THE PRACTICALITIES

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time of year to visit is from November-April. More specifically, December-February. During this time, the weather is dry, the skies are blue, and the temperature is perfect! After April, the weather will start to get wetter and hotter! There will be less tourism but summiting a volcano when it’s wet and hot doesn’t sound too appealing to me.

GETTING THERE

Getting to Volcan de Fuego & Acatenango, you must first fly into Guatemala, La Aurora International Airport. Next, I would suggest getting a private shuttle to Antigua. It will take about 2 hours depending on traffic. It’s very important that you give yourself a few days in Guatemala (no matter where that is) to adjust to the altitude. I would recommend at least 2 days before beginning your hike. After booking your hiking tour through a reputable company, they will make arrangements for you to get to the volcanoes to begin your trek.

BOOKING A TOUR COMPANY

There are many tour companies to choose from when booking your hiking expedition, but I would HIGHLY recommend OX Expeditions. We have nothing but good things to say about them!

Within in OX Expeditions, there are a few hiking tours to choose from:

• ACATENANGO DAY TRIP
  • $69/person
  • 12-hour tour
  • Leave around 5am
  • Summit Acatenango & back
• ACATENANGO OVERNIGHT HIKE
  • $119/person
  • Day and a half tour
  • Sleep at base camp in either cabin or tent
  • Summit Acatenango for sunrise (wake up at 3am)
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Breakfast included
  • Back in Antigua by 12pm
• DOUBLE WHAMMY TOUR
  • $149/person
  • Day and a half tour
  • Sleep at base camp in either cabin or tent
  • Hike to Fuego Ridge for sunset and nighttime views of lava explosions
  • Summit Acatenango for sunrise (wake up at 3am)
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Breakfast included
  • Back in Antigua by 12pm

VOLCAN DE FUEGO & ACATENANGO TRAIL OVERVIEW

The hike to Volcan de Fuego & Acatenango is no easy feat. However, if you’re capable and willing, I truly think you’ll look back and think that was the coolest thing you’ve done! The trail starts and ends in La Soledad. And for the next day and a half you will be doing a lot of hiking with little to no sleep and 40% less oxygen. You’ll traverse through the rainforest, the alpine forest, and then encounter a knife’s edge at Fuego Ridge, and 360 views at the summit of Acatenango. If you’re completing the Double Whammy, like us, then you will hike 12.4 miles with an elevation gain of 7,000ft. Phew! But I believe in you!

2 DAY HIKING ITINERARY

OVERNIGHT HIKE PACKING LIST

• >40 L Backpack, Backpack cover
• >4 L Water
  • OX requires each person to carry an additional .5 L for group meals
• Boots with good tread
• Extra set of hiking clothes
• Base layers (leggings, long sleeve)
• Camp shoes
• Long sleeve sun shirt
• Fleece
• Rain Jacket, Poncho
• Puffer Jacket
• Hat, Gloves, Buff
• Headlamp
• Sunscreen, Chapstick
• Toilet Paper, Deodorant, Toothbrush, Toothpaste
• Snacks, Electrolytes
• Emergency blanket, Blister patches, First aid kit, Medicine
  • Can purchase Diamox (altitude sickness meds) over the counter in Antigua
• Ankle/Knee braces, KT tape
• Sleep sack, Pillowcase, Eye mask, Ear plugs
• Portable charger, charging cords
• Cash
  • There are two entrance fees of GTQ50/person at each location (total of GTQ100/person)
  • Tip for guides/porters
  • Snacks & drinks at lunch
• Trekking Poles
  • You can rent these from OX for $5
• Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
  • Given to you by OX to carry in your bag

SHOULD YOU HIRE A PORTER

Hiring porters is a personal choice. We went back and forth a few times deciding if it was the right thing to do, if it was the wrong thing to do, if we felt we needed someone to carry our bags, what if we needed something in our bags, is it rude to pay someone else to carry it for us? Because of this, there was a lot to think about. In the end, Paige hired a porter for the way up. That cost her GTQ200 CASH (roughly $30). Afterwards, she carried her large park (with her small pack inside) on the way back down. In contrast, I opted to carry my 44L pack myself the entire way. I felt confident in my ability to lug it up to base camp.

REASONS TO HIRE A PORTER

• Hiring a porter took a huge load off ascending to base camp. Which in turn, helped Paige complete the Double Whammy Tour. Paige carried 2 liters of water, snacks, and some essentials like sunscreen and Kleenex in her 14L pack. Her porter carried the rest.
• Porters stay with the group at all times. Which means, if you need in your large pack at any moment, you will have access to it.
• Hiring porters does not mean you are weak.
• In fact, GTQ200 is almost double the DAILY wage of the average Guatemalan worker.
• Most porters you will see carrying two-four bags on the way up. It’s quite impressive. Ultimately, this is them choosing to earn more money.
• Moreover, you are helping contribute to the local community by hiring a porter.

FINAL ADVICE

• Slow and steady wins the race! Luckily, the guides do a great job at keeping a steady pace. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, focus on your breathing, and you’ll get to the top!
• Be sure to give yourself a few days in advance to adjust to the altitude!
• Prepare for the hike! Depending on where you live it can be hard to train in high altitudes but making sure you are going on long hikes with elevation gain, walking on an inclined treadmill, and feeding your body nourishing food will help you.
• Bring a buff! You can purchase one for $10 at OX, but the trail is extremely dusty, and we were so thankful to have ours!
• Pack an extra trash bag to collect not only your trash, but trash that was left behind.
• Don’t forget your TP!
• There is no water on the volcanoes, so if you feel 4 L is not enough, bring more, or drink sparingly.
• The mountain dogs are sweet as can be! Kindly, pack a few dog treats for them to enjoy.
• Bring extra snacks if you are hiring a porter. They do receive lunch but would also appreciate snacks if you have some to spare! They are carrying your bag after all.
• In addition, don’t forget to tip your guides and porters! They do phenomenal work.
• Obviously, the main goal of this expedition is to see lava and summit Acatenango, but weather and eruptions can be unpredictable. Make sure you have other reasons for working hard and summiting volcanoes. Otherwise, this will not be enjoyable. Enjoy the hikes, enjoy your group, prove to yourself that you are capable of doing hard things and overall, try and have fun!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post VOLCAN DE FUEGO & ACATENANGO: A GUIDE FOR THE ULTIMATE OVERNIGHT HIKE appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

People from all over come to witness the glorious, majestic, breathtaking views of the Na Pali Coast. From the stunning sea cliffs, the waterfalls, pristine beaches, and lush valleys, the Na Pali Coast is truly something spectacular. I knew that in my precious time on Kauai I had to witness this myself. That’s why I decided to book an epic adventure through Kauai Sea Tours!

THE PRACTICALITIES

WHEN TO VISIT

The best to time of year to visit the Na Pali Coast would be May-September. The water is calmer, which means your chance of actually visiting the Na Pali Coast, entering sea caves, and snorkeling in the coves are much higher! You are more likely to have sunny days, clear blue skies, and warm water!

If you visit from October-April (we went in January) there is a higher chance of rainstorms, bigger swells, cancellations, reroutes to somewhere other than the Na Pali Coast, and a bumpy ride. We may not have entered the sea caves or had a great snorkeling experience, BUT winter season means whale season! So, we did have an epic boat ride while chasing whales.

GETTING THERE

To get to the Na Pali Coast, you’ll first fly into Lihue Airport. From here you can rent a car, take the bus (long wait times), or grab an uber (few and far between). Getting around Kauai is a little challenging, so your best bet is too rent a car! We booked a jeep with a rooftop camper from Kauai Rooftop Campers. You will have to hop on the bus from the airport to get to rental pickup spot. Roughly an hour and a half. After you’ve secured your rental car, the real fun begins!

BOOKING YOUR ADVENTURE

When I’m booking an excursion for my vacation I always look on Viator first! They’re my go-to when it comes to finding the best tours and activities around the area! I’ve booked countless trips through them and have never been disappointed!

Viator has everything from relax and chill to adventurous and thrilling! Me and Paige were looking for excitement! For heart-racing, adrenaline pumping adventure! And that’s when we came across the half day raft and snorkel adventure with Kauai Sea Tours on Viator.

We immediately booked the excursion because it was exactly what we had been looking for! For 6 hours we would be on a motorized raft speeding through the open ocean, chasing whales, snorkeling in coves, checking out the sea caves, and of course admiring the Na Pali Coast. The cost per person was roughly $218. For the experience we had, it was worth every penny!

Book your Kauai Sea Tours Adventure HERE!

If this excursion is a little too intense for you, check out some of Viator’s other options! There are all kinds of tours to choose from!

TRIP OVERVIEW

On the day of your excursion, you’ll meet at Kauai Sea Tours. Here, you will make sure all waivers are signed, you’ll go over safety instructions, and the day’s route. You will also have some time to use the restroom, and I would highly suggest you do so. It’s a long day with no pit stops, if you know what I mean…

WHAT TO PACK

For a trip like this, you don’t need much! Most things are provided for you! And when you’re booking through a reputable company, who does this multiple times per day, year-round, they have everything you could possibly need!

Kauai Sea Tours will provide you with a life jacket, snacks, lunch, water, drinks, all snorkeling gear, and a dry bag if you didn’t bring one. Here are a few things I would recommend bringing.

• SUNSCREEN
• SUN SHIRT
• RAIN JACKET
• HAT (THAT CAN’T BE BLOWN OFF!)
• TOWEL
• PHONE/WATERPROOF CASE/LANYARD
• SUNGLASSES
• DRY BAG

That’s it! Not too much to worry about. Just don’t forget to bring you adventurous spirit and fun attitude!

EXPECTATIONS OF THE NA PALI COAST TOUR

Don’t skip over this section! It is very important to fully understand what you are getting yourself into. This isn’t a fun, little snorkeling adventure for the whole family to enjoy. You will not be sailing off into the sunrise while whales and dolphins swim around you. In fact, you may not even see the Na Pali Coast at all…

THE UNPREDICTABLE OCEAN

Here’s what you need to understand. The ocean is unpredictable. The weather can be unpredictable. Any time you are booking an outdoor excursion there will be factors out of your control.

We did our Na Pali Coast tour during January. The weather and the waves were a huge factor as to whether or not we would see the cliffs or not. Luckily the morning of, our guide told us we would try to make it to the coast, but there was a good chance that on the way back the waves would start to get pretty gnarly. He wasn’t lying. But what that meant for our tour specifically was that snorkeling was a maybe, going into the sea caves was a definite no, and we might have to skip seeing the Na Pali coast if the waves got too intense.

So, for your trip, be prepared for a few things.

One, if the weather is bad the trip could get cancelled altogether. You will be reimbursed if Kauai Sea Tours cancels the tour. Two, you may not get to see the Na Pali Coast. If the waves are too large making it unsafe to visit that side of the island, then your tour guide will reroute you to a safer destination. Three, depending on wave size, you may or may not enter the sea caves. Our waves were 15ft, which meant entering sea caves were deemed unsafe. Four, depending on the season of your tour, whales may or may not be migrating in the area. The best time to see whales in Kauai are November-May. And five, snorkeling may or may not happen. If your excursion is during the summertime I think it’s a pretty safe bet to say your snorkeling experience will be better than ours!

THE INTENSITY OF THE TOUR

The last thing I want to make sure you are fully prepared for is that this tour is a workout! The motorized raft in which you are in is what the Navy Seals use. This raft is fast, bumpy, and makes quick, sharp turns that could easily throw you off the boat if you are not holding on. After 6 hours of this absolutely epic tour, we were wiped! Our entire body was sore from the neck down. You are holding on for dear life the entire time. And while we were loving every second of it, and crying because we were laughing so hard, others were not enjoying it as much…

Before you set foot on the boot, your guide will make sure you are fully aware of everything I am telling you. But it’s important that you listen. If you do not think you are capable of holding on for 6 hours, speeding through the open ocean, and bouncing up and down until your insides feel like scrambled eggs, then this might not be the excursion for you.

If you love scrambled eggs, then I promise you will have the trip of a lifetime!!

THE ADVENTURE TO THE NA PALI COAST

Now that you booked your experience, have everything you need, and are fully prepared for the adventure you’re about to have, let me tell you about ours!

**It’s important to note our tour was in January. The best time to visit would be May-September. That experience will most likely be completely different than ours. Either way, fun as hell!

TO THE NA PALI COAST WE GO

We set out to sea as the sun was starting to make an appearance. The water was calm, the sky was colorful, and the Na Pali Coast was calling our name. The ride to the coast takes about an hour, and what a magical hour it was. Our tour guide, Paul, was having fun in the waves, showing off his boating skills. We took a morning dip in the ocean. And then continued our ride while hundreds of little pink spinner dolphins showed us the way.

As we began inching closer to the majestic sea cliffs, Paul told stories of the Hawaiian culture and what the Na Pali Coast signified to the community. He showed us caves, and beaches, and ancient burial sites.

For the next hour we traveled up the coast in awe and amazement. What a sight to behold! The Na Pali Coast was truly majestic! Paul found a nice spot for us to take a break and enjoy the views. We all excitedly jumped out of the boat and swam beneath the cliffs. This moment for us was one we will cherish forever!

LUNCH AND A SHOW

After the best morning of our lives, we had a spectacular afternoon! Kauai Sea Tours provided us with a delicious lunch, sandwich, chips, and a drink. And because it was migrating season for whales, our eyes were peeled for a spout! We spotted one off in the distance, and off Paul zoomed. To our surprise, there were three males fighting over a female! What a show we got with our meal!

We continued our journey back home and like Paul said, the waves were starting to get gnarly! Paige and I were in the front of the raft laughing so hard with every crash and bounce that the waves brought, but the members of our group in the back of the boat were not having as much fun. They were getting absolutely soaked. So, Pro Tip: sit in the front!

OUR SNORKELING ADVENTURE

The tour is called a half day raft and snorkel adventure. So, I guess I was expecting something a little more exciting. Granted, our excursion was in the middle of January and that’s typically not the best time to snorkel.

We pulled over into a little cove where a few other tour groups were snorkeling as well. We geared up and jumped in. The water was freezing, the cove was pretty murky, and the waves were still going strong. We have lived on Oahu for 8 months at this point, so snorkeling for us wasn’t as big of deal because we could walk across the street and snorkel whenever. But for those that book the adventure solely for the purpose of snorkeling on the Na Pali Coast, then I would highly recommend booking during the summertime! The waves will be calmer, the water will warmer, and the snorkeling location will be different.

Our snorkeling adventure wasn’t all bad though! In the 15 minutes that we swam we did follow a sea turtle and that’s always cool! Once everyone was nice and cold, we hopped back in the boat and headed for home.

FINAL ADVICE

• Don’t forget to tip your guides! They’re incredible!
• Choose an adventure fit for your lifestyle. During the winter, this one is pretty gnarly. Are you up for it?
• Don’t forget the sunscreen! Nose and ears people.
• The morning water and sunrise is a magical experience, but the Na Pali Coast is better lit in the afternoons. This may affect what time you want to book your excursion.
• If whale watching is a priority for you, book in the winter.
• If snorkeling is a priority for you, book in the summer.
• Most importantly, stay safe and have fun!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post THE BEAUTIFUL NA PALI COAST: AN ADVENTURE GUIDE appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.