Travelling at the age of 53 years togehter withe my wife and our daughter (20 years), we had mixed expectations at first. Leaving Antigua at 7:45am, we arrived at the starting point at 2400m a.s.l. at 8:45am. The first section passed over lava granulate that made steps a bit difficult. Second part was via steps and across corn fields till the edge of the cloud forrest. At 10:10am we arrived at the park entrance. Passing the cloud and later pine forrests, we arrived at the lunch spot at 3200m at 12:00 pm. 45min lunch break with delicious lunch packs provide by our tour operator OX Adventures. Another 45min later, we arrived at the base camp at 3600m asl. The view is amazing when clear. As it openened up during the afternoon, we witnessed several eruptions of Volcano Fuego and decided to hop on the night trek on the volcanoes edge. 4:30 pm we started our 30min descent to the saddle and another 45 min ascent towards the volcanoe. Up there, we saw the volcanoe and a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately the strong wind chilled a lot despite every single layer we wore. At 7:30pm, we returned and at 8:30pm we arrived back at our base camp. Diner and a large bonfire was set by our colleagues. The night was cold, but the cottages helped a lot. In the middle of the night, we saw Fuego spitting fire balls in the air. At 3:20am, our guide Romeo called for the start to the summit. Headlamps and tired legs made the climb a bit difficult, but the closer we came to the summit, the more we wanted to reach it. At 5:30am, we reached the summit and had a fabulous view on large parts of Guatemala from its 3967m. Wind was very chilly and strong, but with our Fuego experience, we just carried every single layer and felt ok. Gloves and cap were essential. At 6:30am, just as Fuego started another eruption, we started our descent and at 7:00am we were at the base camp for breakfast. 7:30am we started the next descent to the colleting point which we reached at 9:30am. At 10:30am we were back in Antigua after this liftetime experience. Our mixed expectations were changed to satisfying and positive feelings. The climb up and down is a physical challenge, but even at our age easy to perform and quite a few of the younger ones struggled much more.

perfect experience. bumpy road but exciting and comfortable. great driver and guide . perfect weather in dry season. we were 5pp. easy 40 minute hike to base camp. did not need to go higher . son went to top which was a bit touch

Our one-day excursion to Acatenango Volcano was an unforgettable experience! The day began with a smooth drive up to the base of the volcano, where our friendly guide provided us with fascinating insights about the area’s history and geology. The car ride was comfortable, and the anticipation for the hike made the journey fly by. Once we arrived at the starting point of our hike, we were met with stunning views that set the tone for the rest of the day. The hike itself was manageable, with just the right level of challenge for a day trip. Our guide paced the hike perfectly, ensuring we had plenty of breaks to catch our breath and take in the breathtaking scenery. The terrain was varied and offered plenty of photo opportunities, so don’t forget your camera! The summit offered panoramic views that were truly awe-inspiring. The best part was watching live volcanic explosions (the volcano erupts every 20 minutes or so). Standing at the top and gazing out at the surrounding volcanic landscape was a humbling experience. The return trip was equally pleasant, with our guide ensuring we were comfortable and well taken care of. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the region!

Hiking Acatenango was an absolutely incredible experience. Cannot recommend this enough! Obviously not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough hike anyway and the elevation makes it even harder. Be prepared to pace accordingly, drink lots of water, take breaks when you need to, deep breaths, etc. We used Old Town Outfitters and had a fabulous experience. Our guide Benny was fantastic and took great care of us. The whole experience was unreal. You must do the overnight to really see the Fuego eruptions — it’s so much better in the dark so you can see the glow of the molten lava rocks. Bring lots of warm layers for the overnight and sunrise summit!! It is FREEZING at the top. And don’t be shy about using walking poles. It made a huge difference for me.