Bucket List Adventure: Conquer Acatenango Volcano on an Epic Overnight Hike
Working on a bucket list? Well, I’ve got something epic to add to it!
Picture this: camping overnight on a volcano overlooking another volcano erupting throughout the night, and then waking up to watch the sunrise on the crater of a volcano.
I booked this epic adventure with the amazing people from Wicho and Charlies tour group.
This trip is full of breathtaking views, an intense physical challenge, and memories with strangers that will become great friends.
Read on to decide if this is something you should add to your travel bucket list!
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you choose to book something through the link, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you š
What is the overnight Acatenango hike?
The overnight Acatenango hike is an adventure to be added to everyoneās bucket list, that is able. The hike takes you to the summit of Acatenango Volcano, the third tallest volcano in Central America, located in Guatemala.
This challenging trek spans two days and one night, offering a unique opportunity to witness breathtaking views of the erupting volcano, Volcan Fuego.
As you ascend, you trek through 4 different diverse ecosystems, from lush forests to volcanic slopes.
Camping overnight near the summit of Acatenango allows you to witness the neighboring Fuego Volcano erupt throughout the night.
Watching Volcan Fuego erupt is truly something everyone should experience in their lifetime. This unforgettable trek will test your physical endurance but leave you with some great core memories.
Where to stay the night before your overnight Acatenango hike?
The night before youāre overnight hike on Acatenango, youāll want to stay in Antigua. Tour groups will leave from here!
If youāre looking for a quiet stay to get a good night’s rest before your hike and you want to support a good cause, I recommend staying at Good Hotel Antigua.
For a more budget-friendly option, check out Maya Papaya which offers both dorm rooms and private rooms in a great location.
Should you hike Acatenango with a tour group?
For safety reasons, I would recommend hiking Acatenango with a tour group. Plus, it adds to your experience to spend 2 days getting to know an amazing group of strangers that will become great friends.
There are several tour groups you can choose to do this experience with. A few that I heard great things about through research and word of mouth were:
I booked with Wicho and Charlieās. The vegan food options and sustainability practices attracted us. I am so thankful we chose to book with them, the experience with them was exceptional.
My Experience with Wicho and Charlieās Tour Group
When we arrived at Wicho and Charlieās around 8 AM on the day of our hike. They had little health shots (juiced beets/fruits) to take as you walked in, which just felt like a fun way to get the trip started with a bunch of strangers.
Then, there was an amazing array of vegan breakfast options put out for everyone to eat ā it was delicious.
While eating breakfast, a guide reviewed the process for the weekend and everything to expect for the hike.
Booking with Wicho and Charlieās includes a lot of free rentals such as warm jackets, gloves, backpacks, water bottles, etc.
They have a few premium options that include a small upcharge, as well as hiking poles to rent for a fee as well.
After you eat breakfast, the āshopā will option to grab all the clothes you may need for the hike. They do have everything you could need.
Then youāll have time to pack your backpack, build a trail mix bag, and fill up your water bottles.
After, everyone will get into a bus/van to make their way to the start of the hike which is about 45 minutes away.
Itās a fun way to get to know everyone youāll be hiking with.
At the start of the hike, youāll be in a little village so if you need a last-minute bathroom break, last-minute drinks, or forgot your walking sticks ā this is a great place to be able to do so.
Then the journey begins! You will start hiking around 10-11 AM and arrive at base camp around 3-4 PM.
Wicho and Charlieās includes all vegan meals for your journey: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, trail mix snacks, water, hot chocolate, marshmallows to roast, and 1 dinner. You can also pack some dog food to feed dogs along the way.
The food is amazing. Due to Wicho and Charlieās push for sustainability, which was a big reason we booked with them, all meals are packed in reusable Tupperware.
Wicho and Charlieās includes all the sleeping materials you need already ready for you at base camp, meaning you donāt have to carry them.
This is incredibly helpful as the hike is a difficult one! There are also built cabins which provided a much-needed break from the wind and cold in comparison to tents.
I cannot rave about the tour guides enough. They were amazing, so kind, helpful, encouraging, and fun! They made sure everyone was safe and comfortable. They made our time even better.
I highly recommend booking your trip with this tour group. Check out Wicho and Charlieās website and FAQ to help guide you even further.
What should you pack for your overnight Acatenango hike?
Layers, layers, layers! You might think, oh Iām going to Guatemala, it wonāt be cold. This hike gets COLD.
So at the start of your hike, youāll be hot and toasty. But as you increase elevation, it gets colder and colder so make sure you pack layers to put on.
Also, BRING THE HIKING POLES! This is a steep and difficult hike. Hiking poles are so helpful for going up and beyond helpful for the hike down.
With that being said, I also recommend some hiking books or good trail running shoes. It will help you from slipping, but several people did the hike with tennis shoes.
Booking with a tour group like Wicho and Charlieās will help guide you in what to pack, and also include some free rentals.
However, you may want to bring your own clothes. You can check out this more extensive packing list for an overnight Acatenango hike here. But here are some of the most important things to bring:
- Hiking poles
- Layers: Fleece, thick coat, tank top, shorts or yoga pants
- Backpack
- Water bottles: I brought 3 of these Nalgene water bottles
- Scarf
- Thermals
- Wool socks
- Hat
- Gloves
- Toilet paper ā Nature is your toilet during the hike, but at basecamp there is an outdoor bathroom!
- Rain jacket
- Gaiter
- Headlamp ā This is so helpful because you will most likely be hiking in the dark if you do either of the optional hikes
- Portable Charger
How to best prepare for an overnight Acatenango hike?
If youāre coming from a place without a lot of elevation, I recommend spending a few days in either Antigua or Lake Atitlan to get try to get acclimated to the elevation. The hike includes a quick elevation gain and some people got sick.
On that note, spend the day before hydrating! Drinks tons of water, and juices, eat good food, avoid alcohol, and get a good night of rest! This will help prevent get altitude sickness.
How difficult is the overnight Acatenango hike?
For guidance, I am not a very experienced hiker, I hike here and there when on trips but on mostly easy to moderate trails. However, I do regularly exercise with cardio and strength training.
Based upon my own experience and the experience of those that were experienced hikers in my group, this is a very difficult hike BUT doable and SOOOO worth it.
If you pace yourself well, take breaks when you need it, and drink plenty of water, you will be able to do this!
And you will be so proud of yourself for doing it.
The hardest parts of the hike are the optional hikes: a sunrise summit on Acatenango and hiking onto the active Fuego.
I would also say the first half of the hike to base camp is also difficult, however, it did feel like we were going uphill the whole time.
I recommend doing the 2-day/1 night hike due to the difficulty. It will allow you to enjoy the experience a little more than doing the summit all in one day.
Overall Experience on an Overnight Hike of Acatenango
Hiking Acatenango in Guatemala has been one of the highlights of my traveling experiences. This experience challenges you in the best way.
You get to see one of the most epic views that so many people will never experience. You meet amazing people. And you grow so much as a person by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
I think about it daily. I cannot recommend this hike enough! Especially with the tour group Wicho and Charlieās.
Check out my Instagram highlight of our experience for a more visual representation.
Also, check out my blog post for a one week in Guatemala itinerary!
