at base camp watching Volcán de Fuego, the fiery volcano in the nearby distance, which has low level eruptions about every 20 minutes. To see red, glowing lava spewing into the air and rocks falling down the sides of it, not just once but several times, was one of the most spectacular sights I’ve ever seen. Each time I heard the “boom” and saw the smoke, I got a jolt of excitement followed but pure amazement when the red colors would ooze from the top and fall over the top layer of this live and very active beast.

Sleeping at the top wasn’t too comfortable or quiet, with many people coming in and out throughout the night, but it sure was novel. To be sleeping to the sounds of an erupting volcano isn’t something I’ll do many nights of my life so I was very willing to lose some sleep over it.

At 4am we got up to hike to the summit for sunrise and were rewarded with more incredible views of the many vocanoes in the area. We were above the clouds, surrounded by volcanoes, and in one of the most unique environments I’ve ever hiked in. It was cold, the ground was dark and ashy, and the sunlight beamed on us like it was welcoming us into a “You hiked Volcano Acatenango” club. I felt an immense amount of gratitude to be up there and to be around so many inspiring people who felt the same way. Thank you, Guatemala, for the adventure of a lifetime and for a truly incredible way to begin a new decade.

What I’ve Learned from One Year in Steamboat Springs.