Acatenango Volcano: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Trek

1. From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Trek

Walk for 2 hours to the summit of Pacaya Volcano and enjoy stunning views. Leave from Antigua for a 1-hour bus journey to the volcano's base before immediately starting your 2-hour trek with your local guide. Hike through wonderful pine forests up to the trickier volcanic ash section and finally to the sulfur smoking cone. On occasion, you can even see small eruptions and lava flowing, depending on the activity of the volcano. From the summit, you can enjoy great views of the nearby volcanoes, Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango, the pacific lowlands, and all the way to El Salvador. To ensure your safety you won’t be able to visit the crater, but you will get an amazing view of red-hot lava flowing and steam baths created by the heat of Pacaya. Take a break and relax here as you take in more scenic views before hiking back to the base of the volcano, from where you will transfer back to your accommodation. 

Overnight Volcano Acatenango Hiking Adventure

2. Overnight Volcano Acatenango Hiking Adventure

Observe the sunset and the sunrise from Acatenango. Sleep overnight in the base camp located just in front of the Fuego volcano, facing it over an elevation of 3,700 meters above sea level. Begin with a shuttle from Antigua to La Soledad village in the morning. Begin your hike, and hike until the sun begins to set to catch the views from high above. Sleep in the base camp an overnight. On day two, rise early and take a quick hike to the summit. Take in an elevated view of the sunrise. Breakfast will be served back at base camp before the trek back toward the village. Finally, you'll reach the village before noon. Enjoy free time to look around before the transfer to Antigua, and enjoy the rest of your day in the city.

From Guatemala City or Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Day Tour

3. From Guatemala City or Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Day Tour

Come and see the Pacaya Volcano: the most active volcano in Guatemala at 2,500 meters (more than 8,000 feet). Witness spectacular views of the lagoon of Calderas and three other volcanoes: Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. The surrounding area is an experience unto itself, composed in large part of humid forest and rocks. After a walk through volcanic sand paths, with great views of the volcanoes and unique vegetation, you´ll arrive at the plateau where you can see the main crater of the volcano. Today, you can't visit the crater of the volcano for security reasons, but you will see the lava (if active) and some steam baths created by the heat of the Pacaya Volcano. At the volcano, you'll have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the volcano. After a thrilling day of exploration and dramatic views, you will arrive back at your hotel.

From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Day Hike

4. From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Day Hike

Volcano Pacaya (8370ft/2552m) may not be Guatemala’s highest peak, however its slopes and unique landscapes are certainly of some of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in all of Central America. Set in its own National Park, Pacaya is a storybook volcano with a continuous plume of smoke drifting from its summit and a massive dried lava field forming the valley at the base of its caldera. The group meets in Antigua at 08:00 (for a morning hike) or 14:00 (for a sunset hike) – where drinking water, bathroom facilities, and retail outdoor equipment are available. Your drive to the trailhead is just over 1 hour in private transport from Antigua to the Park Office. As the group moves up the myriad of trails on the mountain, Guatemala’s impressive vistas open up before you. As you reach the base of the caldera, your guide will direct the group through the rugged dried lava fields, recently reformed by a massive eruption in 2010. No matter what conditions you encounter on the mountain, the group will have the opportunity to traverse unique volcanic-rock landscapes as you ascend towards the peak. Here the group will stop for a freshly prepared picnic to enjoy along with views of nearby volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. There will be plenty of opportunity to explore geothermal hot-spots on the cooled lava formations – which are always available to help roast marshmallows! The hike down brings across the remaining dried lava fields before you begin your descent through Pacaya’s lush and lesser known forests and farmland. After your hike down to the trailhead, the group returns to Antigua by private transport to arrive in town at roughly 16:00 (day hike) or 20:30 (sunset hike).

Antigua: Pacaya Volcano ATV Tour

5. Antigua: Pacaya Volcano ATV Tour

Ride a quad bike and feel the adrenaline rush as you drive through Pacaya's. Meet your guide at the meeting point in Antigua for an action-packed adventure away from the city's crowds and chaos. So jump in our car and enjoy the ride as you head to San Vicente Pacaya. Watch as your guide gives you a quick safety induction before you hop on the ATV. First, you will jump on the ATV at San Vicente Pacaya, where you will explore the areas near and around the Pacaya Volcano, surrounded by lush forests and rocks.  Feel the endorphins rush through your body as you enjoy an exhilarating quad bike ride through various trails and to the local village located at the volcano's base. Dive through different off-road trails, and ride through volcanic sand and lava fields inside a private plantation. Ride to the Calderas Lagoon and admire the beautiful turquoise waters. Enjoy eating a tasty sandwich as you take in the views. Make sure you take your camera as you want to take many photos.  Finally, you will enjoy a convenient lift back to Antigua when your tour ends. End your adventure on a high as you go home with memories that last forever. 

Antigua Half-Day Lost Cities of the Almolonga Bike Tour

6. Antigua Half-Day Lost Cities of the Almolonga Bike Tour

Get to know the areas surrounding Antigua with a half-day bike tour. On this trip, which is suitable for beginners and intermediate bike riders, ride to the Almolonga Valley west of Antigua. The area was home of the second capital of Guatemala, Ciudad Vieja. On your trip, see the city life fade and the country life take over as you travel further out. Learn about how the old city met a fateful end in 1541 as a result of a terrible mudslide released from the crater of Agua Volcano. The city disappeared in the valley between Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango volcanoes, and you will hear about the ongoing debate as people try to pinpoint its exact location. While out and about, you will also see the villages of Santiago Zamora and San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and stop off at a macadamia farm. This trip is guaranteed to be an educational experience that will teach you about the history and culture of the area while spending time in the great outdoors!

1 Day Acatenango Volcano Hike from Antigua

7. 1 Day Acatenango Volcano Hike from Antigua

Our group leaves from our office in Antigua at 5:00am, where you can fill up your water bottles and purchase any additional gear you might need. Hikers should eat breakfast beforehand and pack a small snack for the road. A one-hour drive takes us from Antigua to the sleepy mountain village of La Soledad, perched on the ridge of the Pacific slope of Volcan Acatenango. The trail up Volcan Acatenango has four distinct microclimates, each of which will take you about an hour to traverse. We’ll begin by walking up a steep trail through local farm fields - the same trail used by local villagers each morning to access their corn, snow pea and lily fields. Our first hour of hiking will help you acclimatize and warm up the leg muscles for the day’s hike. The second phase of our ascent passes through old-growth tropical cloud forest. In this environmental zone, we find some of Acatenango’s oldest trees, an incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna, fresh mountain air and the sounds of local birds and wildlife. This type of high-alpine cloud forest is found on the upper slopes of many of Guatemala’s tallest volcanoes and mountains, and is home to the famous Quetzal. After exiting the cloud forest, we will be rewarded with fantastic views of the other highland volcanoes (Atitlan, Toliman, San Pedro, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tajamulco), along with glimpses of the Cuchumatanes Mountain chain. A fresh picnic lunch is prepared around mid-day for our group to enjoy. Temperate coniferous forest and tropical dry forest characterize the 3rd phase of our ascent, which will lead us to the storm-beaten tree-line of the volcano. Our last section of ascent is sand and gravel scree-trail dotted with dwarf pine trees and high alpine mosses. As we approach the summit, we find the exposed rocky surfaces left by the gusty and cold winds which constantly pass over Acatenango’s peak. At the summit, your guide will prepare a fresh, well-earned picnic lunch while you rest and enjoy unparalleled 360-degree views of the Guatemalan highlands. Atop the summit we will also fix our attention on nearby and constantly erupting Volcan Fuego. With a bit of luck, Fuego will put on a high altitude firework show, displaying violent explosions of gas, rock, and lava. After 30min-1hr at the top (depending on conditions and time considerations), the group will begin the 3-hour descent back towards La Soledad. Our group has the opportunity to descend through an alternate route down Volcan Acatenango, experiencing a variety of microclimates and beautiful trail. From La Soledad, we will transport back to Antigua, arriving in the afternoon with plenty of time for you to enjoy the delights of the old Spanish colonial capital.

Acatenango Volcano 2-Day Hike

8. Acatenango Volcano 2-Day Hike

This 2-day/1-night hike brings you up the slopes of beautiful Volcan Acatenango to our private campsite – bench-cut into the side of this towering mountain. From here we enjoy our camp meals, incredible views, and plenty of room to stretch out. In camp there we will have ample time to appreciate the sights and sounds of nearby Volcan Fuego’s violent volcano eruptions. On the morning of the 2rd day, our group will summit Acatenango’s peak (3,975m/12,720ft - the third highest volcano in Guatemala), taking in panoramic views from atop the summit. Finally, we will descend back down through a myriad of microclimates to return to Antigua by early afternoon. Day 1: Hike To Camp Our group leaves from the Old Town Outfitters Shop at 8:00am, where you can fill up your water bottles and purchase any additional gear you might need. Hikers should eat breakfast beforehand and pack a small snack for the road. A one-hour drive takes us from Antigua to the sleepy mountain village of La Soledad, perched on the ridge of the Pacific slope of Volcan Acatenango. The trail up Volcan Acatenango has four distinct microclimates, each of which will take you about an hour to traverse. We’ll begin by walking up a steep trail through local farm fields - the same trail used by local villagers each morning to access their corn, snow pea and lily fields. Our first hour of hiking will help you acclimatize and warm up the leg muscles for the day’s hike. The second phase of our ascent passes through old-growth tropical cloud forest. In this environmental zone, we find some of Acatenango’s oldest trees, an incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna, fresh mountain air and the sounds of local birds and wildlife. This type of high-alpine cloud forest is found on the upper slopes of many of Guatemala’s tallest volcanoes and mountains, and is home to the famous Quetzal. After exiting the cloud forest, we will be rewarded with fantastic views of the other highland volcanoes (Atitlan, Toliman, San Pedro, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tajamulco), along with glimpses of the Cuchumatanes mountain chain. A fresh picnic is prepared mid-day for our group to enjoy. Temperate coniferous forest and tropical dry forest characterize the 3rd phase of our ascent, which will lead us to the storm-beaten tree-line of the volcano. Our campsite is perched just below tree-line with sweeping views of the Antigua valley and Volcan Fuego. After setting up camp, hikers are free to rest, relax and enjoy their surroundings while our guide prepares a fresh camp dinner at ~3750m with hot tea and coffee. Day 2: Summiting Acatenango In the morning, after an early camp breakfast, our group embarks on a 45-minute ascent to the summit on a sand and gravel scree-trail dotted with dwarf pine trees and high alpine mosses. The trail up to the summit is the steepest we will have seen, and leads to the rocky summit exposed to the gusty and cold winds which constantly pass over Acatenango’s peak. At the summit, our group will rest and enjoy unparalleled 360-degree views of the entirety of the Guatemalan highlands – all the way to the border of Mexico. After 45min at the top (depending on conditions and time considerations), the group will begin the 3-hour descent back towards La Soledad. Our group has the opportunity to descend through an alternate route down Volcan Acatenango, experiencing a variety of microclimates and beautiful trail. From La Soledad, we will transport back to Antigua, arriving in the afternoon with plenty of time for you to enjoy the delights of the old Spanish colonial capital (~13:00hrs).

Antigua Villages Atv Tour

9. Antigua Villages Atv Tour

This tour will take us all over the panchoy valley around Antigua. We start off on the south side of the valley in the town of San Antonio Aguas Calientes; in this village we visit a local and traditional textile museum and market where you can purchase local gifts,clothing, and textiles. This stop has some of the best views of the fuego and acatenango volcano due to its vicinity to this small artisan town. The next stop on the tour is the first capital city of Guatemala, which is called “ciudad vieja” or in English it would be the “old city”. We park by the central plaza and are able to walk over and visit the first cathedral built in Central America in the year 1534. After a small walk in the plaza we get on our vehicles and head over to a local jade factory in the town of San Pedro de las Huertas. Here we are shown the processes it takes to turn raw Jade rocks and convert them into fine jewelry. A small shop is located at the factory where we can see a selection of finished products such as “nahuales” made into necklaces, bracelets, and even keychains. After a little bit of shopping, we hop on our ATVs and head to the base of the Agua Volcano to the colorful town of San Juan Del Obispo, a local artisanal chocolate factory located on the foothills of the Agua Volcano. At the factory, “chocolatería antigua,” we are shown parts of the process of taking raw cacao beans and turning them into hot chocolate bars. We also get to taste cacao beans and the finished product “hot chocolate”. After trying some chocolate, we will walk a couple of blocks and head over to a local bakery “Los Sabores de mi Pueblo” and try the famous nispero bread and also some nispero wine made from the local fruit that grows around the agua volcano. After trying some local products in San Juan, we will cross the entire valley and head to the North side of the valley and visit one of Antigua’s most iconic landmarks “el Cerro de la Cruz” or the peak of the cross. Here we get a birds-eye-view of Antigua, a front row view of the agua volcano and admire the colonial spanish style architecture of the city below. After admiring the view, we will head up the el Hato mountain for some local food and drinks to “restaurante El Tambor,” a local restaurant located on the side of the el hato mountain which serves delicious traditional Guatemalan dishes with a great view of the valley. Once finished with lunch we will head back down to our office in Antigua.

Antigua Guatemala: Half-Day Mountain Bike Tour with Guide

10. Antigua Guatemala: Half-Day Mountain Bike Tour with Guide

This ride begins with a shuttle from our shop in Antigua up to the trailhead at 8,300 feet (2,600 meters) on the alpine slopes of Volcán Acatenango. After a brief climb, we begin a singletrack descent that follows agricultural trails along a dramatic ridge with large views of the surrounding volcanoes. The trail drops 2,500 feet (760 meters) of pure downhill! The soft volcanic soil is fast and flowy with little rocks; however, there are some steep technical sections and creek crossings. At the base, we climb a 4x4 road through agricultural fields passing by the San Andres ruins, an earthquake-wrecked church from the 16th century. The climb follows a moderate grade until the final 656 feet (200 meters) of steep push. Don’t worry, the next descent is worth the effort! After passing through a lush forest you are rewarded with expansive views of 3 volcanoes and the Antigua valley as we descend down an ancient trail cut deeply into a ridge with large drops to either side. This final descent of 2,500 feet (760 meters) takes about 45 minutes to complete and is loaded with fun rocks, drops, switchbacks, and a half-pipe like aqueduct trail to finish the ride.

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What people are saying about Acatenango Volcano

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 43 reviews

Henry and the two other guides were extremely experienced on both the Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes. They timed our ascent and descent perfectly so that we were at the top for the both sunset and sunrise. The guides were extremely courteous and provided us with meals which we took in our own pack for them to heat them up for us ontop if the mountain. This was accompanied with a hot chocolate for each of us at night and a coffee in the morning. Would definitely recommend this hike for Henry and the other guides knowledge alone

This was one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences. Going into the Peak takes aprox 4-5 hours depending on your pace but once you are there the beauty is incomparable. We spent the night and were able to presence about five volcano eruptions through the night. Additionally, the tour guides are fantastic, knowledgeable and helpful, specially Manuel he helped me conquer the exhaustion and supported me through the hike. FYI, there are available horses if needed for extra Q700.

Such an amazing time! I wish I remembered our guides name, he was hilarious. It’s a really easy, quick hike but the views are amazing and we roasted marshmallows at the top.

We loved our mountain bike trip. The villages were charming. Our guide Pablo, was outstanding. He had great knowledge of the Mayan history. I would highly recommend him.

Henry and the team were spectacular! They were experienced, funny and a joy to have as guides. The trek is hard but worth it. Highly recommend going with this group!