![]() There are a few tour companies in town that cater to higher-end travelers who book in advance ( this tour you can book online is run by the reputable Old Town Outfitters, and OX Expeditions is a popular choice)–the price much higher for a similar experience as far as the views and itinerary go, but we have seen that many people leave much more satisfied with their attitude toward safety.Ĭheck out this 2-day Acatenango tour from Old Town Outfitters! It made for a very uncomfortable night–and a pretty concerning one, once we learned after the fact that six people had died of hypothermia while hiking Volcano Acatenango just weeks before our hike. To add insult to injury, the zipper was broken on Jeremy’s and it refused to stay closed all night. Despite the near-freezing temperatures at the top of Volcano Acatenango in January, Jeremy and I were both given summer-weight sleeping bags. Yes, tents, sleeping bags, and mats were provided as advertised–but the sleeping bags were all different weights. Something all of these miscommunications had in common? The only people who heard about what was actually the case were those who knew to ask those specific questions–for example, Jeremy and I clarified the food situation after I read an account of the hike up Volcano Acatenango from The Girl and Globe.Įven worse, in my opinion, was the lack of safety precautions. We had group members (us!) who were not told to bring a flashlight or headlamp for the final portion of the hike before dawn, and therefore missed the summit (yep–it wasn’t physical strain that prevented us from going to catch the sunrise at the summit, but the fact that it is literally impossible to climb a volcano when you can’t even see your hand in front of your face). We had group members who were not told that the “meals” were more like “snacks” and that hikers needed to be sure to pack plenty of food of their own. We had group members who were not told that they would not be provided with a bag to carry their gear, so ended up strapping sleeping bags to their day packs. Beyond that, though–your information will vary. ![]() This tour is advertised around Antigua as including 3 meals (lunch/dinner/breakfast), guides, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, and tents. While the guides with us while hiking Volcano Acatenango were kind, the actual organization of the tour made the entire experience less pleasant than it had to be. The Ugly From Our Acatenango Volcano Hike While we’ve decided to let that go and consider the challenge complete, we are not thrilled with missing the official mark. The worst sting of all? Jeremy and I missed summiting Volcano Acatenango by about 200 meters of incline. As I type this, I can see scrapes on my hands from catching myself several times. My pride was injured more than once, due both to being slower than I like to consider myself as a hiker and also due to falling more times than I care to remember on the way back down. It was easily upwards of 10 times that we saw Volcano Fuego in action, and that’s not even including the deep groaning of the earth that we could hear at night when trying to sleep.īoth sunrise and sunset were incredible to behold, and we found ourselves snapping photo after photo in an effort to capture the beauty. While some tour groups have had disappointing experiences due to a quiet Volcano Fuego or cloudy weather obscuring the view, we were greeted with often clear views of Volcano Fuego and so many eruptions of smoke and fire that I lost track. Our campsite was set up directly in front of this neighbor, which was happy to cooperate with us. I will never forget that moment–and not just because it provided the adrenaline needed to finish the hike without pain. Several hours into our hike, as we were approaching the campsite, our small group that was hiking Volcano Acatenango together caught our first sight of Volcano Fuego sending billows of smoke into the air–at that moment, all pain and exhaustion were forgotten, and you could literally feel the energy shift to pure excitement. The hike leads tour groups up Volcano Acatenango in search not only of a summit and sweeping views of the region but of an up-close-and-personal look with nearby and very active Volcano Fuego. Hiking Volcano Acatenango rewarded us with some of the most fascinating views that we have ever seen. The Good From Our Volcano Acatenango Hike What to Pack for Hiking Volcano Acatenango. ![]() The Ugly From Our Acatenango Volcano Hike.The Bad From Trekking Volcano Acatenango.The Good From Our Volcano Acatenango Hike. ![]()
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