Acatenango and Fuego Volcano Hike in Antigua, Guatemala

One of the main reasons many people come to Antigua in Guatemala is as a base to hike the incredible volcanoes of the region. While there are a number of volcanoes around Antigua, by far the most famous and popular trek is an overnight hike to the Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes.

Antigua was the first stop of my Guatemala adventure, with the country being the fourth of my Central America backpacking trip. My mission while planning out my Central America trip was to make it as varied as possible, visiting both big cities and small towns, gorgeous beaches and remote forests. My Central America trip covered five countries in five weeks; the first three (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua) with my partner Tobi and the last two (Guatemala, Belize) with Ina, a friend from Salzburg.

→ Check out my complete guide to visiting Antigua!

Both Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes are active and offer a strenuous and rewarding experience. If you're lucky, you'll spot smoke and even lava coming out of the summit of Fuego, one of the most iconic views in all of Guatemala. Fuego lay dormant for a number of months, only occasionally smoking and not erupting. We hiked Fuego exactly one week before it re-erupted - it was a wild feeling knowing we had stood right on that volcano!

Successfully doing this hike was a highlight of my entire Central America trip. You can only hike Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes with a guided tour group as they own the various camps you can sleep at overnight. I completed my volcano hike with Get Your Guide and absolutely loved my experience.

The guided tour included:

• Pick up and drop off in Antigua
• Gloves, hats and jackets for free - it gets very cold at the top!
• The option to rent additional gear such as backpacks and hiking poles
• Three guides accompanying us the entire way
• Packed lunch, dinner, breakfast and snacks (you have to carry this yourself so make sure there is room in your pack!)
• Drinking water - there are also lots of drinks and snacks available for purchase at rest stops the whole way up
• Camping spot, including mattresses and sleeping bags (bring your own inflatable pillow)

→ Book your overnight hike to Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes with Get Your Guide.