My Experience Hiking Acatenango

Have you done a hard thing recently? Something that really scared you. Something that while you were doing it, you were unsure if you could finish. No? Then do whatever popped into your head. Do the hard thing you’ve been putting off or the thing you want but don’t think you’re ready for. Why? Because you can do hard things, much harder things than you realize. Even when you’re scared or not prepared for them. For me, that was hiking Acatenango. I was not physically ready and throughout it, I had doubts I’d finish. After this hike, I’ve done things I didn’t think I’d make it out of, but that’s not what this story is about. This is about my experience hiking Acatenango. 

How I Prepared 

In January, without any training other than scrolling TikTok, I went to Guatemala and hiked Acatenango. It was my first hike up a mountain and with elevation gain. And I was scared. About 6 months ago, Ash and I went to Salinas Grandes. This trip made me unwell and I wasn’t even moving, I was sitting on a bus. So ahead of this experience, I was feeling a lot of anticipation anxiety around the elevation. To help mitigate this, I brought lots of electrolytes, snacks, layers, and water. I would be okay. I was prepared. From the tour I got a jacket, all my food, and poles (50 Quetzales). Ash and I decided to share a pack, and oh boy was it heavy by now. 

The Beginning 

The hike begins steep and dirty. It remains this way for a lot of the time. We barely made it the first ten minutes. But our new friend from Norway was killing it. So it is possible. Thankfully, we could afford a porter to carry our bag up. 400 Quetzales. In all honesty, we would not have made it up if we didn’t do this. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but it’s true. After the literal weight lifted from our shoulders, we really started climbing.

The Hike

We went slow and we had breaks every hour or so. In total it took us about 6 hours with the breaks. We started around 11 and got to base camp around 5. Lunch was at 1. Before lunch was when I really started to struggle. We had eaten breakfast that morning, for me that was coffee, water, bread, and fruit. Definitely not enough because I was genuinely scared of passing out. My stomach started making noises and doing that thing when you’re so hungry it’s screaming at you. But I made it to lunch, and yes I did eat my snacks at every break but they were not filling enough. I needed protein and sustenance.

Unfortunately, the higher the elevation, the weirder and colder I felt. My heart was racing even at a slower pace, a pace that normally I could sustain. My head started pounding ever so slightly and I feared my ability to make it. I was embarrassed and worried. Anxiety definitely exaggerated my physical symptoms. Getting to base camp was a relief. I was so glad to have made it.

Arriving at Base Camp

Fuego started erupting and making noises almost immediately. We were looking down on the clouds. It was surreal. I was so excited and proud. I did a hard thing. When the sun went down we stayed up with others watching the eruptions and the stars. It was chilly, but satisfying. A blip in time. For whatever reason the universe brought us together on that mountain and there we were. Enjoying the company and the erupting volcano. The world is wild. 

The Descent

You’ll be proud to know that we did carry our pack down the mountain! Going down also gave me anxiety, but it wasn’t that bad. No falls, which in my mind is a huge success. It took about 4 hours and was a bit rough on the knees. The physical exertion was nothing compared to the climb. 

My Reflections

I would do it again, a controversial take by the people I was with. It was hard and I know it’d be hard again. There’s three draws for a repeat, the people, the physical improvement, the volcano. The camaraderie on this adventure was unmatched. From the beginning to the end, everyone around was supportive. Like our new friend not leaving us in the dust at the start, and new friends offering me their snacks when I started feeling unwell. The people I met along the way almost made the suffering alone worth it. We even met up with friends after and I hope to meet them again somewhere else in the world one day. The second draw, the physical challenge of it. I know I can do hard things and I know I could do this hike better. For starters, I want to be physically capable of carrying my own pack up. Additionally, I’d like to complete the hike to Fuego.

The third is of course seeing a volcano eruption. It’s such a unique, magical experience. Dare I say, it lived up to my expectations. The eruptions were frequent and vivid. I’m so grateful that we saw the eruption, because not everyone does. It’s common, but not guaranteed. Overall, the experience was tough, filled with kindness, and a little bit of fun.