After setting up for a few nights in Antigua, my friend and I got ready for our big adventure: Hiking conical Volcn Acatenango and seeing the constantly erupting Volcn de Fuego. For Christmas Eve Eve! We used the Wicho and Charlies which was located near our airbnb and had good reviews. They also set you up in huts instead of tents. So we walked there for our meeting time of 8 am where we were given instructions and a small breakfast. Cold weather gear was provided for free or available for rent. Since I knew before arriving we were doing this, I had almost everything except hiking poles which I rented, and decided to also rent gloves which were warmer than the ones I brought. We each had to bring a minimum of 3L of water, including 1L which was used for cooking our meals at base camp. The instructor gave us a brief overview on what to expect: it was steep and pretty much straight up for the first hours, then 45 minutes mostly flat, and finally another 15 minutes climb, with two long breaks thrown in, which included our lunch break.
us plus the guides - wow! So we were put into two busses for about a 40 minute ride to the trail start. At 11:00 we already were starting almost an hour after we thought, but still, it was a maximum 5 hour hike, including breaks, so we were fine.
Now, I may have mentioned on my previous write ups: I am a slow hiker. I know this. But I also know my limits. I could do this. I am slow, but I dont need long breaks, just frequent very short ones. But most people on this trip were very fit and the guides set a quick pace from the start. Some people had hired porters, and when one of the guides offered one to me for a small fee... OK! So, about an hour in, my bag was taken from me and I hiked in peace. There were about people either struggling or staying with those who were struggling so we all hiked up together and it was pleasant from them on. We were enjoying ourselves. My friend, of course was near the front of the pack...
straight up initially, we could see over the entire valley. The steep hike lasted about 45 minutes, some of which consists of stairs. Then we got to the park entrance, just after entering the forest. Luke had already paid my fee and we were on our way after looking at the map. Our guides told us that we would be taking a shortcut to basecamp. The next section was a bunch of somewhat steep switchbacks on packed earth trails through the woods. It was so beautiful. We encountered a few other, smaller groups, passing each other along the way. No one seemed to be in a real hurry and there were various levels of people struggling, but everyone wound up making it to the basecamp.
We stopped about 40 minutes after the park entrance for lunch. It was actually too long a break as we were sweaty and then the sweat became cold. But the food was good and we chatted as a big group together. The temperature changes were frequent - it was warm in the sun, cool in the forest, and with the sweat, you had to determine which layers worked best for you. We continued on
for another 30 minutes, encountering a tiny little bat hanging upside down under a large leaf - so cute!! And so far, the weather was perfect.
Soon, our group of 10 reached the end of one trail and started on the next. This was the part that was mainly flat and was a nice change of pace. Literally. We made good time here, and were at the end of this section in about 30 minutes. It was a great hike as we were above the clouds at this point, so our view was different and beautiful. We saw the top of Volcan Agua poking out of the clouds; this is the big volcano you can see from Antigua and now we are at a level with it! Our final 15 minutes was another steep switchback trail, and me and two other girls took a 10 second break every two corners.
We werent the last but among the last so I picked the last hut, which had 8 need spaces which each consisted of a sleeping bag, pillow, heavy blanket and mattress pad.
