Acatenango

Acatenango is a 3,976-metre stratovolcano roughly 20 kilometres west of Antigua, Guatemala, and the third-highest volcanic peak in Central America. It forms the La Horqueta complex together with its twin, Volcán de Fuego — one of the world's most persistently active volcanoes, audibly erupting every 15–20 minutes. The standard route departs from the village of Soledad and climbs through cloud-forest zones and ash fields to a high camp around 3,500 metres, from which hikers summit before dawn. The signature experience is watching Fuego's eruptions illuminate the night sky from a distance of just a few kilometres — vivid lava fountains, rolling ash clouds, and deep rumbles that register physically. The ascent is strenuous and requires cold-weather gear despite the tropical surroundings.