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A Journey Inspired.

Blog
Portfolio
About
- Contact
- Why “a journey inspired?”
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A Journey Inspired.

Blog
Portfolio
About
- Contact
- Why “a journey inspired?”
Home

Contact

A Journey Inspired
Contact

E-Mail

candace@ajourneyinspired.com

Location

Currently: Ontario, Canada

Get in touch

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Follow our adventures on Instagram!

ajourneyinspired

Do you ever just want to pack your bags and disapp

Do you ever just want to pack your bags and disappear into the woods where no one can reach you? And maybe lie on an icy lake and star gaze into the night? This is one of my favourite backcountry cabins that hasn’t been discovered by social media yet (dm me if you want to know). It’s simply where I want to be right now 😌💭 And if you’re feeling overwhelmed these days too I’m sending you hugs 🫂 💛

Acatenango is one of those hikes where people eith

Acatenango is one of those hikes where people either overpack or pack the wrong things. You start in blazing sun, then sweat a ton as you climb steep elevation gain, then it’s freezing at camp.

If you’re interested in seeing what it’s really like to hike Acatenango and Fuego, check out my part 1 and 2 posts on my feed and follow @ajourneyinspired for more outdoor adventure inspo!

& If you want the full checklist I used, comment and I’ll send it over (you have to be following me or I can’t DM you!)

In addition to the packing tips in the slide:
Here are extra packing tips ⬇️

• Your hiking pack can be the bag you brought to Guatemala. Most tour companies let you leave extra luggage at their office.

• If you hire a porter, bring a proper backpack and still pack light.

• Bring more layers than you think you’ll need. Antigua is warm, but camp (~3,600m) gets freezing and windy. I wore a base layer, fleece, puffer, shell, gloves, and a toque on Fuego.

• Your headlamp is essential. You’ll use it for the sunrise summit and moving around camp in the dark.

• Volcanic dust gets everywhere. A buff or bandana is surprisingly helpful when the wind picks up. Same as running gaiters

• Snacks are key. The meals are good, but the hike is long and you burn a lot of energy at altitude.

• Trekking poles help a lot on the descent. We rented one pair and shared them between us two because we couldn’t check our own on the flight (we only travelled with carry ons).

• Bring a small battery pack. Cold temperatures drain your phone overnight.

• Bring small bills for tips. The guides and porters work incredibly hard carrying gear up the volcano.

• Hiking pants will be good, no point bringing shorts. In fact only tourists wear shorts in Latin America (locals don’t wear them!)

• Sleeping bags came with our tour and were ready for us at th cabin. Even though they’re not cleaned often they smelled fine, but we used our own silk liners inside just in case.

If Acatenango is on your bucket list, save this packing list so you’re actually prepared when you go!!

Follow @ajourneyinspired for more adventure travel tips 🌋

Here’s my honest recap of Acatenango Day 2 and a

Here’s my honest recap of Acatenango Day 2 and all the behind-the-scenes moments you rarely see on social media!
 (save + share with your hiking buddy if hiking in Guatemala is on your bucketlist 🥾)

Day 2 in a nutshell: summit push, sunrise views, and the epic run down volcanic gravel.

Here are some extra tips:

• Small groups matter. We went with @lavatrails.gt and loved it. Our smaller group let us start a bit later, pass other hikers, and reach the top faster. It was way better than being stuck with a massive group in the cold and dark.

• Wake-up call is 4am. Bring layers, headlamps, and gloves. It’s cold, windy, and dark, but watching the sun rise over Fuego was incredible.

• Snacks are a must because breakfast is served after the summit hike. Bring carbs for the climb.

• Even on Day 2, altitude can hit fast. Listen to your body, there’s no shame in skipping part of the summit hike if needed. Some in our group felt really sick, others were fine.

• The descent is tricky with loose volcanic gravel and steep sections. Gaiters and good grip shoes are a huge help. Trekking poles make it easier if you brought them.

And if you’re wondering if the hype is worth it… even with crowds and no eruption, Acatenango + Fuego was still one of the most epic hikes I’ve done in my life.

Have you done this hike before and would you recommend it? Or is it on your bucket list?

Follow @ajourneyinspired for more real, behind-the-scenes adventure tips! 🌋 
stay tuned to see what I packed for Acatenango and get my packing list! 😉

You asked and we delivered! Acatenango Day 1 Revie

You asked and we delivered! Acatenango Day 1 Review + tips ⬇️ and follow for part 2!

(save + send this to your hiking buddy if Guatemala is on your bucketlist!)

Most people hike Acatenango for one reason: watching Fuego erupt. But no one really talks about what actually happens.

I also wanted to see if it was as hard as people made it out to be (spoiler: it’s not that bad 🤭).

Day 1 in a nutshell: steady uphill, navigating crowds of tourists, dusty switchbacks, hanging out at basecamp, and deciding if you have enough energy to continue to Fuego.

Extra tips:
• You can go without a guide but it’s not recommended. Weather changes fast, altitude is unpredictable, and the trail is pretty chaotic. On the positive side - it’s hard to get lost with the amount of tourists on the trail!

• Google “acatenango 4x4 adventures” if you don’t want to hike but still want to see it!

• Porters are hired separately for up and down from the tour. People in our group were surprised when the porters left as we got to basecamp and they had to carry their own bags down 😅

• Pack light and don’t forget you need to carry 4L of water (1L for cooking).

• Altitude affects people differently and some in our group felt it, most didn’t. Eat well, hydrate, and arrive a few days early if you can. We felt fine and never took altitude meds.

• how to pick a tour: research for one that treats their people ethically. Look for small groups + multiple guides. Most don’t speak English so try to learn some Spanish.

$50–80usd (budget)
$90–120 (mid-range sweet spot) - we picked @lavatrails.gt
$120–160+ (premium)

• Most tourists here aren’t regular hikers which is why they say it’s the hardest hike they’ve ever done. Even if you’re moderately fit, you’ll be okay. I’ll post more later on what you can do to prep.

We hiked with the front guide and reached basecamp in <5hrs incl breaks (considered fast)

You need to hike faster if you want to reach Fuego for sunset. We got the prime photo spot while other groups arrived too late.

• Bring cash for snacks, the Fuego hike (~200Q), and tips.

• Fuego might not erupt. But that’s nature for ya!

Follow @ajourneyinspired for honest hiking reviews!

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