Ultimate packing guide to hike Acatenango volcano with kids
- dimple verma
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
If you’re reading this, you're probably debating the idea of hiking the famous Acatenango volcano with your kids or not. And are somewhere between “This sounds insane” and “Should we actually try this with our kids?”
I was exactly there not too long ago until I saw a fellow mom's Insta post of hiking with her twins (shout out to @restlesscrusade). But guess what?
We did it!!! We hiked Acatenango, in Guatemala, to see the famous Volcan de Fuego, with our 6-year-old and 3-year-old late November, and it WAS one of the HARDEST yet most UNFORGETTABLE experiences of our lives!!
Before the trip, I was so overwhelmed about what to pack for the hike, and it was so little information. And I knew instantly, I have to write a post to help other families prepare for the Acatenango volcano hike with kids- what to pack, what to expect, what kind of tours are out there, and how to make it all work with little humans. If you're planning a family trip to Guatemala and wondering if Acatenango is kid-friendly, this is for you.
About the Acatenango Volcano Hike
Acatenango is a dormant stratovolcano near Antigua, Guatemala, standing at 3,976 meters (13,045 feet) above sea level. It’s famous for its views of the neighboring, very active Volcán de Fuego, which erupts every 15–20 minutes, especially impressive at night.
Distance from Antigua: ~1.5-2 hours by car to the trailhead
Elevation Gain: ~1,500 meters (~5,000 ft) from the start of the traditional hike
Hiking Duration: 6 hours up, 4ish hours down (if hiking the full route)
4x4 Assisted Options: They drop you closer to base camp and cut down the hiking to merely ~2 hours, making it doable with kids and people with mobility issues.
We chose a 4x4 tour because there was just no way our 3-year-old was hiking 6 hours straight. With that option, we only had to hike for around 2 hours uphill. Manageable, but still intense.
What to Expect When Hiking Acatenango with Kids
Altitude can hit hard: Even with 4x4, the altitude is no joke. Give kids time to rest.
They might refuse to walk: Be ready to carry the little ones. We switched between shoulder rides and carrying on the back.
No complaints about views: They were just as amazed watching lava shoot out in the sky every single time
Common Tour Inclusions
Transport from Antigua and back
Guides (some tours have an extra porter for kids or gear with an additional $ )
We hired the porter one way. It was worth every single penny!!
Dinner + breakfast
Camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, mat, sometimes sleeping bag liners
Some provide walking sticks, gloves, hats, and extra jackets (with few additional $)
Weather Conditions to Expect on the Volcano
Acatenango weather can throw everything at you:
Hot midday sun during the hike up
Wind and rain, depending on the season
Freezing temps at night (literally, it drops below zero)
Cold, crisp mornings before sunrise
You need to prepare for all four seasons in one backpack. This makes proper packing key for any family planning to hike Acatenango with kids.
What to Pack: The Ultimate Guide for Families Hiking Acatenango
Here’s what saved us hiking the Acatenango and viewing Volcán de Fuego in peace.. This packing guide is based on real trial-and-error (mostly error on our part):
Packing Essentials for Kids
Layer 1 Full-sleeve shirt & full sleeve pants with regular thick socks - The kids wore this until we reached the base for hiking.
Layer 2 Thermal base layers or fleece layers - Both kids wore a thermal top and fleece bottoms halfway into our hike.
Layer 3 Thick Fleece jacket - My younger one needed a fleece jacket on top of her thermal layer halfway into the hike.
Layer 4- Windproof/waterproof outer layer jacket with hoodie- Mostly provided by the tour. I was quite disappointed that there was no proper size available for my 3-year-old. She had to wear a jacket two sizes too big. Thankfully, she did fine.
Leg warmers + thick socks- As soon as we reached basecamp, I put leg warmers under their fleece pants and added an extra layer of thick socks to keep them warm.
Additional Warm socks- These were especially helpful for sleeping at night.
Water-resistant Gloves - These were also provided by the tour company. They were thick and did a great job blocking the cold wind. However, once again, for my 3-year-old, they only had oversized woolen gloves. For younger kids, it’s best to bring your own gear.
Fleece Warm hat or cap that covers the ears- I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to keep their ears warm at basecamp. A good fleece hat that fully covers the ears is a must.
Sunhat for daytime - You’ll definitely need a sunhat during the hike, as the sun can be harsh on the eyes.
Sunglasses- For the same reason, the sun really irritates your eyes at that altitude. I gave both kids their own sunglasses.
Face buff for the dust - This little item was a game changer. We kept it around our necks the whole time. It helped us breathe through the ashy dust and also kept the neck warm.
Extra change of pants and socks- My 3-year-old’s pants were completely muddy by the time we reached basecamp. I had to change her immediately. Her socks had gotten wet too, so a spare pair came in handy.
Diaper - My 3-year-old wore a diaper for nighttime, and I was so glad she did. I didn’t have to take her out into the pitch-dark cold, unlike my 6-year-old, who had to brave it once.
Warm shawl- While sitting outside watching the volcano erupt, it got extremely cold at night. I really wish I had packed a warm shawl to wrap around my legs or to keep my 6-year-old extra cozy while sitting for longer periods.
Hiking Essentials
Hiking boots or sturdy shoes with a good grip - Please don’t use brand-new shoes for the hike. Make sure whatever shoes you bring are well broken-in and water-resistant—it can rain at any time. Our kids wore their regular sports shoes and did fine.
If you are planning to do the full hike, then definitely opt for hiking boots for the kids
Walking stick - Most tours provide walking sticks for an extra fee. We got one stick each for the kids (instead of two), which worked well for their size.
Lightweight backpack - Also offered by most tours at an additional cost. Since we were a family of four, we rented one 40L backpack (very sturdy) and brought one of our own waterproof ones. One bag carried water bottles, snacks, and other small essentials, while the other held extra clothing layers.
Headlamps - These are usually available from the tour company for an added fee and are absolutely worth it. When it was pitch dark, especially for those late-night bathroom runs, headlamps were lifesavers. My husband and I each had one.
Power bank- You’ll be taking a lot of photos, especially if you’re hiking during sunset or camping overnight. A fully charged power bank is essential as your phone battery won’t last the day otherwise.
Nighttime Gear (Almost freezing temp)
Air-activated heat packs - Absolute lifesavers! I placed them inside our sleeping bags, under the kids' socks, and even had them hold a couple in their hands at night. It was beyond cold once the sun went down.
Small fleece blanket - Sleeping bags alone didn’t always cut it. I carried two small lightweight fleece blankets to layer inside the sleeping bags, especially for my younger one. I also wrapped their jackets around them for extra warmth.
Melatonin - This really helped the kids fall asleep despite the cold and the constant background noise of volcanic activity.
White noise app - we kept an extra phone just for playing white noise. The volcano erupts every 15–20 minutes, and the ground literally shakes each time. The white noise helped block out the sound of eruptions, and none of the kids woke up during the night, except for one bathroom break.
Sleeping bags - These were provided by the tour company and worked fine with the extra layers we brought
Personal Hygiene
Let’s just be honest, bathrooms are not a strong suit here. Some base camps have basic outhouses, others have nothing. Nighttime bathroom runs are brutal: pitch black and freezing. Kids might wake up needing to pee/poop, so be ready to accompany them outside. You won’t sleep much.
Toilet paper- Carry your own toilet roll, once you’re high up in altitude, you won’t find anything! Don’t count on public facilities.
Peri bottle - Late at night, using the water bottles to clean the kids after a toilet break gets tricky. I always carry my peri bottle to keep things as hygienic as possible.
Hand sanitizer/travel soaps - You’ll absolutely need this after those big pee or poop breaks with kids. Everyone’s hands will need a good clean.
Facial wipes- Our kids’ faces, hands, and legs were muddy by the time we reached basecamp. Sure, you can use drinking water to clean up, but wipes come in handy when you want a quick fix for messy hands or faces.
Toothbrush & paste - I skipped this for the kids because brushing in freezing temps wasn’t a fight I wanted to pick. But if you’re feeling motivated, add it to the list!
Snacks
Even though most tours provide meals as part of the package, kids will definitely need snacks either during the hike, at basecamp, or just to keep tantrums in check.
Energy bars - we got one each for everyone. Super handy during quick breaks when everyone needed a boost.
Chocolate/ candy/anything sweet- Mostly to bribe the kids and to calm our own nerves after reaching the top. The altitude can really make your head spin, and sugar helps..
Cheese sticks, mixed nuts, dried fruit, and small chip packs - We stopped at a local supermarket and stocked up on these. Most of it got eaten in the car ride up, but it was all worth it.
Medical Kit
This is an absolute necessity, especially since altitude can affect anyone, and you won’t know how until you’re up there.
Kids chewy Dramamine- I gave this to the kids about an hour before our 4x4 ride, and again before we started the hike. It helped a lot with motion sickness and nausea from the altitude.
Tylenol or Ibuprofen- My 3-year-old had a severe headache once we reached the top. I gave her Tylenol right away, and it worked quickly.
Cold & cough syrup - If your kids are already showing any signs of a cold, definitely bring these along. The cold air can make symptoms worse.
Band-Aids - I ended up using almost six Band-Aids on the way down. The hike back was harder for the kids, and small scrapes were inevitable.
Neosporin - to prevent any infection of wounds or scrapes.
Aloe vera for bug bites- This is more relevant for full hike option when kids are likely in half sleeves. Once the 4x4 ride starts and temperatures drop, they’ll likely be bundled up, but bug bites can still happen depending on the weather.
Any prescription meds you use
Final Tips for Family Hiking in Guatemala
Dress kids in layers, so you can easily add/remove
Keep snacks handy during the hike
Don’t overpack, but don’t underprepare
Check with your tour what gear is provided so you don’t double-carry
Train with some walks before the trip if your kids aren’t used to hiking
Keep a sense of humor - it helps when someone falls face first in volcanic gravel (it happened)
Was it hard? YES. Was it worth it? 1000 times yes.
If you're planning a family trip to Guatemala and are up for an adventure, don’t let the idea of hiking with kids scare you. Acatenango and watching Volcán de Fuego all night can be one of your most memorable family travel experiences. I hope this packing guide helped you hike Acatenango with your kids.
Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll talk about the actual hike experience- the lava, the views, and the sore legs. Feel free to drop questions in the comments. Always happy to help another brave parent!
