To ensure your safety, the steep slopes of Acatenango are best summited with a guide. Tours usually depart from Antigua and typically include pickup and lunch. While the climb can be completed in a day, overnight tours let you watch the sunset and see lava explosions from adjoining Fuego from a mountain campsite. For a less physically challenging option, choose a tour with 4WD transport part of the way up, which shortens the hiking time.
The trailhead begins at the village of La Soledad, about an hour in the car from Antigua. Buses from Antigua are few and far between, and often require transfers, which makes it significantly easier to come as part of a tour.
The best time to climb is during the dry season between late November and early April. Though it can still be climbed during the rainy season, tours may be cancelled for safety reasons.
Hiking up to the summit of Acatenango takes about 4-5 hours. The trail begins with a steep ascent through the farm-dotted foothills, then leads into a high alpine forest. The final stretch leads beyond the treeline and up volcanic scree, from where there are far-reaching views of neighboring peaks.
