Preparing for one of Guatemala's coolest volcano experiences? Well, knowing what to pack for Acatenango Volcano is key to having an enjoyable excursion.
With a variety of weather patterns, intense inclines, and different terrains, preparation is key. You'll want to have everything you need for a comfortable experience, without overpacking and adding a ton of weight on your back.
After doing this incredible hike, we learned what to pack for Acatenango Volcano, and what we could have left behind - and now we're here to help you prepare the best you can for Guatemala's most epic adventure!
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How to Prepare for the Acatenango Volcano Hike
One of the most important parts of having a great Acatenango Volcano hike is preparation. This isn't a hike you'll simply throw some sneakers on and walk for a few hours.
It's something you'll need to be prepared for physically, as well as when it comes to dressing and packing.
Since this is an overnight hike, and there is a lot to know, we've created this separate guide for our packing list for you.
There's a lot of variety on the Acatenango Volcano hike.
🧤 What to Wear on an Acatenango Hike
The weather varies greatly throughout the Acatenango Volcano hike, and you'll want to be prepared for the cold, wind, and potential rain if you are going in the summer months.
Many companies provide thick jackets and gloves, which were two things we didn't bring on our trip and we truly needed. We'd recommend inquiring about this before, or you could also purchase these at the shop upon arrival to starting the hike.
There is a shop at the beginning of the hike so you can purchase extra clothing.
🥾 Do I Need Hiking Boots for Acatenango?
It's definitely recommended to have hiking boots! This is because there are some areas that are very steep, and others that have small rocks from the volcano that are similar to gravel, making it particularly hard to have traction.
You;ll definitely want good boots for hiking along the volcano rock.
👟 Can you Hike Acatenango in Sneakers?
We both traveled to Guatemala without hiking boots, and also didn't really want to invest in a pair while traveling, so went in our sneakers.
While the Acatenango Volcano hike is certainly doable in sneakers, it definitely isn't the most comortable.
The hike to the base we felt was fine in sneakers, but we did struggle a bit from the base up for the sunrise hike, and imagine we wouldn have felt the same doing the Fuego hike.
This is because the small volcanic rocks are difficult to walk on, and because you'll sink in a bit, we ended up having a ton of those small rocks get into our shoes.
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We also recommend a hiking stick, as it will greatly help with the traction, as well as assisting with the weight of your backpack!
Having a hiking stick is really helpful!
💧 How Much Water to Bring for an Acatenango Hike
Most companies will provide your water for you, and you'll be in charge of carrying it.
The recommended amount is at least 3L of water person person. Everyone is required to have 1L of water to give to the guides to use for cooking dinner and breakfast, and the other 2L are to drink throughout the hikes.
We found 3L to be the perfect amount, but if you drink a lot of water or are planning on doing both Fuego and the sunrise hike, then it may be wise to bring a bit more. Just remember though, the water is super heavy and makes a big difference on your load while doing the Acatenango Volcano hike.
What to Pack for Acatenango
Packing well for the Acatenango Volcano hike is crucial! You won't want to underpack, as you'll end up suffering from the cold, hunger, or dehydration. However, overpacking can also be a terrible choice, as you'll be carrying everything on your back!
You won't believe how quickly the weight adds up, and you certainly don't want to hurt your back or make the hike anymore painful than it needs to be. That's why we're here to outline everything you need and what to pack for Acatenango Volcano.
🎒 Here is what to pack for Acatenango if you take a tour:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat (preferably a knit one)
- Gloves (if you do a tour they may provide them)
- Heavy Jacket (it's really cold at the top at night)
- Leggings or sports pants
- Underwear (bring an extra to change into the morning)
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Sneakers or a pair of hiking boots
- Socks (1 pair to hike with and one to wear at night)
- Snacks such as protein bars or trail mix
- Zippered Bag or Backpack - take a look at these backpacks for travelers!
- Poncho if it's forecasted to rain
- Power Bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
- Drone (We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it's super light and can also shoot vertical for social media)
- Action Camera (we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & shoots 360 degree videos)
- Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
- Standard Lens (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
- Wide Lens to capture great panoramas on top and astrophotography (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
- Telephoto Lens to capture the views of the volcano up closer (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
- Tripod (to get still pictures of the eruptions and stars)
- Extra camera battery
- Hiking Poles (you can also purchase a stick at the shop before the hike)
- Water (3L person/ 1L for the food & 1L/day for hiking)
- Toiletries
- Head Lamp or Flash Light (for hiking to Fuego or for the sunrise hike)
- Wipes to freshen up
- Toilet Paper/Tissues (just in case the bathroom doesn't have any)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Cash for purchasing snacks along the way
- Travel toiletries (our favorites are from Sheer Alternatives because they're all natural and 100ml)
We highly recommend bringing a drone if you have one!
What to Pack for Acatenango if you don't go on a tour:
If you don't go on a tour, there are some things you'll need to keep in mind to bring that we didn't already mention.
Here are some extra things you'll need if you don't go on a tour:
- Food (enough for three meals)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Blanket (the thicker the better)
- Gloves (some companies provide these)
- Jacket (some companies actually give you a thick jacket)
It gets really cold at the top, so make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes!
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So are you ready to experiece the most unique hike in Guatemala? We hope now that you know what to pack for Acatenango you feel ready to conquer this beauty!
Want to learn more about Acatenango? Other than what to pack for Acatenango, we have our complete Acatenango Volcano hike travel guide. Looking to explore more of the country? We have a ton of other Guatemala travel guides coming up, so make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with our newest articles, and to receive exclusive content.
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