Travel. Guatemala. Volcano.

Watch the Most Active Volcano in Central América Erupt

A gruelling ten-hour hike to watch Volcán de Fuego erupt right at its crater with wild camping on the slopes of neighboring Volcán de Acatenango.

Volcán de Fuego crater as it erupts- (photo credit to Joseph Mitchley)

Volcán de Fuego is the most active volcano in Central America. The clue is the name, translating to the Volcano of Fire. It erupts every 20 minutes! Maybe not a life-ending, apocalyptic, civilisation-ending eruption but low-level eruptions of gas, smoke, and lava constantly rumbling away in the background of Antigua, Guatemala. You can sit on a rooftop bar and admire it puffing away like the caterpillar on a hooka with Alice in Wonderland.

Views of Volcán de Fuego from the Earth Lodge on the edge of Antigua (photo credit to the author)

And if this wasn’t incredible enough, there is the opportunity to watch it erupt right at its crater and wild camp on the slopes of neighboring Volcán de Acatenango. It’s no easy feat, first, you must climb to the summit of Volcán de Acatenango (3,976m — up to 7 hours). Here is Base Camp. You can stop here and enjoy the view or you can hike a further 4-hour round trip, to the top of Volcán de Fuego to the Eruption…