Acatenango and Fuego was a great experience for our family (two adults and three kids, 15, 13, 11) through OX Expeditions. Don’t plan anything which requires high energy for the afternoon or day after this hike. You’ll need the leg recovery time. Guides (Chino and Rolonzo) did an amazing job of setting a good hiking pace and making sure nobody was left behind. Well organized, from the pre-trip meeting the evening before, the morning packing, shuttle ride to the trailhead, base camp, cabins for sleeping, sleeping bags, etc. Appreciated the opportunity to choose to add on hikes up Fuego and Summit of Acatenango while on the trip. The initial hike to base camp is definitely tough. Doable for most people in decent health, to add on the Fuego peak and the separate sunrise summit to Acatenango requires stamina and determination. Some of our group chose not to do one or the other based on fatigue. Either way, you settle up at the OX location when you return based on what you actually hiked. Unfortunately, our Fuego sunset hike was thwarted by clouds and wind, so we were unable to see the lava from that summit vantage point. During the hike back to base camp, however, we were treated with several clear eruptions, so we were still rewarded. The Acetenango sunrise summit hike did not disappoint. We were treated to several clear and spectacular eruptions of Fuego during this dark hike and got to see a phenomenal sunrise. Bad camp cabins all have a clear view of Fuego, so even if you don’t do the other two extra hikes, you’ll still be able to experience the glory of the volcano front the comfort and view of your sleeping bag should you desire. The hike down from base camp is just as difficult as the way up. Be prepared for shaky and wobbly legs on the way down. Of course, going down takes much less time, but it’s no less strenuous (and slippery when wet). Backpacks and headlamps were provided, as were rain ponchos. Some reviews have noted the old clothes you may borrow (for free). Yes, they are old. Yes, they still do the job and keep you warm. We did this for the adventure and the lifelong memories and stories, not to look like a model for NorthFace. Nobody on our trip suffered from cold. In fact, on the sunrise hike, Rolonzo even gave up his own gloves to one of our group members. Kids need less water, so recommend just packing a two liter and maybe buying a Gatorade on the trail. The weight of the packs with the water definitely got the best of us. Hiring a porter is also an option on the hike up. Highly recommend that for as many water bottles as you can offload. Great experience for our family. We will be talking about this adventure for the rest of our lives.

If you want to hike like a pro in Antigua, this is your place to do it. Me and my wife did the Acatenango Hike, Summit and El Fuego. Miguel was our group leader guide and he was just amazing. We made it safe and sound everywhere and made it in time for sunset and sunrise, it was just perfect. Would recommend these guys 100% if you wanna have the best time of your life. Unique experience even for mediocre hikers like us, it’s just worth it to push your limits and make it to the top, the result it’s just out of this world. Check the photos. Super great, thank you so much guys. Ps: i just proposed on the base camp🙏🇬🇹

The Pacaya hike itself was beautiful, but definitely a bit of an underwhelming service experience for my group of friends. I’m not sure the $59 USD + park entry cost was justified. We stopped in the office to see if there were next day openings for a Pacaya hike - there were. The office staff made it seem like signing up in person was an inconvenience, and they weren’t equipped to let us pay with a card (the system might have been down, so oh well). Just an awkward experience. The next morning, we arrived 10min early for our 6am meeting time, as instructed, and the guide/driver barely spoke to us (I would expect an introduction and an overview of what we could expect). On the way to the hike, the car’s breaks went out - ok, bad luck - but they barely communicated with us and it would have been nice to know what was going on - still didn’t know their names at this point. 45min later, we had a new car, but the driving was wild to make up for lost time. We finally made it to the base of the hike, and we met up with our certified “local guide,” Carlos, which is included in the cost of the hike. Honestly, he was awesome! From there, the hike was beautiful and somewhat challenging - pretty steadily steep. They told us we were not taking the standard trail that most others take, so that was nice to have a quiet trail. Ox provided sandwiches that were mediocre, and of course the marshmallow roasting stuff, which was surprisingly fun. Also, wine??? At 10am?? Coffee would have been preferable. Our Ox guide was certainly friendly at this point, but unfortunately just didn’t add much to the experience (e.g., we asked about the volcano’s formation, and he couldn’t answer). We left the day feeling like we would have been better off arranging our own transportation and hiring a local guide like Carlos directly.

This month I did two overnight volcano hikes with OX, Pacaya and Acatenango. The Pacaya trip we were not lucky with weather and had a surprise rain storm hit us while we were halfway up to the summit. It was scary trying to navigate back with the storm overhead but our two guides were so prepared and knowledgable that I felt completely safe despite the conditions. We were rewarded with a fantastic sunrise and breakfast at the viewpoint thee next morning as well. We were luckier on our Acatenango trip and had much better conditions, rain but able to see Fuego going off all night from camp. This was a much more difficult hike but, once again, our guides were there to help us reach our goal. They gave us rest stops when we needed them but also made sure we kept moving at a good pace, ensuring that we made it to camp before the worst of the rain started. I would 100% do another trek with them next time I'm in Guatemala. They keep you well fed with great food, have exceptional preparation before the hike to make sure you know what you're getting into, and you feel supported and looked after every step of the way.

Summited Acatenango & Fuego with OX expeditions highly experienced team. Our group was led by Chino and fully supported by Willie and Ronald throughout our trip. They made every effort to make sure that everyone was equipped, looked after and supported throughout the hike at all times from start to finish. The guys certainly know how to work hard and play hard, they clearly love their work and to have a bit of banter along the way. If you’re looking to hike around Antigua then I’d look no further. Happy trails!

The OX Expedition Team was very organized, timely, friendly, informative, transparent, open-minded, flexible, and most importantly, they are very experienced mountain guides. Shout out to our best Lead Guide, Chino who has shown great leadership, He was very helpful, disciplined, friendly , encouraging and ensured we were safe and not left behind from the group. The porters were so caring that they always did a headcount that way they know we’re in the group at all times, especially to Señor Lionel , one of the guides and porters who was so patient and helpful. Overall, I would strongly recommend to go with OX Expedition team when you want to explore the Volcanoes in Guatemala, they’re simply the Best!:)

Review about the Acatenango Tour without Double Wammy and without going to the top of Acatenango during the night. Warning: this tour is super super exhaustive! We are in quite a good condition but it was still very hard to get up and down the mountain. The ascent took about 5 hours with a break every 30 minutes. About 4 hours it is just steep up the mountain with rare exceptions. Two of our group canceled end went back. I saw many people going up there in kind of Converse Shoes - don’t do that!! Don’t be sad if you see just clouds when you arrive. The mountain reveals itself every few hours for a while and then covers itself again in dense clouds. Just be patient. Best view was at morning time. Tipp: Pay a porter for carry your stuff!!! It’s just around 20€ one way. We used one porter as a couple and it was the best decision. Good things It was a great hike up the mountain, with exactly the right amount of pauses. We felt really well handled. Our group was quite small and the accommodation with 3 people was perfect. I guess with 6 people it would have been uncomfortable though. View out of the window to the volcano was awesome and we could see one eruption around midnight. The food was basic but fine for us. The guides where Kind all the time. You can choose out of a lot of free clothes before you leave to the mountain. So I didn’t feel cold - and it is super cold during night. We felt really good until the decline… Negative things We took a porter and in the beginning we where assured it cost 200 Quetzals . But on the mountain the porter suddenly wanted 300 which made us feel uncomfortable. The guide however helped us and we paid 200. What I really really didn’t like was the descent . The guides rushed down the mountain as it was some kind of race. I slept maybe 2 hours that night and had shaky legs. Me and my wife fell down a few times. I needed a break but the guide pushed to go on. What the hell?! Why did you push as this hard - is it really necessary to destroy this really great experience with a rush like that in the end? Please change that - it’s really awful.. that’s why I just give 4 stars. Without the awful decline I would give 5Stars+!

I am so happy that we did this hike (Acatenango and Fuego) with Ox Expeditions! Our guide, Alonzo, was incredible and so helpful the whole time! OX has recently built cabins so you no longer have to tent camp, which we were so thankful for! That meant we didn’t have to carry up parts of the tent or sleeping bags, just the community food and our personal belongings! OX let’s you rent their backpacking backpack (65L) and warm clothes for free! I was thankful to have an extra fleece and their hat and gloves with me when it got cold. The price includes 4 meals, a delicious Guatemalan breakfast at a restaurant before, a sandwich in the way up for lunch, pasta dinner, and bagel & banana bread breakfast. They did a GREAT job accommodating dietary restrictions. I had the GF meal, which was the same as the vegan meal for the most part. The GF bread was great at lunch! At dinner they made us rice with the pasta sauce, and at breakfast they made us corn tortillas, hard boiled egg, and tomatoes. Our weather for Acatenango & Fuego wasn’t great, but it was a great challenging hike and wonderful experience with very interesting people! I want to return during the dry season and do the hike again, hopefully Alonzo is still working there to guide us!

We had a perfect experience on this 2-day hike to El Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes. The guide Tyler was a relaxed, fun but responsible guy who could tell us a lot about the volcanoes, surroundings and vegetation etc. His colleagues were sociable and were there to take care, make delicious meals, tea and hot wine:) Going out with the group made the trip complete. We paid attention to each other, it was laughter along the way and the overnight stay was very funny as a result. The cabins with sleeping bags were comfortable. Walking with packs I personally found perfect but you can choose to have a porter lift it. Along the way, I carried plastic rags down with me and my friend joined 2 others for a run around the crater, both for a t-shirt from OX;). Totally fun! All in all, a worldly experience, which we highly recommend doing through OX Expeditions.

I did OX Expeditions’ “double whammy” volcano trek in October 2022 and had an excellent experience. Our guide, Alonzo, was fantastic: full of knowledge about the volcano and the route, anticipating and attentive to all the needs of the group, quick with encouragement (and sweets for sugar boosts!) and a great sense of humour. The accommodation and the food was also great, and we had a lovely group with good spirits all the way up and down, no matter how tough it got. Oh and the views were amazing!

We had an amazing experience doing the Acatenango Overnight hike. The views of the volcano erupting at night and during the day are amazing. The hike itself is very challenging since it’s steep and at high elevation. I paid $200 quetzales for a porter to carry my backpack since I would have not made it with it. The guides are very helpful and make sure we’re all okay despite the fact we had a group of 28. They rent backpack, gloves, sweaters, headlamps for free. They don’t rent hiking shoes so make sure to bring your own. I saw people wearing tennis shoes and they struggled on the way down. The cabins are small and they fit 6 people in it, but it was cool to get up and see the lava every time the volcano erupted. Between the cold, the volcano eruptions and the tight quarters, you may not get much sleep, but I didn’t mind it. They provided filling meals, but make sure to bring snacks. also, it’s super dusty so make sure to wear a mask or bandana. I would definitely recommend this hike and ox. Our guides also and Chino were awesome alongside their dogs Tarzan and Oso.

Great trip with overnight stay. We felt in good hands. Provided gear and food were great. Agree with other reviews about 4.5l of water being too much, 2 liters plus some bottled drinks or fruit juices would have been enough. DO take the rain poncho from the company, none of the branded parkas will hold against the rain.

My partner and I hiked Acatenango and El Fuego with OX expeditions and had a wonderful experience! Our tour guide was knowledgeable, encouraging, and a great communicator (he spoke fantastic English). The organization from start to finish was impressive, and the view from base camp was jaw-dropping. They provide everything you need to hike (clothes, backpacks, etc.), so you don’t have to come with much. If I had one critique, it would be to add some protein (we only had carbs the entire journey) to the dishes. Other than that minor detail, I highly recommend OX expeditions for your Antigua adventures!

I can’t recommend OX Expeditions enough for the Volcano Acatenango hike! If you’re ready for the most memorable, empowering, and breathtaking experience of a lifetime, this is a must do. Certainly a challenge but the guides and information give you all you need to know to make it possible. My guide, Miguel, was personable, funny, and very helpful. He even did a little first aid on my hand when I fell and cut it coming down. OX Expeditions provides you with any and all gear you need, a pre-hike meeting and PDF of information, delicious meals (including wine, hot chocolate, and banana bread), and porters if needed. They take the right amount of breaks and continuously check on you. I felt very safe and supported. Definitely book with OX Expeditions for this unforgettable hike!

My girlfriend and I did the Acatenango overnight hike, and Fuego. It was hard, but so rewarding! The Ox Expeditions team was super organized and took care of every detail. The guides were amazing, especially Romeo. We loved it all and it was one of the coolest experiences we have ever had. Would highly recommend! Make sure to bring warm clothes, prepare for a lot of dust, and wear shoes with good grip. If you are relying on Ox for any gear make sure to get there earlier so you can choose the better stuff. Also make sure at the end to tip the guys who are working hard to make this all happen.

I had a wonderful experience with OX. The meeting the day before your adventure helped setting the expectation and getting yourself mentally prepared for the challenge. Miguel was a great guide. He helped providing meds for altitude sickness and walked with me as I was the last one in the crew. All the guides care to provide the best experience by checking in on you and motivating you. I felt well prepared with all the free equipment provided. It is worth the 4 meals, shuttle rides, tour guides, provided cabin with sleeping bags, comfortable pads and gear. Highly recommend OX to anyone who’s looking to hike Acatenango.

It was a great experience walking by the Pacaya Volcano that it is still active!! Our group had people with different levels of fitness, and the guides were gentle and patience with the little ones and the ones out of breath every five minutes. The length of the whole tour was perfect, not rushed, but not tiring either. The van might be a little tight if there are many 6 feet+ tall people, but it is a minor issue considering the whole experience.

My best hiking experience so far! OX EXPEDITIONS is the #1 if you want to go on this expedition ! Very professionnal and our guide Tyler was great, give us a lot of information about the volcano and histories. I recommand OX at 100% !!!

Despite the bad weather 80% of the trip, we had great experience. From the beginning at the front desk to the very end. - Acatenango hike is an easy hike if you are an active person - There is eternity of breaks during the hike, so you don't have time to get tired (hehe) - but to get cold, yes. I would rather split the big group into fast and slow groups, so the fast ones don't have to freeze. - Do the Fuego hike! It's another level! Definitely wort it! - Trekking shoes with a good grip are more than welcome. The path is very very loose. - Guides took amazing care of us. Many thanks in such conditiones! - Payment only in cash or via PayPal. Not convenient at all. Thanks for an amazing experience OX!

WOW!! What a trip!! Best hike I have ever done and I am so happy I chose to do it with OX Expeditions. I did the two day Acatenango tour, which was extremely challenging, beautiful and the guides were exceptional. Fuego will take your breath away. I guarantee it. We got four meals included in this tour, the first being a traditional Guatemala breakfast at a local restaurant where it was nice to get to know everyone in our group. Every meal was very filling, and made me even more ready to tackle this hike, and being Gluten free, they really catered to my dietary needs. My guides Romeo and Leo were fantastic and maintained the perfect pace for everyone in the group, while having many breaks. OX also provides all of the gear you need including clothing and backpacks, as well as their own cabins at base camp, so we didn’t have to carry up camping and cooking gear like most other companies. Wine and hot chocolate around a bonfire while watching the lava spew from Fuego is the best feeling I have ever experienced. OX Expeditions also has the crater run (run around Acatenango’s crater without stopping, falling, or walking) which no other company has! Although it was the hardest thing I have ever done, I succeeded and got the free T-Shirt! If you beat the record though, your trip is FREE. Brilliant idea. 11/10, amazing experience, and book with Ox Expeditions. You won’t regret it.

Did the Pacaya say tour. They stopped for coffee before leaving Antigua and provided us with two veggie sandwiches. The whole experience was great. I’m pretty slow and the guides were patient & kind. Booking was easy and they were super communicative over WhatsApp with any questions we had. Other tours in the area are cheaper but in my opinion the food, duration of the hike/tour and quality of service make the price difference worth it.

Overall, Acatenango hike was an incredible experience with OX. Challenging , but very doable. It was made doable thanks to great guides like Alonzo Zavala. Motivated us to go on (especially me) during the difficult parts. He was very informative every time we had questions about the volcano, microclimates and the altitude levels. If ever you had questions or needed something, he was there to assist. The cabins were a sight of relief. They were clean and the mattresses were thick and comfortable enough for a good night of sleep (not really a whole night since the hike to the summit was before sunrise). Lunch was good and easy to eat since it was a thick Italian sandwich. Enough calories to keep you moving. Supper was pasta with cheese, which i also liked. Breakfast on day 2 was a bagel with various spreads (Nutella, cream cheese, etc.) and slices of banana bread for dessert. Just make sure you bring enough snacks to munch on. The hike will use up a ton of energy, thus requiring constant snacking. OX does provide extra clothes for free if you need to layer up more. Might not be the newest clothes, but it's enough to help you get warmer.

An absolutely incredible experience! This expedition was by far the most well organized and thought out trip I've taken. My friend and I signed up for the double whammy with no real expectations. Our guide was Tyler, and he was fantastic. Everything from the pre-trip meeting to the gear available for use, food, and time management of summiting was seamless. Once we were at the top of Fuego you could really tell the benefit of going with OX vs. some of the other guides. We were the first to reach the peak and had all of the necessary equipment. No one in our group struggled to keep up, and Tyler set a comfortable hiking pace and was engaging, friendly, and knowledgable. Highly recommend going with OX and Tyler for your trip!

WOW! What an amazing experience. From the pre-trip meeting to the sunrise view on the summit of Acatenango, I cannot rave enough about this trip. Romeo was a great guide and motivator. Along with his co-guide Rolando, they made sure that everyone in the group was well fed and accounted for along the trail. The food provided by the company was so tasty, and I loved that Romeo even brought some freshly homemade guacamole for morning avocado toast. I am not sure what other base camp's views are like, but from where we were, we got a great view of the eruptions of Volcano Fuego. You really pay for what you get with OX, and I will definitely be joining the company for a Pacaya hike in the future. Side note: The double whammy hike is a challenge, but well worth it for anyone up for some close up views of the volcano.

What a fantastic experience. Come to Antigua 2-3 days early to acclimate to the altitude. The acetenago hike is one of the coolest experiences I've had. It tests your lungs and your perseverance more than it tests your legs. Would recommend this experience for everyone even moderately fit. Glad I did it, probably wouldn't do it again though

Great experience doing the Acatenango overnight hike with OX. We had alonso as our guide and he was amazing ! We were fed super well and it was all done very professionally. Great hike and staff

An incredible two days hiking Fuego and Acatenango with Ox! Very well organised - everything from food to equipment and sleeping arrangements was taken care of by the Ox team and all dietary requirements within the group were so well catered for. You couldn’t feel in safer hands climbing an active volcano than with our amazing guide Gareth. He was exceptionally knowledgeable, attentive and a great laugh throughout. An unforgettable experience with a brilliant group - highly recommend!

Ox Expeditions are leaders in the adventure tours and expeditions offering once in a lifetime treks to the volcanoes around Antigua Guatemala. I hiked Volcan de Fuego and Acatenango. Our guide Gareth was excellent. He was super knowledgeable, highly experienced and friendly. The whole experience was incredible and we were taken to some truly magical viewpoints. Ox Expeditions are a professional outfit that are well worth hiring for your trip.