Hiking a Volcano is usually at the top of travelers bucket-lists when visiting Guatemala. There are many different volcano hikes available. Depending on the region you visit, the difficulty level can vary. In Antigua, there are two main volcano hikes, Acatenango and Pacaya.
Pacaya Volcano
Pacaya is an active volcano that is located in Pacaya National Park. At a height of 8,370 ft (2,552 m), it takes approximately 6 to 8 hours to hike the volcano. Most tour companies offer Pacaya Volcano Day Trips (morning or afternoon) and include transportation (1-hour shuttle from Antigua), guides, walking sticks, and marshmallow roasting at the top. Although hiking Pacaya is challenging due to the elevation and steep terrain, it can make for a memorable experience and is often on visitors’ bucket lists.
Acatenango
The second most popular volcano hike in Antigua, Guatemala is Acatenango! At a height of 3,976 m (13,041 ft), Acatenango is the 3rd highest volcano in Central America. A challenging and, at times, grueling hike, most visitors opt for the Two Day Acatenango Overnight Tour. We instead went for the Acatenango Night Hike.
Two-Day Overnight Acatenango Tour
Cost: $90 – $300 USD per person
On the Two Day Overnight Acatenango Tour, tour companies typically pick you up around 8:00 AM from your hotel. Then you are shuttled from Antigua to the starting point, which is an hour’s drive from Antigua. From there, you will hike for about 1 hour uphill to the official registration of Acatenango. That is the official starting point of the trailhead. That is where your guide or you will pay the Q50 entrance fee.
Keep in mind that the vast majority of the trail is uphill, on loose volcanic gravel that is slippery and hard to climb. You are expected to carry at least 4 liters of water and, if you are camping at the top, supplies, such as extra clothing, bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, etc.
After about 4 to 5 hours of uphill hiking with occasional breaks, most guided tours will stop for the night around 3:00 PM and set up camp. At 4:00 AM the group will wake up, hike about 1 to 1 ½ hours to the top of the volcano, and watch the sunrise. This is the most memorable part of the hike, with the view of the surrounding area being breathtaking.
Then your group will start the hike back down, which can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. The shuttle will be waiting for you at the bottom to bring you back to Antigua, Guatemala
My Suggestion: If you have the time, I would suggest the Two Day Acatenango Overnight hike. It provides the opportunity to rest and recover, meet new people, and see the gorgeous views from the trail as you hike up. The temperature can drop to 5 to -10 degrees Celsius at night. So if you opt to hike through the night, you will be hiking for a few hours in the cold.
Guided Acatenango Night Hike (Private)
Cost: Q900 ($150CAD) per person
My husband and I decided to go with a Private Guided Acatenango Night Hike. We enjoyed the experience, but it was challenging for us due to our fitness level. I am not the most fit person. I do not exercise, go to the gym, or lift weights regularly. So when we arrived in Antigua, Guatemala, and wanted to hike a volcano, I knew it would be a challenge. Due to time constraints, we booked last minute with a tour agency near Antigua Guatemala Central Park.
What Is Included With The Acatenango Night Hike?
It varies by tour company, but our package includes:
- Private Transportation (Pick-up & Drop-off at Hotel)
- Entrance fee (Q50 per person)
- 2 Guides (Spanish speaking only)
- Gloves, Toques, Sweaters (if needed)
- Walking Sticks (2)
- 2 liters of water (2)
- Bread
- Ham
- Apples (2)
- Bananas (2)
What To Pack For The Acatenango Night Hike?
Below are the extra items we packed for the hike:
- Gatorade
- Snacks (Granola bars, sweet bread, cookies, etc.)
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen (for the hike down!)
- First-Aid Kit
- Medication
- Cellphone
- Extra money (Bring Q50 for the entrance fee, just in case your tour company fails to pay!)
- Hat
- Wipes (baby or wet wipes)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Garbage bag (for your trash)
What Are The Benefits Of The Guided Acatenango Night Hike?
#1 It is faster.
The Guided Acatenango Night Hike is faster than the Two Day Acatenango Overnight hike. If you are short on time, this is a great option.
#2 It is cooler.
If you are a person who prefers cooler temperatures and are not looking forward to hiking in the heat, the Guided Acatenango Night Hike is much cooler.
#3 No camping.
If you do not like camping or if you do not sleep well in a tent, this might be the hike for you. Just hike through the night and avoid the hassle.
#4 Less gear.
As you are not camping, you do not need to worry about bringing extra clothing, a sleeping bag, toiletries, etc.. Which means a lighter backpack and an easier hike.
#5 Less water.
The Two Day Acatenango Overnight hike requires you to carry 4 liters of water. The Guided Acatenango Night Hike only requires you to bring 2 liters.
#6 Unlimited Breaks.
This option only applies if you go on a private tour. Due to the private tour, we took breaks when we wanted to and went at our own pace. I would be too embarrassed to go with a group.
What Are The Disadvantages Of The Acatenango Night Hike?
1# More Tiring.
As you will be hiking all night, you will not only be tired from the hike but also from a lack of sleep.
#2 It’s dark.
For most of the hike, it will be dark. You will need to use a headlamp or flashlight to navigate. You will also have no view for most of the trail.
#3 Breaks are cold!
A few hours into the hike every time you stop, you will cool off quickly. Moving your body is the best way to stay warm. When I say it was cold, it was cold!
Itinerary And Experience
The Start:
As the tour was private, we could select our pick-up time. We choose to be picked up at 8:30 PM from our Airbnb. The drive from Antigua to the hiking starting point was 1 hour. We had two guides, one to watch the front and one to watch the back.
The first part of the hike is up a steep hill with loose gravel. This part was challenging and took us about 1 ½ hours. That was when we questioned what we got ourselves into, haha.
Once we finished the first portion of the hike, we arrived at the entrance to the trailhead. That is where you register at the office and pay the Q50 entrance fee. From there, we hiked uphill through coffee fields, eventually arriving at a building that serves drinks and snacks during the day but is closed at night.
Our guide assured us the zig-zag was easier, but it was not. The zig-zag section of the trail is the longest. The trail is uphill and zig zags up the mountain, left to right. The gravel is loose, and there are tree branches and obstacles to avoid. Be careful and take your time.
Once we finished the zigzag, we continued an upward climb through what appeared to be a large forested area at night but was smaller vegetation. The plants and trees look much smaller and sparse when viewed during the day.
The Break:
About 1 ½ hours from the top, at 3:00 AM, we took a break and started a fire. Due to the cold temperature, the fire barely kept us warm. We were shivering for most of this resting period, it wasn’t fun. Typically hikers would continue the hike to the top to catch the sunrise. Our guides could see that we were tired and thought it would be best to avoid the crowds. At that time we were able to see a beautiful view of the valley below and took some pictures.
At 4:30 AM we started hiking again and made it to the top by 6:00 AM. Unfortunately for us, it was cloudy, so we had no view. There is no guarantee that you will have a view from the top. To increase your chances of having a view, hike during the dry season (November to May) and check the weather beforehand.
It was very cold and windy at the top, so we did not stay long. Quickly we made our descent.
Due to my husband’s choice of footwear (converse), we had to walk very slowly. It is easy to slip on the loose volcanic gravel, so we took our time. This resulted in a 3-hour descent, but most people can finish in 1 to 2 hours.
The End:
On the way down, my legs were tired. I did not know if I would make it, but I somehow pulled through. Sitting in the taxi back to Antigua, I was so proud of us for finishing the hike. Keep in mind that not everyone makes it to the top! We finished the hike at 10:30 AM and made it back to our Airbnb by 11:30 AM.
This hike can be challenging, even for those who exercise regularly. The view from the top can be magnificent, and even if you do not have a view like us, the accomplishment once you finish feels pretty good. I would do a hike like this again, but only after preparing through regular exercise.