This post is a good starting place if you want to plan a trip to Guatemala, and it’s specifically about my travels to Antigua and the Lake Atitlan area. Read on for all my trip tips!

Why Visit Guatemala

Our reason for visiting Guatemala was to hike Acatenango to see the Fuego Volcano’s lava. Though we didn’t accomplish that, we still enjoyed the trip. Here are some of the reasons to visit Guatemala:

• Hiking
• Seeing Volcanoes – there are 37 of them, which is a lot for a small country
• Enjoying outdoors
• Exploring colonial buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Antigua)
• Finding a spiritual experience with Mayan tradition
• Traveling on a budget

Things to Know When Traveling to Guatemala

• Currency: Guatemalan Quetzals. The exchange rate is about $1 USD to Q7.72.
• Language: Official language is Spanish. You may also hear Mayan languages.
• Water: Not safe to drink from the tap. Most hotels and rentals will have EcoFiltro jugs, usually in a common space. Bring a reusable water bottle or use the glasses provided to enjoy fresh water.
• Vaccines: No vaccines required; make sure everything is up to date.
• Visa: No advance planning needed for U.S. residents. You will get a visa stamp when you arrive at the airport. No additional cost.
• Tipping: Restaurants typically add a service charge. Tips for hotel workers, drivers, and tour guides are not necessary but appreciated.
• WhatsApp: This is the primary way to connect with shuttle operators and tour guides if you have booked anything ahead of time.

Best Time to Visit Guatemala

The dry season is typically November to April and the wet season is May to October. The dry season tends to be cooler, so pack layers. I would avoid the days around Christmas and Easter.

Is Guatemala Safe?

The U.S. government recommends travelers “reconsider travel” (level 3 out of 4) due to crime in specific areas. Petty crime can be an issue, and normal caution should be observed. This includes not flashing expensive items, being aware of your surroundings and personal items, not being out late at night, and staying in safe areas.

I stayed in tourist-oriented cities with no issues and followed the recommendation to not spend much time in Guatemala City, where the international airport is located.

Check your government advisories and news for the latest updates before you travel.

How to Stay Healthy in Guatemala

When it comes to health, you should be on your guard in Guatemala. I’ve gotten uncomfortable (not quite sick) on my travels, so I used extra caution in Guatemala.

• Don’t pet the street dogs and cats
• Don’t drink tap water – many places to stay provide access to EcoFiltro jugs to fill up a reusable bottle
• Bring medicine like charcoal pills and vitamin c
• Use caution with food – aim for freshly cooked
• Use bug repellent (and check your vaccinations) – to avoid malaria, dengue, and zika
• Wash your hands and carry hand sanitizer

Here’s what we packed in our health/emergency kit.

• First aid kit
• Charcoal pills (for upset stomach)
• Motion sickness pills (for hilly shuttles)
• Acetaminophen (for altitude sickness)
• Ibuprofen (for mild headaches)
• Vitamin C packs (for immunity)
• Bug spray (for mosquitos)
• Lavender spray (for bed bug prevention)

Flying to Guatemala

La Aurora International Airport (GUA) is located in Guatemala City and is the only international airport in Guatemala. From there you can fly to Flores to visit Tikal National Park or take a shuttle to Antigua or Lake Atitlan.

Transportation – Getting Around Guatemala

There are several ways to get around: tourist shuttle, chicken bus, tuk-tuk, boat, and Uber. 

Shuttles

For transport between Guatemala City, Antigua, and Panajachel, we used Atitrans, a tourist shuttle. We booked all our shuttles on their website before our trip and they were $18-20 per person for a shared shuttle. We took one private shuttle from Guatemala City (airport) to Antigua, and it cost $65 total. They will confirm the time and meeting spot, typically your hotel. Know that the time is approximate, and you could wait up to 30 minutes for arrival.

You can also use GuateGo or Bookaway to find shuttles.

Typical travel times

• Guatemala City to Antigua: 1.5 hours
• Guatemala City to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: 3 hours
• Antigua to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: 2.25 hours

Public Transportation

If you are saving money and more flexible with your time, you can flag down a chicken bus, one of the very colorful school buses that you will see everywhere. Locals use these and they make frequent stops.

For travel within a city, there are tuk-tuks, which are small like a pedicab, and Uber. We found that most places were within a 20-minute walking distance, so we walked most of the time.

Boats

To travel to cities around Lake Atitlan, it is much faster to take a boat.

• Public boats (“lancha”) leave from Panajachel from 7 am to 7 pm, and you can walk up and catch one every 20 minutes.
• The cost depends on the distance. The farthest you’ll go from Panajachel is San Juan and it’s Q25 (about $3.25) one way. It is about 30 minutes if you’re going direct (private boat) but there will likely be stops in between, so budget up to 50 minutes.
• If you have luggage, it’s typically an extra Q5.
• Exact change is necessary.
• The last boat from San Pedro back to Panajachel leaves at 5 pm.
• Private boats are available. You can arrange with your hotel or walk up to the boat dock.

Where to Visit in Guatemala

We visited the most popular tourist cities. Here’s a little more about them.

• Antigua – If you love historic buildings, this is your city! It’s very walkable and has plenty of restaurants.
• Lake Atitlan – Visit the lake for the sunrise Rostro Maya hike (30 minutes), to take a yoga class, participate in a cacao or temazcal (sweat lodge) ceremony, and visit some artisan shops.
  • Panajachel – This is the jumping-off point at Lake Atitlan since shuttles will bring you here and the public boat leaves from here to take you around the lake. It’s a busy city with a natural reserve you can visit, but you’ll likely head towards another town on the lake. Because of its size, it does have a lot of restaurant and coffee shop options.
  • San Juan La Laguna – My favorite town on Lake Atitlan, San Juan is artistic, laid-back, and filled with local artisan shops. It’s a good place to stay to go hiking.
  • San Pedro La Laguna – Known as the backpacker town, San Pedro has many hostels and party options. It has a bunch of Spanish schools and is a 10-minute boat ride from San Juan.
  • San Marcos La Laguna – This town is known for its hippies and yoga expats. You’ll find many boutique retreats and restaurant options here. If you want to cliff jump, you can do it here at Cerro Tzankunjil Nature Reserve.

Where to Stay in Antigua

When looking at places to stay, I read reviews before booking. Here are some things to look for:

• Location: Is it a safe neighborhood and close to the things you want to see/do
• Shower Drainage: Does the shower drain well? We had this issue with a few places.
• Hot Water Shower: Lukewarm water seemed common
• Cleanliness: Any issues with bed bugs or mold?
• AC: Many mid places in Guatemala do not have added AC units. It can get hot/humid during the day but cools off at night. Look for this if it’s a priority
• Noise: Whether it is late-night revelry or morning bird songs, Guatemala has an above-average noise level when you’re trying to sleep

We stayed in one hotel and two rentals in Antigua. This Airbnb rental was one of my favorite places to stay during the trip, and the host has several properties. We also liked this Airbnb rental. Hotel La Sin Ventura was ok, a basic hotel with a good location, though it was a tad loud.

I also looked at these places in Antigua:

• El Carmen Hotel
• Good Hotel
• Casa Santo Domingo

Where to Stay around Lake Atitlan

We stayed in two hotels at Lake Atitlan – one in Panajachel and a boutique property with its own dock. While Panajachel has a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops, in hindsight, we would have enjoyed staying in San Juan La Laguna the whole time.

Hotel Regis was a convenient and safe place to stay in Panajachel. It has its own guard and gate.

We also liked La Fortuna at Lake Atitlan, a boutique property with six casitas that runs 100% on solar power and has a private dock. It is secluded, so you are limited to their menus ($7 for breakfast, $8 for lunch, $25 for dinner), and the boat costs more to arrive and depart from their private dock. However, the perks are complimentary use of their VW van turned sauna, hot tub, wading pool, kayaks, and paddleboards. Also, the grounds are immaculate and private.

Here are some other places around Lake Atitlan to consider:

• Eco-Hotel MayAchik – boutique hotel in San Juan
• La Casa del Mundo – also has a private dock but more affordable stay 
• La Iguana Perdida – a more affordable hostel in Santa Cruz with private rooms
• Porta Hotel Del Lago – 4-star in Panajachel
• Jenna’s River Bed and Breakfast – Panajachel
• Kula Maya – luxury stay with spa in San Marcos
• Casa Prana – luxury resort near Santa Cruz
• Eco Hotel Uxlabil – boutique hotel in San Juan

Best Things to Do in Guatemala

This post shares nine things to do in Guatemala. I’m an enthusiast for old, historic buildings. Another option is hiking Acatenango!

Where to Eat in Guatemala

Check out this post about eating and drinking in Guatemala to learn about typical dishes and restaurant recommendations.

Guatemala Trip Budget

Guatemala is more affordable than other countries in Central America, and there’s a wide range of options depending on how much you want to spend. You can find a bed in a hostel for $15 a night to a room in a 4-star hotel for $70 a night. All in, we spent about $1,000 per person for 9 days.

We aim for mid-luxury, so our hotels were around $50-60 a night while our shuttles were about $20 a person. The one private shuttle we booked from Guatemala City to Antigua (estimated 1 hour but with traffic, it took us almost 3 hours) was $65 total. For food, our dinners ranged from $15-50 a person.

Our round-trip flight from Austin to Guatemala City with a stop in Houston was about $635 per person, but our flights were “free” because we booked with points. I highly recommend a rewards credit card for perks like this! (Chase Sapphire and Capital One Venture are popular.)

1-Week Itinerary

We spent 9 days in Guatemala, Saturday to the following Sunday. About 2 cumulative days were spent traveling. We took time for slow travel on this trip, but sometimes I get a little bored when we do that! If needed, I suggest more time in Antigua than Lake Atitlan.

Many backpackers spend multiple weeks in Guatemala, so this itinerary might seem rushed. This itinerary is geared toward travelers who want to maximize their limited vacation time. You could squeeze this trip into a long weekend. Many do for weddings, but they typically only visit Antigua.

Here’s my recommended (adjusted) trip itinerary.

Day 1

• Travel to Guatemala City
• Shuttle (3 hours) from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan
• Stay in San Juan La Laguna

Day 2

• Sunrise Rostro Maya Hike
• Explore cities around the lake: San Juan, San Pedro, San Marcos
• Cacao Ceremony in San Marcos

Day 3

• Shuttle (2.25 hours) from Panajachel to Antigua
• Explore Antigua

Day 4

• Acatenango Hike

Day 5

• Return from Acatenango Hike
• Explore Antigua

Day 6

• Travel Home

I hope this post helped you plan your Guatemalan adventure!

See these posts for more Guatemala planning:

• 9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala
• Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants
• Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala

The post Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Guatemala is a country for people who love historic buildings, outdoor adventures, and artisan crafts. This colorful country has a lot to offer. We visited Antigua and several towns around Lake Atitlan, but there are sights outside these areas too.

Here are 9 things you should do when you visit Guatemala.

Explore Antigua’s Old Buildings

My favorite thing about our trip was seeing Antigua’s historic buildings. The architecture is Baroque-influenced, and the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. An earthquake in 1773 is why there are many ruins to see. Here are some of the sights we visited:

Arco de Santa Catalina

San José Cathedral Antigua and Ruinas de La Antigua Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago – favorite!

Iglesia San Francisco el Grande and Museo del Hermano Pedro

Antiguo Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús

Iglesia de la Merced

Convento Santa Clara – favorite!

Real Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

Hike Rostro Maya

This is a popular hike out of San Juan La Laguna. You’ll start around 4:45 am to make it to the top by sunrise (between 6-6:30 am). The steep hike is about 30-45 minutes and somewhat challenging. While the path is straightforward, a guide is recommended because it crosses private land. We booked this affordable guide on Tripadvisor. Don’t forget to bring a headlamp.

Shop for Local Handicrafts

You’ll love the colorful textiles and pottery, and you’ll see them everywhere. This art was created by indigenous women with traditions passed through generations. The traditional weaving can be found in skirts worn by local women, tablecloths in restaurants, and bed runners in hotels. Here are some of my favorite shops we visited and ones where you’ll find more authentic items:

• Casa de los Gigantes (Antigua)
• Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Cooperative (San Juan La Laguna)
• Casa Del Tejido y Tours (San Juan La Laguna)
• Algodones Mayas (Antigua)
• Weekend market at the Antigua Square

Take Part in a Mayan Ceremony

Lake Atitlan is known as a spiritual place, and there are various ways to experience mindful ceremonies around the lake. These include cacao, fire, and temazcal (Mayan sweat lodge) among others. In any of these ceremonies, you’re taking time to self-reflect, meditate, and learn about the traditions.

We took part in a cacao and fire ceremony at Kawoq Forest led by a teacher. Each person brings their intention to the circle, like asking for guidance on a decision, and we use this space and time to slow down and connect with ourselves and the earth. We sat around a small fire pit, drank cacao to open the mind and heart (not psychedelic, just caffeine), burned things like wood and herbs, and prayed for gratitude and hope as the teacher shared specific prayers to the 20 Mayan nahual (spirits). This is a good (easier) ceremony to attend, but there are ones with other plant medicines if you want to go deeper.

San Marcos La Laguna is known as the spiritual town at the lake. I liked Kawoq Forest, and here are a few more places to research to find the right experience for you:

• Maya Moon Cacao
• Lava Love Cacao
• Ki’kotemaal Ka’kaw

Hike Acatenango

Many visit Guatemala for hiking and Acatenango is the biggest challenge. Hiking Acatenango gives you a great view of the neighboring Fuego Volcano, which typically erupts lava every 20 minutes. We were disappointed to visit during its two-month break, and it erupted 8 days after our hike.

See this post for all the details about our Acatenango hike.

Take Photos of Street Art

From colorful murals in San Juan La Laguna to the picturesque windows and doors everywhere, I enjoyed taking pictures on our walks. San Juan La Laguna is especially colorful because of its community of artists.

Drink Guatemalan Coffee 

You can’t miss it – it’s everywhere! Guatemala is a top 10 exporter of coffee beans in the world, and you’ll find a lot of Guatemalan coffee in the U.S. But it hits different when you drink it in Guatemala. Sometimes all you need to add is a bit of sugar. You can find coffee shops everywhere, especially in Antigua and Panajachel.

If you’re a foodie nerd (like me), take a step further and visit a coffee farm (finca in Spanish). We didn’t do it on this trip since we did it a lot when we visited Indonesia, but here are some farms you could check out. You can also find tours on Tripadvisor or Viator.

• Shangri-La Atitlan (San Marcos La Laguna)
• Finca La Azotea (Antigua)

See where we drank coffee in Guatemala in this post.

(Learn about craft coffee in this post.)

Learn About Chocolate

Similar to coffee, you should try the chocolate here. You’ll see chocolate on coffee shop menus and bars of chocolate in gift shops. You can also tour cacao farms to learn about the process from tree to bar, make chocolate in a workshop, or take part in a cacao ceremony for a more spiritual experience.

Cacao was known as the “drink of the gods,” a sacred gift consumed by the elite on special occasions. It opens the heart, gives you focus, and deepens your connection.

• Fernando’s
• ChocoMuseo

(See my chocolate posts to learn more.)

Visit Tikal National Park

We didn’t add this to the schedule because of the distance, but one of the most popular sights to see in Guatemala is Tikal National Park. This is one of the largest Mayan archeological sites. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is far from other sights, in the north part of the country, so it can be hard to get to. From Guatemala City, you’ll take a flight to Flores and then a 1.5-hour shuttle from Flores to Tikal.

If you need more ideas, check out the natural pools of Semuc Champey or the beaches of El Paredón.

I hope you get to see this beautiful country for yourself! From historic buildings to inspiring landscapes, Guatemala is for adventurers!

Want to read more about Guatemala? See these posts:

• Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants
• Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala
• Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary

Looking for travel recommendations? I got you:

• 10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica
• Most Inspiring Travel Experiences in the Last Decade of Adventures
• 10 Best Things to Do in Dominica – Caribbean’s Nature Island

The post 9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This post shares some of the things you’ll find on a traditional Guatemalan menu and some of the restaurants I visited. I’ve also included some of the restaurants I bookmarked and didn’t have time for, if you need more recommendations.

Foods to Try in Guatemala

If you’ve traveled in Central America or enjoyed Latin American food, you may recognize some familiar or similar dishes. Here are some of my observations on the dishes we had.

Corn Tortillas

I typically prefer flour tortillas over corn, but if these corn tortillas were the norm, I would order them every time! They are slightly thicker but not grainy. They’re typically served with a meal, especially if there are runny eggs and soups. They also take these and make thick tortilla chips.

Coffee

Did you know Guatemala is the 10th largest coffee exporter in the world? Yes, you’ll love the coffee here, and it’s not hard to find! In the cities I visited, there were coffee shops everywhere and you can even seek out a coffee farm to visit. Many times, we found the coffee didn’t need milk, just a bit of sugar. (Pictured below are delicious lattes from Cafe Loco in Panajachel.)

Typical Breakfast

Similar to other Central American countries like Costa Rica or Belize, a typical breakfast includes eggs, refried beans, fried plantains, and a slice of cheese. Don’t forget the coffee!

Pupusa

A pupusa is thicker than a tostada but crunchier than a tortilla. A pupusa is also typically filled in addition to topped, while a tostada is only topped. These originated in El Salvador.

Avocado/Guacamole

The “oro verde” (green gold) as one local called it. It is delicious! We enjoyed it as guacamole most of the time but also liked it as a side accompaniment and on toast.

Tostada

You’ve likely had a tostada. Imagine a big, circular, crunchy tortilla chip topped with goodness. For breakfast, you might see these tostadas with a spread of black beans and a fried egg.

Flan

You might have had it before and you should try it! (Pictured below is flan from Barriga Llena in Antigua.)

International/Western Food

I was surprised to see the prevalence of international and Western food options. During our trip, we enjoyed French toast, pizza, pasta, and croissants. This speaks to the influence of tourism in these cities.

Restaurants to Try in Guatemala

Here are some restaurants you should bookmark for your trip!

Antigua

Barriga Llena – This casual and trendy spot served a great meal. They focus on traditional dishes and local ingredients but may add a twist.

Arrin Guan – This restaurant hit the spot for a spontaneous breakfast

El Comalote – This restaurant highlights their native corn and you can taste it through their tortillas. Their pepian casserole was flavorful, and they had huge horchatas.

Nanik – This fancier restaurant has been getting recognition from multiple media outlets for its elevated dishes and creativity. While a few dishes and the cocktails were excellent, the second half of our meal had us leaving before dessert. It was about $150 for three cocktails, two appetizers, and two entrees.

Antigua Brewing Company – This is a solid brewery with a great rooftop

Ulew Cocktail Bar – While the presentation and theatrics are fun, this popular speakeasy cocktail bar located inside Antigua Brewing Company left flavor to be desired when we enjoyed four different cocktails. (Not sure if it was the bar or the bartender.) I guess the plus side was that the four cocktails cost $25 total. Expect funny drink platters, colorful drinks, and definitely smoke.

Siena Luz – We enjoyed coffee and a light breakfast in the lovely courtyard here. The cafe is also a bookstore.

Panadería Le fournil – Stopped in here for some very tasty French pastries. We had trouble finding a Guatemalan bakery, but this was a great consolation

Cafe Sol – We ran out of time to make it here, but this is a cute coffee shop

Caoba Farms Restaurant – Didn’t make it here since it’s a little farther to walk from Central Antigua, but it’s known for fresh eats on a farm

Luna del Miel – I had bookmarked this spot for crepes

Panajachel

Deli Jasmin – There are many recommendations for this restaurant, and here’s another! It has nice outdoor, garden seating, and I really enjoyed the chicken sandwich with fresh vegetables.

Cafe Loco – This coffee shop was excellent! It only has eight seats, but you can also take it to-go. It was started by a Korean man who helps export coffee beans around the world and is a local and traveler favorite.

Jose Pinguinos – We were intrigued by the live music the night before and came back for dinner. The meal was great, and it felt like one of the most Guatemalan meals of our trip.

7 Caldos – This restaurant is a chain, so it can be found in multiple cities. While it’s a tad more expensive, we enjoyed their breakfast.

San Pedro La Laguna

Sababa – Looking for a quick snack, we stopped here for a pasta dish (mediocre) and a sticky bun (pretty good). Their restaurant and bakery are separate, so you can’t order things from the other, but each spot has a great open-air view of the lake.

San Marcos La Laguna

Circles – We stopped here for a pastry and coffee slushie. It’ll be packed with foreign travelers, probably coming after their yoga class, but their French pastries (strawberry croissant) are solid.

Konojel Restaurant – This restaurant is run by a non-profit that provides jobs and training for women.

Il Giardino – This Italian restaurant was where we stopped for dinner. It was good but not memorable.

San Juan La Laguna

Cafe El Pajarero – This was a nice spot for a simple typical breakfast post hiking 

Nativo – We enjoyed resting and snacking here. The avocado toast and fruit smoothie were delicious.

We spent our 9-day trip eating and drinking around Guatemala and enjoyed all the flavors we got to try! I’ll be searching for great Guatemalan coffee in Austin and hoping to try the Guatemalan restaurants in town.

Plan the rest of your Guatemala trip with these posts:

• 9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala
• Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary
• Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala

P.S. Trying food in different countries is one of my favorite things. Check out these posts or the travel eats page:

• 20 Best Eats and Drinks I Had in Japan
• Eating and Drinking in Mexico City
• Eating and Drinking in Belize
• Best Restaurants in Dominica

The post Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This post shares all the details about my experience and information you should know to plan yours!

What is the Acatenango Hike?

Acatenango is a challenging 5,170 ft hike to a 13,055 ft peak, about an hour outside Antigua, Guatemala. It is typically done in 24 hours with an overnight at a basecamp.

One of the main reasons for doing the Acatenango Hike is to see the nearby Fuego Volcano erupting as close as possible. The volcano typically erupts every 20 minutes, and while you can see the mountain from Antigua, an hour away, it’s a whole other experience seeing it from Acatenango’s summit at sunrise.

Here are the quick stats:

• The hike is 1,576 m / 5,170 ft
• The hike starts at 2,400 m / 7,874 ft
• The base camp is near 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
• The hike to base camp takes 4.5 hours, depending on your fitness level. This is from about 9:45 am to 2 pm
• There is an optional hike to Fuego from 4:30 to 7:30 pm the same day (to get closer to the erupting volcano)
• The hike to the Acatenango summit at 3,976 m / 13,044 ft starts around 5 am to see a 6:20 am sunrise. The hike up is about 1.5 hrs, and the hike down is about 30 minutes.
• The final descent is about 2-3 hours, from 8 am – 11 am.

In total, it is about 8-9 hours of hiking (or 13 hours if you do the additional Fuego hike) within 24 hours. There were about 4 official, longer breaks as a group, but you could always stop to the side for a breather. Our tour had front and back guides to ensure our group stayed together.

The terrain and elevation are what make this hike difficult. Parts of the hike are loose gravel, making it hard to get your footing. You’ll be very thankful for hiking poles! Going down is easier and faster but will be hard on your knees.

The dry/high season – November to April – is recommended for clear weather and less/no rain. The rainy/low season is May to October. They don’t cancel because of rain.

Hike Schedule

Here’s a quick rundown of our trip schedule:

• 7 am: Tour shuttle picks us up from Antigua
• 8 am: Arrive at HQ, eat breakfast, pack up final things/get rentals
• 9:30 am: Short drive to the hike start
• 9:45 am: Start Hiking
• 2:15 pm: Arrive at basecamp, eat lunch
• Afternoon: Take a nap, take photos, relax
• 4 pm: Say no to the 2nd hike, haha (hike left at 4:30)
• 4:45 pm: Hot chocolate and cookie snack
• 7 pm: Eat dinner
• 8 pm: Try to go to bed
• 4 am: Wake-up call
• 4:50 am: Start hike
• 6 am: Arrive at the summit
• 6:20 am: Sunrise
• 6:40 am: Hike back to basecamp
• 7:30 am: Back at basecamp, eat breakfast
• 8:15 am: Bye, basecamp! Start hike down
• 10:30 am: Finished the hike!
• 11:15 am: Back at HQ, unpack, snack
• 1 pm: Tour shuttle drops us back in Antigua

I work out three times a week, but hiking steep elevation is a whole other fitness challenge. My legs do not like inclines, and 4.5 hours of consistent inclines was a small torture. Thank goodness I had an audiobook to drone everything out. About one hour in at basecamp, I started getting a headache, and medicine zapped that quickly. Sleep was not very restful because of the cold and unfamiliar place, but it was enough to be ready for the morning hike! The morning hike felt even slower because we were back to steep inclines, and the path was crowded from the different groups. But wow, the views!

Where We Slept

Each tour company has a base camp on the mountain.

We opted for a private cabin, so we enjoyed our 7 ft by 5 ft structure with a door to ourselves. It had a mattress, two fleece blankets, several sleeping bags, and pillows.

Even with all the layers they provided and the ones we brought, I was a tad cold some parts of the night, but overall comfortable when I didn’t have to leave our enclosure!

On the outside, we each had a plastic chair and at the right time, a perfect view of Fuego.

What We Ate

The food provided was better than I expected. I heard rumors about plain pasta for dinner but was very happy we were served more than that. Overall, the food was not gourmet but was nourishing and somewhat satisfying for the short period.

After we were picked up in Antigua at 7 am, we arrived at the headquarters to enjoy breakfast.

We were then issued a food sack to carry on our hike. It included our lunch, utensils, and cups for the trip. Our lunch was hearty, and we enjoyed it when we got to base camp around 2 pm. (They recommend waiting until base camp to eat because hiking after eating could cause altitude sickness.) Lunch consisted of rice with veggies, curry-seasoned chicken, pineapple, an apple, a pack of Oreos, and apple juice.

Around 4:45 pm, they came around with hot chocolate and cookies to help us warm up.

Dinner was served at 7 pm, and it included penne pasta with carrots and red sauce, roasted chicken, and two tortilla chips. There was even wine for anyone interested. They also had s’mores around a campfire, but we were too tired and cold to join in.

We also brought hiking snacks that we ate during stops or along the trail. We packed these for our whole trip, but you can easily stop by a convenience store in Antigua before the hike. We opted for beef sticks and granola bars.

After the morning hike, we were served cereal with granola and warm milk, which we enjoyed while watching Fuego in the distance.

I was never hungry during the 24 hours. Honestly, I was focused on getting through the hike!

What to Pack

While tour companies have rentals, we wanted to be as ready as possible, so we brought most of our gear. The only things we rented were hiking poles (Q25/$3.24 USD each set), which I highly recommend having.

We hiked in late February. During our trip, the overnight low was about 30 degrees F / -1 degrees C, so warm layers were necessary. The hike started around 65 degrees F / 18 degrees C. Most of the hike was warm, and our clothes were sweat-soaked through, which is why an extra set of clothing to change into will be most comfortable when you get to basecamp.

Other essentials I had and recommend:

• Hiking backpack (good support helps; mine was 40L but 30L could work)
• 3-liter water bladder (required as everyone needs to bring their own water)
• Hiking boots
• Toilet paper (required since they don’t supply it)
• Gaiter or bandana x2 (lots of hiking dust)
• Beanie
• Gloves
• An extra set of clothing, including socks – I recommend light, long sleeves and pants for sun protection
• Thermals (for sleeping overnight and maybe the morning hike)
• Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
• Thermal jacket for overnight/morning hike (down or fleece)
• Hiking snacks
• Acetemetophin (for altitude sickness)
• Light rain jacket (good to have a light jacket plus if it were to rain)
• Phone and headphones (have music or an audiobook to keep you going)
• External charger

Other things I didn’t have that might have been nice:

• Compression socks
• Electrolytes (tablets/drink mixes)
• Hand warmers

Our tour company had rentals for everything, from heavy jackets, backpacks, and hiking shoes, so you don’t necessarily need to pack these from home. But items also depend on availability.

Acatenango Tour Options

I liked our tour company, V-Hiking. The team and guides were organized, professional, and encouraging. The food and sleeping arrangements were better than I expected. We were able to store our extra luggage at tour HQ, so we didn’t need to bring extra weight.

There is a range of tour companies by price. Our hike was Q850/$110 USD per person for a private cabin. A shared cabin with 3-4 people was Q600/$78 per person. The extra, 3-hour hike to Fuego is about $26 per person. I suspect some with lower prices have shared accommodations or not as good food. Here are some other companies I considered:

• Trek Guatemala
• Ox Expeditions
• Soy Tours

This hike was the worst and best thing. The above photos are a good representation. The photo on the left is when we first got to base camp and felt defeated that we did this terrible hike and everything was covered in clouds. We were worried we wouldn’t get to see anything. The photo on the right was taken a few hours later when it cleared up, and we could see the Fuego Volcano.

Now that I’m done with it and looking back, I’m glad it happened, and the views were incredible. Is it the easiest way to see a volcano erupting? Definitely not. Maybe go to Kilauea in Hawaii. Is it the best place to see above the clouds? Again, go to Hawaii for the Mauna Kea Summit Tour.

It’ll always be part of my memory of visiting Guatemala!

Need more recommendations for your Guatemala trip? Check out these posts:

• Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary
• 9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala
• Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants

I seek adventure. Here are some posts to read to find your next one!

• Diving with Manta Rays in Hawaii + Big Island Dive Guide
• You Must See Luxor’s Awe-Inspiring Sights When You Visit Egypt
• 10 Best Things to Do in Dominica – Caribbean’s Nature Island
• Most Inspiring Travel Experiences in the Last Decade of Adventures

The post Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala appeared first on Fearless Captivations.