2-day Acatenango volcano hike from Antigua with camping

Camp at the volcano and watch the sun rise from the summit

A 2-day volcano hiking tour from Antigua that takes you from the village of Aldea La Soledad up Acatenango with a Spanish-speaking guide, shared dome accommodation, meals and gear included. You hike to camp on day one, then climb to the summit before dawn on day two to watch the sunrise, then descend back to Antigua by midday. Entrance fees (Q100 for foreigners, Q50 domestic) and an optional Q200 add-on to visit the volcano of fire are paid separately at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Departure and hike to camp

• Board shuttle at Café La Parada
• Travel to Aldea La Soledad
• Prepare for Acatenango Volcano hike
• Hike from Aldea La Soledad to camp
• Enjoy lunch during the hike

Day 2 — Sunrise and return to Antigua

• Wake early for sunrise hike
• Hike to top of Acatenango Volcano
• Descend to Aldea La Soledad
• Board shuttle back to Antigua
• Return to starting point in Antigua

The Experience

The shuttle picks you up at Café La Parada in Antigua at eight in the morning and drives an hour to Aldea La Soledad, a village at the base of the mountain. From there the real work begins: a challenging hike uphill through natural terrain to reach the camp, where you'll stop for lunch partway up. The dome accommodation sleeps six people and comes with a sleeping bag and mat; dinner is served once everyone has arrived and settled in.

Before sunrise on day two, you'll leave camp and climb to the summit of Acatenango. The hike is steep and the air gets thinner, but the payoff is watching the light break across the landscape from the top of the volcano. Once you've had that moment, the guide leads the descent back down to Aldea La Soledad, a walk that takes a few hours. The shuttle meets you there and drives you back to Antigua, arriving around twelve-thirty.

The tour includes three meals (lunch on day one, dinner, and breakfast on day two), a sleeping bag, a mat, and cold-weather gear—hat, gloves and jacket—so you don't have to bring your own. The guide speaks Spanish and leads the group through the hike and the camp. Children from age seven can join. If you reach the summit and want to add a visit to the volcano of fire, you can arrange that for Q200 per person.

What’s included

• Shuttle pickup from Café La Parada in Antigua and return transport from Aldea La Soledad.
• Spanish-speaking guide for both days.
• shared dome accommodation with sleeping bag and mat.
• lunch on day one, dinner, and breakfast on day two.
• hat, gloves and jacket for cold-weather hiking.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by XploreGuate

Is this one for you?The guide leads in Spanish, so you'll follow along best if you speak Spanish or are comfortable with a guide who does. The two-day format and the pre-dawn summit push mean this tour suits hikers who can commit to an early start and steep terrain at altitude; if you prefer a shorter walk or a gentler pace, look for a day hike instead.

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Top questions

How hard is the hike up Acatenango, and what kind of fitness do I need?

Acatenango is a challenging hike that tests your endurance, and the operator asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The climb to camp on day one and the pre-dawn push to the summit on day two are both steep, so you should be comfortable hiking uphill for several hours at altitude.

What's the accommodation like at the camp?

You sleep in a cozy shared dome with five other hikers. Each dome comes equipped with a sleeping bag and mat, so you don't need to bring your own bedding.

What meals are included, and when do we eat?

Lunch is served on the trail during day one's hike, dinner comes once camp is set up, and breakfast is served before the pre-dawn climb to the summit on day two.

Can I add a trip to the volcano of fire from the summit?

Yes. If you reach the top of Acatenango and want to visit the volcano of fire, you can arrange it for Q200 per person and add it to your booking at checkout.

What time do we return to Antigua, and how long is the drive back?

The descent from the summit takes a few hours, and the shuttle meets you at Aldea La Soledad for the one-hour drive back to Antigua, arriving around twelve-thirty on day two.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Children are welcome from age seven. The tour is physically demanding, so younger children should be comfortable with multi-hour hikes at altitude.