Acatenango by the Private Miratenango Route: 80 Minutes Shorter, Camp Ixcanul

The route is the argument here. This operator climbs from private land at Miratenango, which cuts an hour and twenty minutes off the usual way up. The day starts at the Experience GT agency, where the briefing is given and the lunch and the equipment are handed over. A vehicle runs from Antigua to the village of La Soledad, at the foot of the volcano, and the walk begins at Miratenango, where the last bathroom with running water is, and a shop for anything forgotten. Acatenango stands 3,976 m. The climb is graded medium to high and takes four and a half to five hours depending on your condition and the stops. There are two payment booths on the way, both settled by the guide, and a wristband at the first. Lunch is eaten halfway. At the point called El Tonel, 80% of the climb is done; from there it is thirty minutes to the second booth and fifteen more to camp. The camp is called Ixcanul, a Mayan word for the internal force of a mountain that can erupt at any moment. It faces Fuego, which is the volcano everyone comes to watch. The bonfire is lit at 6:30 with hot chocolate and marshmallows, or coffee or tea; dinner is at 7:30, and there is a glass of wine afterwards with the cone in view. The summit push starts at 4 a.m. for sunrise, back at camp by 7 for breakfast and packing. The descent ends around 11, the vehicle leaves Miratenango and reaches Antigua between 12:30 and 1:15, and the equipment goes back to the agency. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.