Acatenango, Dormant volcano near Antigua, Guatemala

Acatenango is a dormant volcano near Antigua in Guatemala, rising to 3976 meters (13 045 feet) with two peaks called Pico Mayor and Yepocapa. These summits form a continuous volcanic massif together with the active neighbor Fuego, marked by deep ravines and wide ash fields.

The volcano formed thousands of years ago and shaped the surrounding highlands through repeated eruptions. Its last activity occurred in December 1972, following earlier episodes between 1924 and 1927 when it released smoke and ash.

The main trailhead is La Soledad village, named after Soledad, daughter of a former landowner. Don Martín Sis, who began climbing at 16, was among the first guides on the mountain. The Acatenango Valley is a coffee-producing region designated by Anacafé.

The climb takes between five and nine hours and requires warm clothing, as temperatures at the summit can drop to minus five degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). Most hikers start before dawn or stay overnight in basic camps halfway up to continue the next morning.

Acatenango's two summits are Pico Mayor and Yepocapa, also called Tres Hermanas, which rises to 3,880 metres. The volcano is joined to Fuego, and the pair is known as La Horqueta. The Fuego-Acatenango massif is a north-south chain of five or more vents, including Antiguo Acatenango, Yepocapa, Pico Mayor, Meseta and Fuego.