Acatenango (3,976 metres) is the overnight volcano trek that draws adventurous travellers to Antigua. The climb takes four to six hours up steep, ashy trails through cloud forest and above the treeline. Most operators run overnight trips: you camp near the summit, watching the neighbouring Volcán de Fuego erupt through the night — explosions that shake the ground every thirty minutes or so, sending plumes of ash and glowing lava into the darkness. Dawn reveals a panorama that can stretch from the Pacific to the Caribbean on a clear day.
The trek is serious: cold, high altitude, and physically demanding. Go with a licensed guide through one of the many tour operators in Antigua — solo trekking on the mountain has led to fatal accidents. Bring serious cold weather gear even in the dry season; temperatures at the summit camp drop well below freezing. The experience, for those who do it, is consistently described as one of the best nights of their lives.