Acatenango Overnight Hike from Antigua: Watch Fuego Erupt

Two days on a volcano where the eruptions happen while you're there

Acatenango Overnight Hike is a two-day volcano trek from Antigua in Guatemala's Central Highlands, where you hike to a high-altitude campsite, sleep in a cabin, and climb to the summit at dawn to watch the active Fuego volcano erupt across the valley. The tour includes all camping gear, meals, local guides and transport from Antigua. A high level of physical fitness is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: The day of the hike

• Breakfast at CA Travelers
• Pick up at CA Travelers office
• Prepare at Supply Center
• Ride to Acatenango Volcano
• Start hike with group introduction
• Lunch break on the trail
• Arrive at CA Travelers Campsite
• Enjoy sunset at Acatenango Volcano
• Dinner and rest at campsite

Day 2: The day of return

• Climb to the summit for sunrise
• Breakfast at campsite
• Pack and hike down
• Take after picture at volcano entrance
• Ride to supply center with smoothie
• Return to Antigua and drop off at hostel

The experience

The day starts with breakfast at CA Travelers in Antigua, then a stop at the supply center to pick up your gear and a shuttle ride to the volcano's entrance. From there you climb for about two hours before stopping for lunch, then keep going until you reach the CA Travelers campsite. The cabins sleep four people and come equipped with a sleeping bag rated to –6°C, a mattress, extra blanket, pillow and a waterproof floor mat to keep the cold out. The guides welcome you with Guatemalan hot chocolate, and after sunset dinner is ready whenever you're hungry. You can stay up watching Fuego's eruptions all night long if you want.

Day two starts before dawn. It takes 1.5 hours to hike to the summit, and you'll arrive in time to watch the sunrise over the Central Highlands. When the sky is clear, Pacaya and Agua volcanoes are in view too. After breakfast back at the campsite, you pack up and descend over 2.5 hours to the entrance, where the guides take a final photo. A smoothie waits at the supply center when you drop off the gear, then the shuttle returns you to your hostel in Antigua.

The tour operates through a cooperative of local guides called CAT (Comité de Autogestión Turística), made up of people from the community of San Jose Calderas. The tour provides all meals, the cabin, sleeping bag, winter jacket, gloves, flashlight, buff, 3-liter water pack, raincoat and first aid kit.

What’s included

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• all camping gear including a –6°C sleeping bag, winter jacket, gloves, flashlight, buff, 3-liter water pack, raincoat and first aid kit.
• overnight stay in a four-person cabin with mattress and blankets.
• local guides.
• transport from Antigua to the volcano and back to your hostel.
• admission fee.

Options for this experience

2 options

Acatenango Overnight HikeGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00

Private tour (minimum 2 people)Guide in English or Spanish · 07:00Lasts 2 days, includes a private tent, lunch, dinner, breakfast and private transportation

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearby

Operated by CA Travelers

Is this one for you?Join the regular group hike with other travelers, or book the private tour if your group wants to go on its own: either way, you arrive with just a backpack and the sleeping bag, mattress, blanket and meals are provided.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How cold does it get at the Acatenango campsite overnight?

The campsite sits high enough that temperatures drop significantly. Each cabin provides a sleeping bag rated to –6°C, an extra blanket, a mattress and a waterproof floor mat underneath to insulate you from the ground, so you stay warm through the night.

Can I see Fuego volcano erupt from the campsite?

Yes. Fuego is active and performs eruptions that are visible from the CA Travelers campsite on Acatenango. The guides will prepare hot chocolate as you watch, and you can stay up all night to watch if you choose to.

What's included in the overnight camping setup?

The tour provides the cabin, sleeping bag, winter jacket, gloves, flashlight, buff, 3-liter water pack, raincoat and first aid kit. Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included, and at the campsite the guides prepare dinner and the next morning's breakfast.

How long does it take to hike to the summit on day two?

The hike to the top of Acatenango takes 1.5 hours from the campsite, and you'll arrive in time to watch the sunrise. The descent back to the entrance takes 2.5 hours.