Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike: A Complete Guide

Last Updated on July 29, 2025

Doing the Acatenango Volcano overnight hike had never occurred to me until I found myself late one night in a humid Nicaraguan bar, where two women showed me videos of a volcano as it violently erupted in the middle of the night.

My jaw dropped in disbelief as I watched the lava explode into the dark sky and rush down the sides of the mountain. The women had recounted to me the story of their Volcan Acatenango hike in Guatemala. Volcan Acatenango lies directly next to Volcan Fuego, which erupts every 15 minutes.

From the base camp of Volcano Acatenango, they’d spent all night watching Volcan Fuego erupting, which is Guatemala’s most active stratovolcano.

It was the hardest hike of my life, but the most incredible thing I have ever seen, one woman told me. I was sold. …A few weeks later, my partner Lucas and I booked flights to Guatemala.

This guide covers everything you need to know for the Acatenango Volcano overnight hike, inlcuding how to book the hike, hike difficulty, and what to pack for your trek.

Why Hike Volcan Acatenango, Guatemala?

Guatemala is worth visiting just for the experience of seeing Volcan Acatenango. It’s a stratovolcano close to the city of Antigua. It is considered a volcano complex, because over time it has developed various eruptive centres.

Acatenango Volcano has been dormant since the early 20th century, making it safe to hike. 

Connected to Volcan Acatenango is the famous Volcan de Fuego, which has been erupting since as far back as the 1500s. Volcan Fuego is aptly named: in English its name means volcano of fire.

Since 2002, its eruptions have been intense. The volcano has many small eruptions every day, and every couple of years it has a larger, more disruptive eruption.

From Acatenango, hikers can see unprecedented views of the smoke, ash, and lava as it explodes from Volcan Fuego’s crater. I’ve had incredible experiences on my travels, like sleeping in the Sahara Desert and hiking the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. 

But seeing a live volcano erupt, feeling the earth shake, witnessing hot lava spew into the sky, it’s unlike any experience I’ve ever had. I’ve written more in depth about the lessons I learned from the experience of seeing Fuego, you can read them here.  

Volcan Fuego’s last major eruption happened on June 3, 2018. That day a series of larger than normal volcanic explosions and pyroclastic flows erupted from Volcan de Fuego.

Local residents living on the slopes of the volcano are used to the volcano’s activity, but this heightened activity caught them by surprise. The pyroclastic flows claimed the lives of at least 69 Guatemalans.

Is the Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike Dangerous

The Volcan Acatenango overnight hike is popular because of the incredible views of Volcan Fuego that can be seen from Acatenango’s summit. But because the Acatenango hike brings hikers near an active volcano, yes, there’s some risk. 

Since 1524, around 60 major eruptions have been recorded. This amounts to about one every eight years. And when Fuego does erupt, the greatest risk is to the local communities that live on the slopes of the volcano.

So yes, there is a risk to hiking nearby Feugo, but the risk of Fuego erupting during the hike on Acatenango risk is low because dangerous eruptions are so infrequent. 

The June 2018 Volcan de Fuego Eruption

A few weeks after my partner and I hiked Volcan Acatenango, Volcan Fuego had a massive eruption. The unexpected eruption killed at least 69 people, most of whom were locals living in the village just below the volcano. We had just been in Antigua in May.

I was worried for our guide and wanted to send some funds to support local communities that were effected, so I got in contact with the hostel I had stayed at.

Through some emailing back and forth, I learned that no hikers had been injured or killed in the eruption. When the guides noticed signs of an impending big eruption, there was enough time for them to get back down off of Acatenango.

This eruption was a tragedy, which shows just how unpredictable volcanoes can be. This is scary to think about and definitely worth considering before doing the Acatenango hike. Just keep in mind that while there’s some risk, such eruptions are rare.

Acatenango Hike Difficulty

The Acatenango hike is hard, both physically and mentally. It’s known for wreaking havoc on experienced and inexperienced hikers alike because of it’s steep incline. Acatenango is 3,976 meters tall, temperatures drop the higher you climb and altitude sickness is likely. 

Most of the hike is on a steep incline which becomes tougher the higher you hike. Total elevation gain is 5150 ft./ 1500 m.

The final hour of the hike is the toughest because by that point, you are so high up that you’re climbing through volcanic sand instead of solid ground. Combined with the altitude, it’s strenuous. 

All this said, Luke and I don’t consider ourselves to be seasoned hikers. We do enjoy hiking and do it often, but we don’t think of ourselves as experienced, or especially fit. The weeks leading up to Acatenango, we did some jogging and climbing in a local rock climbing gym, to make sure we had basic fitness on our side. 

I think that with some will power and a base level of fitness, anyone can do this hike! Just be prepared to be challenged. 

How Long Does the Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike Take

Hiking Acatenango to the summit takes in total between six to eight hours, depending on your pace. The trip back down is done much quicker, between two to three hours. The total distance of the hike, return trip, adds up to about 18 kilometers, which is done over the course of two days.

The hike is broken into two parts. The first part is done on day one and takes around six hours. This hike brings you to base camp, where you have dinner, rest, and sleep. From base camp you already have views of Volcan Fuego that are spectacular, so some hikers choose to skip summiting the next morning.

Weather permitting, you start the summit early the next day (we started at 3:45 AM). It’s a much shorter hike, but is the toughest part because it is straight up, and you’re hiking through volcanic sand, in complete darkness. But it’s worth the reward: sunrise views while watching Volcan Fuego erupt. 

How Do You Get to Volcan Acatenango 

Antigua is the gateway to Volcan Acatenango. The small Guatemalan city is a popular stop for most travelers to Guatemala because of its Spanish colonial architecture.

In Antigua you can visit museums, enjoy incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes, visit artisan markets, and more.

On a clear day, you can actually see Volcan Acatenango from Antigua! That’s because the volcano, and Fuego as well, are very nearby Antigua. Any travelers wanting to do the Acatenango hike will use Antigua as their starting point because of this proximity.

How to get to Antigua

Most travelers will head to Antigua via Guatemala City. This transfer is easy to do by bus or by taxi, and takes just over an hour depending on traffic. 

Antigua is a must-see in Guatemala, so I recommend spending a few days there before you embark on the Acatenango climb. And, there’s an added benefit to hanging out in Antigua beforehand.

Antigua is at an elevation of 5,029 feet (1,533 metres). Spending a few days adjusting to that altitude before your Acatenango Volcano overnight hike will help lessen the shock of altitude on the hike.

Hiring a Guide for Climbing Volcano Acatenango 

The trailhead for Volcano Acatenango is located near Aldea de Soledad, which is about a one hour drive from Antigua. While it’s apparently possible to hike Acatenango without a guide, I would not recommend it. 

The trails are not marked, and it’s much safer to do the hike with local guides who are experienced and know the volcano and weather patterns well.

I also really encourage travelers to give back to the communities they visit, this is one of the ways I believe we can all be more responsible tourists. In this case, paying a local guide to bring you up Acatenango is a way to contribute to the local economy.

Doing the hike with a guide, on a tour or private, is also easier because all of the logistics are handled for you. Gear like extra clothing, headlamps, tents, and food are all provided by the tour company, and they arrange your drive from Antigua to the trailhead and back. 

Best Tour Companies for the Overnight Volcan Acatenango Hike

There are many tour companies in Antigua that offer overnight trips up Volcano Acatenango. We opted to book through the hostel that we stayed in in Antigua, which was Matiox Hostal.

We paid 50.00 USD each, which was on the low end of the prices we saw around Antigua. Sadly, Matiox has since closed it’s doors, but there are plenty of other hostels that you can stay in, and they’ll happily arrange your Volcan Acatenango hike for you.

When you arrange your Acatenango Volcano overnight hike through your hostel, you don’t really know which tour company you are going with. While we were happy with our experience, it was definitely a “budget” experience. We weren’t given the greatest food, and the tents and sleeping gear at base camp were very basic.

We didn’t mind this because we had packed extra snacks, and we ended up staying up most of the night to watch the volcano. All that said, our guide was friendly and informative, and we had an incredible experience.

We did later learn that if you pay to go with one of the more expensive tour companies, the amenities are better. While we slept 3 people in each small tent with very basic sleeping bags, other companies have safari-style tents that are larger and have more comfortable sleeping arrangements.

We were super happy with our experience doing the hike through Matiox, but if you’re looking for more options, we heard other travelers raving about doing the hike through Tropicana Hostel.

I have also heard good things about OX Expeditions. They’ve been around since 2004 and are widely known as Guatemala’s top guiding service. I also heard other travelers in Antigua.

Hostels and hotels in Antigua know that many travelers do the overnight hike, and they provide a locker for you to leave your luggage in for the night. That way you’re not caring all your things up the volcano with you. 

How Much Does it Cost to Hike Acatenango

The Volcan Acatenango hike varies a lot in price depending on what tour company you go with and what is included in the tour. While shopping around for tours in Antigua, we noticed that they range from about 50 USD, which is what we paid, up to 100 USD. Tours typically include basic food, a tent and sleeping gear. In doing the hike, there will be a few extra costs on top of the tour price.

• The park entrance fee – Q110 (about $15 USD).
• Equipment rental – Will range depending on what you rent, but prices are low. Expect to spend around 20 USD for all the gear needed.
• Porter – Porters can be hired to bring your baggage up Acatenango. Prices are about 20 USD both directions (up and down).
• Food – We spent about 10 USD on water and extra snacks which we brought along on our hike.

Hiking Volcan Acatenango

On climb day, we were picked up by a shuttle. Our Acatenango hiking group was approximately 9 people. We were driven to the base of Volcan Acatenango to spot called La Soledad where we bought walking sticks, extra snacks, ponchos (for the rain) and beer (to celebrate the summit)!

Our guide explained that as we climbed Volcan Acatenango we would stop often to rest, and we should go slowly. A short walk up the road, and we began on the path.

Some of our fellow climbers warned us that backpackers had told them the first leg of the climb was the hardest. They were absolutely right.  The Volcan Acatenango hike is tough,

The dirt path was steep and within minutes I felt myself going faint, eventually collapsing to the side of the path, certain that I was going to vomit. Our guide had told us that if we wanted to forfeit doing the Acatenango hike, we would have to decide within that first leg of the climb.

I lay there seriously contemplating giving up, but remembered what one of the backpackers had mentioned – in the first leg of the Acatenango hike your body is acclimatizing to the altitude, and this makes it the hardest.

Behind me I could see our guide half carrying one of our group’s climbers, urging him forwards.

I peered ahead at my partner and pushed on, promising myself it would get easier as we climbed. When the first rest break came, Lucas and I lay exhausted on the ground, deliberating.

This was our only opportunity to turn back, and so if we wanted to forfeit the Acatenango Volcano overnight hike, we had to do so now. We had come so far, and dreamed of this experience for so long. So we pledged we would push on.

Our bodies did acclimatize and the feeling of faintness and nausea subsided. We went slowly and often stopped. What we had heard was true: the first 10-20 minutes of the Volcano Acatenango trek are the hardest.

Afterwards, things do get easier! As we climbed the landscape changed quickly, from lush farmland to humid jungle. This eventually evolved into a barren landscape scattered with few trees.

Our group was dead silent while climbing volcano Acatenango. It felt meditative to stare at the boots in front of me. I fixed my eyes on them and focused on keeping pace. The steep terrain was never-ending and I constantly dreamed of when it would flatten. 

After five hours, our guide announced that we were almost there. The last few kilometers of hiking to Volcano Acatenango base camp Lucas and I listened to our favourite songs, singing as we walked. The terrain had flattened and we knew the incredible view was just around the corner.

Hike to Volcan Acatenango Base Camp

The Volcan Acatenango hike will take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours depending on your pace. We reached Volcan Acatenango’s base camp in the early evening.

At an elevation of 3,750 meters, this left the Acatenango summit (226 meters higher) to be hiked the following morning. Our base camp had several tents set up, and our guide distributed sleeping bags.

We were overheated from hiking, but he assured us that the temperature would drop drastically overnight. As our fire got going, night fell, and the magic began. The clouds had parted and the earth had started rumbling.

We had our first full view of Volcan Fuego. Suddenly, lava exploded into the sky like orange fireworks, followed by a huge bang as the lava flowed down the sides of the Fuego.

All of us gasped, mesmerized: instantly, hiking volcano Acatenango (and all the accompanying pain) was absolutely worth it. We stayed awake late into the night watching the volcano work its magic.

I eventually tucked myself into my sleeping bag, but sleep was impossible with the ongoing interruptions of the mountain.

Some of the most incredible Fuego eruptions happened in the middle of the night. I would sleep a few hours, and then wake up to unzip the tent to watch the magic.

Hiking to the Acatenango Summit

Our guide had explained that at 3:45am we should get up for the final portion of the hike: the Acatenango summit. We would hike through volcanic sand in complete darkness to reach the highest point of Volcan Acatenango, and from there we would have a clear view of Volcan Fuego. 

The summit hike is somewhat dangerous, and so it is only done if the weather permits. Our guide explained that he would assess the weather in the morning. We awoke with good news – we could summit. I packed some water, grabbed my walking stick and put on my headlamp.

The hike was straight upwards and excruciating. The volcanic sand and dirt made every step more challenging, and it was difficult to maintain balance. We stopped often to rest as people felt lightheaded from the altitude.

The sky began to lighten as we climbed, and slowly the incredible view revealed itself. In the distance we could see Antigua, Guatemala City, and a string of other volcanoes.

After 1.5 hours, we reached the top of Volcano Acatenango. A closed crater, the terrain was rocky, sandy and barren. As the sun rose, Fuego erupted. The magnificent view was like nothing I’ve ever seen before: an erupting volcano firmly reminds you how small you are in the scope of this earth.

Descending Back Down Volcan Acatenango

After thirty minutes of enjoying the Acatenango summit views, it was time to return to Acatenango base camp to prepare for the full descent. The volcanic sand that had burdened us on the hike up proved to be fun on the way back down.

After slowly inching down the steep decline, I realized that my best option was to give into the force of gravity and run down.

Our group began to bound down the sandy slope, laughing whenever one of us (inevitably) slipped and fell. Once back to base camp we watched a couple more Fuego eruptions before our guide informed us that it was time to start the longer descent to the base of Volcan Acatenango. 

The descent took our group three hours. Though it was hard on the knees, our group was in a great mood given the rewarding night we’d had.

Once back at the base of Volcan Acatenango, our guide brought us to his family home where a delicious breakfast of eggs, beans and coffee awaited us. After breakfast, we were transported back to our hostel in Antigua where we spent the rest of the day enjoying some hard-earned rest.

Can You Hike Volcano Acatenango in a Day

Yes, some of the tour companies in Antigua offer 1-day hiking tours which bring you up to the summit of Acatenango and back down, without staying overnight in base camp. While it’s possible to do this, I only recommend it if you’re pressed for time.

There’s a couple reasons why. First, the Volcan Acatenango hike is really tough. It’s a lot to try to do in one day. I found that having a night to rest in between the first half of the hike and summiting, plus descending, was really helpful for coping with the altitude and strain on my body.

Second, if you do a 1-day hike, you miss one of the best parts. Seeing Volcan Fuego erupt at night! It’s only after nightfall that you can really see the lava coming out of the volcano’s crater, and it’s truly unreal. Base camp on Acatenango is perfectly positioned so that you have a full view of the volcano all night long.

Watching Fuego at night is a highlight of the Volcano Acatenango hike, so if you can manage a 2-day trek, go for it!

The Typical Volcan Acatenango Hike Itinerary

When you do the Acatenango trek with a tour company, the 2-day itinerary will follow this loose plan. This was how our 2 days went, and we noticed that most of the other trekking tours were following the same schedule, within a window of an hour or two. To know the exact itinerary of your trek, I would contact the guiding company in advance.

Day 1 Acatenango Volcano overnight hike itinerary:

• 8:00 AM – Pickup, or meet at pick up spot, followed by a 1.5 hour bus ride.
• 10:00 AM – Begin hiking.
• 12:00 PM – Stop for lunch.
• 5:00 PM – Arrive at base camp, relax.
• 6:00 PM – Dinner and campfire.

Day 2 Acatenango Volcano overnight hike itinerary: 

• 3:45 AM – Wake up and start summit hike.
• 5:45 AM – Reach summit, watch the sunrise.
• 7:00 AM – Short rest to eat snacks.
• 7:30 AM – Start descending.
• 10:30 AM – Full breakfast in nearby village.
• 11:30 AM – Drive back to Antigua.

What to Wear for Hiking Volcan Acatenango

While hiking Acatenango, the temperature will gradually drop. And up at base camp and the summit, it’s quite cold. Because of this, it’s important to bring lots of warm layers for the trek. Since chilly weather isn’t the norm for Guatemala at lower altitudes, most travelers end up needing to rent clothing for the trek.

You can rent gear through your tour company, from an outfitter, or even from your hostel in Antigua. Our hostel actually had a bin of clothing that we were allowed to borrow items from for the trek.

If you are like me and feel cold easily, bring as many layers as you can! At night, the temperature dropped to about 0 degrees, and I ended up sleeping in every layer that I’d brought. I wore a long sleeve shirt, light down jacket, and fleece sweater over the jacket. I slept in all these layers, and even put a second pair of leggings on over my hiking leggings.

It’s possible to do the Volcan Acatenango hike in sneakers or runners, but if you’re able to bring your hiking boots for the trek I recommend doing so. Hiking boots will make for a far more comfortable experience. Make sure you have worn them in prior to the hike. I did the hike in my Salomon boots and they were perfect for it.

What to Pack for Your Volcano Acatenango Trek

1. A headlamp and portable charger.

A headlamp will be useful for the overnight at base camp. But it was pretty crucial for the early morning hike to the Acatenango summit, too. When you start the summit hike, it’s very dark out. A headlamp makes it easier to see what’s ahead of you and where to step as you climb.

The portable charger will come in handy for keeping your phone and other electronics (like a camera) charged up. Most of the camps at Acatenango base camp do not have electricity.

2. Medications you might need.

Some hikers took medication prior to the hike for altitude sickness. We did not, but we both took acetaminophen to ease the headaches. I also carried and used my inhaler, which helped immensely.

If you’d like to take medication for altitude sickness, talk to your doctor ahead of time. And of course, bring any of the medications that you think you *might* need with you on the hike. Better to be safe than sorry!

3. Electrolyte tabs.

Electrolyte tabs or hydration salts can be added to your water. We proactively added tabs to our water to ensure we stayed well hydrated while we hiked up Volcan Acatenango.

4. Dry bag.

I bring a dry bag for any and all outdoor excursions. We carried our passports, wallets, and cameras on the Volcan Acatenango hike, and having the dry bag gave peace of mind that in the event of rain, we could keep these important items dry. Rain isn’t uncommon on Volcan Acatenango, so I’d bring one along.

5. Walking stick or trekking poles.

Get yourself a walking stick or trekking poles! You will absolutely need them. At the start of the trek you will see locals renting out wooden walking sticks for 1 USD or less. You will also see ponchos for sale. We did not need the ponchos in the end, but bought them anyway because weather on the mountain is unpredictable.

6. Daypack / rucksack.

I recommend doing the trek with a daypack (10-20 litre capacity). Your hostel will give you a locker to stow your things in while on the trek, so you will bring only your water, food, headlamp, passport, extra clothing and camera.

7. Lots of water.

Bring LOTS of water. You’ll be working hard as you trek up Acatenango, and so it’s important to stay hydrated. We brought 3 litres of water each, which we carefully rationed to ourselves. That said, if I had carried more water, I would have drunk it!

8. Extra snacks.

Bring extra snacks on your volcan Acatenango hike. The guides provide meals but they are very small, and most people on our trek needed more food. I carried bananas and Clif bars to supplement my meals.

Hike Volcan Acatenango Responsibly

Remember to practise respect during your trek, and your entire stay in Guatemala, because you’re a guest. This means that during the hike, be sure to pack in and pack out. Disturb as little of the land and nature as possible, and don’t leave behind any garbage.

I recommend reading my responsible tourism guide for more tips on how to travel responsibly.

More about Guatemala:

• Guatemala Itinerary: Best Things to Do and See
• Lessons Learned From a Live Volcano: Hiking Volcan Acatenango
• Is Guatemala Worth Visiting? 5 Reasons to Go to Guatemala