Guatemala 5 Volcano Challenge

Cannot recommend this trip enough! What a great country, culture, fantastic hikes and views all explored with an insipring bunch of people (Uno-Ocho)! Our guides: Joel, Uriel & Vinni made the trip such a special experience. Muchas gracias for looking after all of us. Vinni's laughs will stay with us forever!!! So grateful to have met You all. Vamos a la playa chicos!

The trip was truly remarkable, filled with numerous adventures and an abundance of enjoyment. Our guides, Joel, Vinny, and Uriel, meticulously organized every aspect of the journey, offering not only essential support but also their friendship. We experienced unforgettable moments while climbing volcanoes, staying in a campsite with breath taking views, and traveling between various locations.

Our group of eight thoroughly enjoyed our time together, and it would be wonderful to embark on another adventure as a team.

This was the most amazing adventure in Guatemala - made all the better by our brilliant guides Joel, Vinny and Uriel who were exceptional in every way!! They were very friendly, supportive and ensured that everyone in the group was fully catered for and supported throughout the trip but especially on the climbs! I can still hear Vinny’s infectious laughter now!! They freely shared the love they have for their beautiful country and culture and this just added to the experience of this trip!! The climbs were challenging at times but the sunrises and views from the summits were worth all the effort!!

Thankyou Joel, Vinny and Uriel for making this a trip full of memories that will last a lifetime!!

I can’t recommend this trip highly enough!! Get it booked - you won’t regret it!!

What an amazing lifetime experience. I went with a good friend in August 2024 and formed part of a group of 8 people. The group were excellent, like-minded people who I know I will keep in contact with after this trip. We worked as a team the whole time and never went off ahead or left people behind. This true team approach was instilled by the guides. The guides (Joel as the lead guide, Uriel as the equipment guide, and Vini as the cook and guide) were simply fantastic. You could tell that they have worked together often, their skills and personalities complement each other perfectly. I could not have asked for a better team of guides. I felt challenged, supported and safe in their hands at all times.

The trip itself was a perfect way to switch off from reality back home. The volcano hikes were equally challenging and rewarding; the bus and boat transfers were a great way to see the country and how different each area feels; the restaurants and bars the guides recommended were perfect for after a day's hiking. All in all, time vanished and I was on the flight back home before I knew it. Was the trip what I expected - yes and more! Would I recommend Much Better Adventures and the Guatemala 5 Volcano Challenge - without a doubt!

Thank you Joel, Uriel, and Vini! Vamos a la playa!

This is an exciting and active way to spend some time in Guatemala. All the scenery was spectacular and two of the volcanoes really stood out. The campsites were beautiful, and the hikes were brilliant. It is quite challenging though, so be prepared for that. The guides were lovely, and very caring, and the atmosphere was light hearted and fun. We had a fantastic group, and it is definitely a trip I will remember.

There are a few things to consider, not negatives, but simply considerations and things I had wished I had known before going:

Hidden costs - a lot of meals are not included and there are a lot of people to tip. Guatemala is also quite an expensive country, so the cost of the trip as a whole starts to add up. The itinerary - a huge amount of time in the bus! The guides were lovely, but they were not all ware of walking at altitude. There was inconsistency with the guides with this, so be prepared to hold your ground with going slower when up high. Food - If you have any form of food allergies, bring food with you, and I would recommend bringing snacks etc regardless, more so than you would usually, because the food provided for lunch was not sufficient. There was a lot of reliance on crisps and oreos.

A really great trip made even more special by our Guides Luis and David. The hikes were tough but very rewarding. I wouldn’t recommend for people not used to hiking. We bought some hiking poles the day before setting off which were really helpful. Out of our couple, one of us had boots, one had sturdy trail shoes. The boots were better, but it is doable in good trail shoes/trainers. The volcanoes are stunning. Pleased we got to travel around Guatemala and different parts of the country. I’d recommend adding a day or two extra in Antigua before or after, as it’s a really cool city. The local tour company were brilliant (old town outfitters). I would advise against this trip if you’re really scared of dogs, there’s lots of strays everywhere, pretty harmless and nobody got attacked, but just to note there’s a lot just hanging around! The least impressive part was probably the thermal baths, it seemed a long drive for an average experience, we’d have maybe preferred just a few hours to explore Xela city. I think a head torch was on the “recommended” part of the kit list but it is 100% essential! The hotels were all nice and were comfortable, and the sleeping bags were warm for the two camping nights. You should expect to tip the local porters at each volcano and then the main local guides who are with you all week, so factor this into the total cost of the trip (they did a great job so was thoroughly deserved!). A couple of people in our group suffered mild to moderate altitude sickness on the 2 highest volcanoes, if you think you’re at risk of this definitely get some Diamox tablets, and drink electrolytes to ensure you’re fully hydrated. The symptoms improved rapidly as soon as we descended. If possible, arrive in Antigua a couple of days early to acclimatise and explore!

This was quite the epic and memorable adventure with sights and natural phenomena unlike anywhere in the world. The beauty of Guatemala was unsurpassed, silent — due to the off the beaten path nature of it — and powerful — because VOLCANOES. Fuego was a sight to behold and one that should not be overlooked.

The hikes were challenging, the terrain so new and exciting to experience! I did all hikes in trailer runners and low gaiters. If you normally hike in trail runners, then you will be fine. My gaiters ended up being my most invaluable gear; they were helpful in keeping out the scree of my shoes during the exhilarating slides down the face of the volcano! In addition, I didn’t bring poles originally and was eternally grateful to the local guide company for providing my friend and I one each. They ended up being so helpful as well!

The group was a fine team and such great company. Guides Diego and Vini were the dream team. They each had such an infectious, positive energy that radiated throughout the group. Most importantly though, they ensured our safety when it came to AMS; they stressed the signs and symptoms constantly and made sure the group speed was ideal for optimal acclimatization. I also felt secure especially on San Pedro when two police officers joined our crew to keep the banditos away.

This was my first time in Central America and it was a great first venture into the region. And I can say with confidence that it will not be my last!

This was such an incredible trip! Guatemala is amazing and getting to see several parts of the country was great. The volcanoes were absolutely stunning. The hiking was difficult but doable and the guides were great about accommodating the different speeds of our group. I definitely recommend preparing for the altitude as much as possible and/or take medication. We had a great group and the guides (Vini and Diego) were phenomenal! Overall highly recommend this trip, definitely one of the coolest trips I’ve taken.