Guatemala Expedition: Acatenango, living culture and Maya traditions
The same seven-day route through Antigua, Atitlán and Chichicastenango, with a two-day expedition up the Acatenango volcano facing Fuego’s eruptions. Strenuous.
7 days · 6 nights.
Guatemala Expedition takes the same seven-day route through colonial Antigua, the highlands, Lake Atitlán and Chichicastenango, and adds the most striking adventure in Central America: the expedition up the Acatenango volcano, facing the Fuego volcano.
The climb starts at Aldea La Soledad and takes most of the day. Farmland gives way to cloud forest and then to open volcanic ash, up to base camp. As night falls, Fuego’s explosions, ash columns and lava rivers light up the horizon a few kilometers away; the next morning the sunrise arrives over the whole volcanic chain before the descent. It demands good physical condition: this is the hardest day in the catalog.
Back on the road, the trip continues exactly as in the other versions: Iximché, Lake Atitlán with the weaving and cacao workshops of San Juan La Laguna and the living culture of Santiago Atitlán, and the great Chichicastenango market with the Santo Tomás church and its painted cemetery.
A local coordinator, assigned once your booking is confirmed, holds the inter-region transfers and the encounters with each host in the network. The night of Day 3 is spent at the Acatenango base camp; the rest of the lodging and the meals are left to your choice. If you would rather take a gentler version of the same route, there are Guatemala Adventure (Pacaya volcano, moderate effort) and Essential Guatemala (the Antigua lookouts, easy going).
Same route, three levels of effort.
The route is the same: Antigua, Iximché, Atitlán and Chichicastenango. What changes is Day 3, from the Antigua lookouts to a volcano climb.
From Antigua to the highlands: Iximché, Atitlán and Chichicastenango
Day 3 on Pacaya: lava fields and Pacific views
A night on Acatenango, facing Fuego’s eruptions
Day by day.
Day 1 Welcome and transfer to Antigua Day 1 · 2 stops
- By flight
Welcome and transfer to Antigua
Pickup at La Aurora International Airport and transfer to Antigua Guatemala, where time moves at a different pace.
- 16:00
Free afternoon in the colonial city
Time for the Parque Central, the Santa Catalina Arch and a specialty coffee as the sun sets behind the volcanoes.
Day 2 Walking tour of colonial Antigua Day 2 · 2 stops
- 09:30
Walking tour of colonial Antigua
Plazas, convents and churches with a local guide, reading a city rebuilt earthquake after earthquake.
- 14:30
Community coffee tour
On the volcanic slopes, from plant to cup with local growers: picking, milling and a tasting.
Day 3 Departure for Aldea La Soledad Day 3 · 3 stops
- 07:00
Departure for Aldea La Soledad
Transfer from Antigua to the trailhead on the flanks of Acatenango. Bring mountain footwear, thermal layers, a headlamp and water.
- 08:30
Climb to base camp
Farmland gives way to cloud forest and then to open volcanic ash: close to eight hours of climbing with a mountain guide.
- 17:00
Facing the Fuego volcano
As night falls, Fuego's explosions, ash columns and lava rivers light up the horizon from the camp.
Day 4 Sunrise over the volcanic chain Day 4 · 4 stops
- 05:00
Sunrise over the volcanic chain
The sun comes up over Agua, Fuego and the highlands from base camp, before breaking camp.
- 08:30
Descent to Aldea La Soledad
Back down the same trail, considerably faster than the climb, to the trailhead.
- 13:00
Iximché, the Kaqchikel capital
A guided visit to the Maya ceremonial and political center, on the way into the highlands.
- 16:00
Arrival at Lake Atitlán
Transfer to Panajachel; the day ends by the lake after two days on the mountain.
Day 5 Santiago Atitlán Day 5 · 3 stops
- 08:00
Santiago Atitlán
A cultural tour of the lake's largest town, its cofradía and its singular religious expressions.
- 12:00
San Juan La Laguna: loom and cacao
Community workshops of natural-dye weaving, artisanal chocolate and honey, with Tz’utujil families.
- 15:30
Kaqasiiwan lookout
An open view of the lake and its volcanoes before returning to Panajachel.
Day 6 Chichicastenango market Day 6 · 3 stops
- 08:30
Chichicastenango market
The largest indigenous market in the highlands: handwoven textiles, crafts and mountains of color.
- 11:00
Santo Tomás and the painted cemetery
Copal and Maya-Catholic syncretism on the church steps, and the color-painted cemetery on the hillside.
- 14:30
Return to Guatemala City
The road back to the capital in the late afternoon, the highlands falling away behind.
Day 7 Until next time, Guatemala Day 7 · 1 stop
- By flight
Until next time, Guatemala
A free morning and departure transfer to La Aurora Airport, with the heart of the Maya world in your memory.
What's included
- Airport pickup and private inter-region transfers (Antigua, Atitlán, Chichicastenango and the capital)
- Walking tour of colonial Antigua with a local guide
- Community coffee tour on the slopes above Antigua
- Guided expedition up the Acatenango volcano with a mountain guide and base camp facing the Fuego volcano (Days 3 and 4)
- Guided visit to Iximché and the Tz'utujil villages of Lake Atitlán
- Chichicastenango market, the Santo Tomás church and the cemetery with a local guide
- A local coordinator assigned once your booking is confirmed
- Direct support for the network of local hosts
Not included
- Lodging in Antigua, Atitlán and the capital (the night of Day 3 is at the Acatenango base camp)
- Food and drinks (meals are at your own choice)
- Air tickets and personal travel insurance
- Unspecified admissions and personal expenses
- Personal mountain gear (footwear, thermal layers, a headlamp and water)
