A lot of tour companies operate from the city of Antigua, and the prices range from anywhere around $30 to $100, with the quality of the tour and equipment varying significantly. No matter your level of experience,theOXteam are there to support you. Ultimate Acatenango Volcano Hike Guide: Best Tours and Trekking Tips Be sure to hike Acatenango with a company such as OX Expeditions, so that you are with experienced, professional and trusted guides who not only know how to react in certain situations but ensure you have all of the right equipment and clothing. . Remember: things change quickly when it comes to hostels! ), Acatenango: Difficulty, Safety & Weather (We Didnt Get to the Summit), I Got Serious Altitude Sickness in Bolivia! We were all fighting for space around the crowded bonfire, trying to heat our freezing butts. Next, after climbing through cloud cover, fresh magic awaits in the form of a beautiful carpet of aromatic flowers. Altitude sickness is also known as acute mountain sickness, altitude illness, hypobaropathy, Acosta disease, puna, and soroche. You can visit Pacaya Volcano or Hobbitenango, both at slightly higher altitudes, in preparation. The ascent to the OX Base Camp on Acatenango takes between 5-6 hours. Dont let the Acatenango hike difficulty put you off! From the minute we signed up, every aspect of the hike was taken into consideration. And summiting Acatenango for sunrise was one of the most rewarding feelings Ive ever had. It also helps to keep hydrated throughout the hike! With an elevation of 3976 meters it is the third highest volcano in Central America. One word of warning as the summit of Acatenango volcano sits at almost 4000 metres, some hikers can suffer from altitude sickness. ), this experience is well worth it. Acatenango: Difficulty, Safety & Weather Youre rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding areas. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If that wasnt enough, the three volcanic peaks around Lake Atitln jut up from the west, with Santa Mara volcano veering behind them. On the way back we bumped into three hikers that had gotten lost from their tour group during the storm. Being that close to an erupting volcano is unique, scary, and incredible. However, I definitely recommend bringing some trail mix and bars to eat as extra snacks. Theyll fit into your backpack in the same way regular trainers do, yet theyre more sturdy on the mountains. Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert, Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support. As is usually the case when hiking mountains or volcanoes, descending Acatenango volcano is harder than the ascent. When its time to choose a tour company, Id recommend spending some extra money in order to guarantee both quality and your safety. Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates, We support you to make the most of your time on earth. So, just how difficult is the Acatenango volcano hike? But being close to the active and thunderous 'fire volcano' Fuego, is worth every struggle. As long as you have moderate-good activity levels, you will be able to hike Acatenango. But, you need to provide the batteries. Also speaking from personal experience, I urge you to put that thought aside and keep going. Most of us were fine, but its going to be different for each person. Porters are happy to assist hikers, and the money will be appreciated. Personally, I think theyre both worth it. The Acatenango summit is 4,000m high (this was never going to be easy!) It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 2. While the chances of a major eruption happening specifically on your hike are unlikely, I believe its important to be humble. There is a range of options available for Acatenango tours & at the time of updating this post these run atpricesfromas little as Q30O ($40 / 30)right up toQ1600 ($210 / 153). Snacks as our tour company provided minimal food, we took lots of energising snacks with us (including nuts, dried fruit & dark chocolate) theres the food market in Antigua as well as a choice of supermarkets for stocking up beforehand. In total, we spent about an hour at the top, although our guides were keen, once they had served up our breakfast to get us back to camp & packed up ready for the descent. As we travel, I post everything live on Instagram, so check out my recent highlights and posts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This epic hike takes you to the summit of the most beautiful volcano in Guatemala with incredible views of the active Fuego volcano. In short, its possible to climb to the summit of the Acatenango volcano all year round. Weather: The weather around Acatenango can vary from wet and foggy at the base to cold and snowy near the peak. Elevation: 12,343 feet (3,976 meters) Last Eruption: Erupts ever 30 minutes or so Status: Active Although it's challenging (definitely the hardest thing I've ever done! OXhas a mission to change peoples lives through amazing challenges and adventures,all whilst promoting Guatemala andsupporting the local communities. The Fuego hike is brutal. Mainly because of the frequent fire display put on by the neighbor Volcan de Fuego, (The Fire Volcano). The STUNNING Acatenango Hike: All You Need To Know While the view from here should be out-of-this-world spectacular, the foggy conditions meant I couldnt see more than two metres ahead. a tricky question Ive been asked a lot. Rain is common in the Lake District, so dont be surprised if your trip is disturbed by a downfall. Then lastly, the sunrise hike to the summit of Acatenango (which you will be woken up for at 4 am) takes another 1.5 hours (a 3-hour round trip) before descending back to the shuttle drop-off point. After enjoying breakfast, youll be taken to the trailhead of the hike. Extremely high altitude: 18,000+ feet. But I have zero regrets; Acatenango was totally worth it. However, both I and the OX team recommend the overnight trip. Want to know more about hiking Pacaya Volcano? The Acatenango summit stands at 13,044 feet above sea level; base camp is at 11,811 feet. Shortly after, youll enter the cloud forest. So with that being said, lets climb a volcano! There are so many amazing hostels to choose from in Antigua that its hard to pick the best one! When it comes to the Pacaya Volcano hike difficulty, dont expect it to be a walk in the park! 4) How do I prepare for the Acatenango hike? Youll meet just before 7 am, so this alone is a long day! Theres a possibility that tours booked in the rainy season will be cancelled. Sat around the campfire that our guides built, barely being able to see just in front of us due to the fog (hence no lava) we quickly ate our pot of noodles, drank some hot chocolate & gathered back in our beaten-up tent to shelter from the cold. Our passion lies in helping free-spirited folk, like you, to explore more & to connect with nature. There arent any bins at the Acatenango Base Camp. From personal experience,I can confirm this is the case at the start of the trek, I admit to asking myself what I was doing! Skip happy hour. Drink twice as much water. An 11 mile / 18 km round-trip is made tough, as mentioned above, by the elevation gain & high altitude. You can also buy the likes of jackets, torches and gloves here. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, confusion, trouble sleeping, and dizziness . The OX Expeditions Base Camp is well equipped with a kitchen (where the guides cook your dinner and breakfast), a dining area, a campfire, 5 cabins (sleeping 6 each), and toilets. No, but its strongly recommended that you wear at least off-road trail running shoes (such as Hoka trainers). This is more exposed with a variety of flat sections and inclines. . Condition your respiratory muscles. Fun fact: I took over 300 photos in two days! I felt extremely proud when we reached the summit. Altitude sickness; If you're prone to altitude sickness or are worried about it, arrive in Antigua 48 hours . These can be bought in La Bodegona in Antigua (view address here). Sitting around a campfire, feeling the ground quake while watching it shoot lava skyward was one of the most memorable moments Ive experienced in all my travels. Finally, youll ascend through the alpine forest. This also means theres likely to be a lot of view-inhibiting fog at the summit. 3. 2023 Jennie Wanders | Real-Life Travel Advice for Real-Life People. (I had my fair share of horrible altitude sickness in Bolivia though.). Do you need the walking sticks? Best Guide to Acatenango Volcano Hike - Courtney The Explorer Sure this is not for the faint-hearted, but trust me it is possible! Taking a treat for the summitis something we always do when hiking, in this case, we took some dark chocolate. Required fields are marked *. Acatenango Overnight Hike - OX expeditions, Antigua Guatemala Tours start out from Antigua, where youll be picked up from your accommodation. Here are three of the more reputable companies operating tours of Acatenango: The rain was pouring down, and the violent winds were howling outside my tent. How tough is the Acatenango hike? Not wearing your sweaty clothing at night, which weve mentioned above but well go into why basically, the clothes you wear up to camp, youll sweat in & if you keep those clothes on your body will struggle to keep you warm when that sweaty layer gets cold. Here's everything you need to know to be prepared for hiking Acatenango! But its a very short section and takes less than a minute to complete. Unsubscribe at any time. We cannot stress this enough, you may not be able to imagine after walking around Antigua in the sunshine just how cold it can get at the summit of Acatenango, just trust us, it gets bloody cold! However, you can hike Acatenango with a number of companies in Antigua, and you can even hire a private guide for you and a small group or couple. In Sweden we have a saying that translates: There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.. If you have good-to-excellent fitness levels, and additional time in Antigua, you may want to hike Acatenango. 3) Do you need a guide to hike Acatenango? It is not mandatory to have a guide to hike Acatenango, but it is highly recommended. Great advice for hiking Acatenango man! As we experienced total cloud coverage when we reached our camp, staying up to witness the lava was not on the cards for us, however on a clear night paried with a lava strewn Fuego thats exactly what youll do. There are no porters available for the Fuego hike, but you can leave extra items at Base Camp. High SPF suncream for your body & face we always use at least factor 50. After battling an addiction to travel for the past ten years, I finally took the plunge to work remotely and travel full time. Source: CTV News: 6 Climbers Die from Cold, 4 Rescued at Guatemala Volcano. Formerly Destination Addict, we have rebranded to bring you The Wilder Route. Ox Expeditions offers a one-day Acatenango hiking tour. At The Wilder Route we are committed to protecting & respecting your privacy. If youre in relatively good shape, absolutely! Most of the first part is a straight ascent, with little let-up. But we made it up to the summit just before 6 am; in time for sunrise. For us and the rest of our group, it was definitely a bucket list experience! Now, you may find a lot of discussion on tours that cost less &whether or not one should opt for a less expensive or more expensive tour. Disclaimer - we may receive a small fee for any purchases made via this post. From basecamp, youll be back at the starting point another few hours, ready to return to La Soledad, and then onto Antigua, having experienced something youll never, ever forget. Covering our travels past & present, The Wilder Route brings you our experience & advice. However, the rainy season in Guatemala is fromMay to October, but rain can last until later in the year (even as far as December), so if you want to avoid the rain, January to May is the best time to hike. Keen to enjoy adventures in Guatemala? Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike: Everything you need to know (updated On this epic hike youll climb to the top of a volcano, sleep high above the clouds and, best of all, witness a stunning fire spectacle from another volcano nearby. It takes around 12 hours and departs Antigua at 5 am. to see if theres a guide that suits you. Unfortunately, when I first reached Antigua, the weather wasnt great, so I decided totravel first taking in Atitlan, Chichicastenango and Quetzaltenango before returning to Antigua to climb Acatenango. It really is special watching the sunrise over Guatemala, with Fuego erupting next to you, 4000m up on the summit of Acatenango. Finally, theres the sunrise summit of the Acatenango hike (nope, Base Camp isnt at the summit!). Altitude sickness is a threat when hiking Acatenango. While Acatenango is a dormant volcano, Volcan de Fuego is most definitely active. Acatenango Hike: Complete Volcano Trek Guide For context, New York City is at an elevation of 33 feet above sea level. Tip: if you havent come with supplies, this is your last opportunity to stock up on water and snacks. If you have good fitness levels, youll be ok hiking Acatenango. Expect personal travel stories, backpacking tips + the latest travel inspiration! Its tough, gruelling and at times; relentless. The condition generally occurs at altitudes higher than 8,000 feet . Jennie Wanders is part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Altitude sickness - Wikipedia We were the first ones there and it was pretty special. Unless you are an experienced hiker with knowledge of the volcanoes, and the routes and have all of the necessary equipment, Acatenango should undeniably be hiked with a guide. All 9 photos. The start of the hike is warm (I wore a t-shirt and leggings) but it gets colder the . If you don't climb Acatenango volcano during a trip to Guatemala, you're missing out bigtime. Acute Mountain Sickness Score - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf Because of the rough winds and the low visibility, the guides explained to us that it wasnt going to be easy. Acatenango hike - an almighty challenge that rewards the adventurer with the most spectacular views. Youre in the right place! This can be the end of your hike. A COMPLETE Guide, Quito To The Galapagos: Easy Step-By-Step Guide (2023), Backpacking Ecuador: COMPLETE Guide For 2023, 3 Days In Quito: The PERFECT Itinerary (2023), Quito To Guayaquil: Full Guide & Transport Options (2023), One Day In Quito: What To Do, Eat, See & Explore (2023), Rental gear, pre-trip meeting, 4x meals, local guide, bi-lingual professional guide, coffee, cabins to sleep in, lockers for storage, Extra snacks, guidegratuity, entrance and camping fee Acatenango (Q100), Hiking clothes (a synthetic base layer, fleece, rain jacket and quick drying leggings or shorts), a good pair of trainers or hiking boots, hat and sunscreen, You can watch the epic Fuego Volcano erupt with lava and a boom from the, Comfortable shoes (walking boots or trainers), Cash to tip your guides or buy any snacks along the way, Camera, drone or any technical equipment you need for photos. Renting a car in Oaxaca isnt too, Read More Renting a Car in Oaxaca as a UK Resident: FULL Guide (2023)Continue, Looking for the best things to do in Ambleside in the rain? You will need moderate-good fitness levels to be able to hike Acatenango. Acatenango is joined with Volcn de Fuego and collectively the volcano complex is known as La Horqueta. Epic Guide: Overnight Acatenango Volcano Hike Essential items to NOT forget! Youll also need to have room to carry part of the tent that youll be sleeping in & your sleeping mat, so yeah, your big bag is required. So, if youre looking for an adventure that takes your breath away, climbing Acatenango is a must. Need to know: tours tend to begin around 11am, and youll reach basecamp around 3pm, which means youre only hiking for 4-5 hours. Now, we didnt take our SLRs with us, because we didnt want to carry them up there instead, we opted to take our phones & GoPro. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a syndrome that arises in non-acclimatized individuals who ascend to high altitudes. If you have any questions at any time about what we recommend, please email us at hello@thewilderroute.com as we'll be happy to help. Aspirin or Ibuprofen in case of altitudesickness. While I dont usually tend to wear full-on hiking boots, I was very glad Id opted to wear them for this trek.
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