Ep 176 w/ Nick Cohen - We Hiked Acatenango Volcano to See Fuego and Chaos Ensued for Nick!
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🎙️ Episode Title: We Hiked Acatenango to See Fuego and Chaos Ensued for Nick!
So we climbed Acatenango together… and that was already intense. But then Nick decided to go one volcano further — literally. Nick and I met in El Salvador, travelled to Antigua in Guatemala, and decided to hike the Acatenango Volcano together.
In this funny, honest episode, we recount our wild trek up Guatemala’s Volcán Acatenango — a two-day grind through steep trails, freezing nights, and jaw-dropping views. But the real twist? While most sane people watched Fuego erupt from a safe distance, Nick hiked straight toward it with a group in tow.
Yup. He dropped down the saddle and made the bonus climb to stand just a few hundred meters from one of the most active volcanoes in the world — Volcán de Fuego — while it erupted.
For an extra bit of money, you can add a hike to Fuego when you get to base camp, and Nick shares his stories, the good and bad of what to expect when you climb. Nick left at 5 pm for Fuego and did not return until nearly midnight, so there is much to discuss! It should have only taken 3-5 hours, so it didn't go quite as planned.
🏕️ From campfire laughs to hiking-induced delirium and Nick’s death-defying detour, this episode is full of high-altitude absurdity, heart-racing adventure, and a whole lot of ash.
Whether you’re curious about hiking Acatenango, dreaming of volcano views, or just want to hear a story about a guy willingly walking towards an erupting mountain... this one’s a ride.
To add to the drama, there is some great content in here about hiking Acatenango and Fuego in general, so if this is something on your bucket list, you could learn a few things from this episode.
🔥 What’s Inside:
The Acatenango climb: expectations vs. realityCamp life at 3,600m: freezing temps, volcanic light shows, and hot noodlesNick’s wild decision to summit Fuego — and what he saw up thereThe sounds, sights, and full sensory chaos of a volcano erupting nearbyAdvice for anyone thinking of doing the hike (and the Fuego add-on)A reminder that the best stories come from slightly bad ideas
🎧 Ideal for listeners who love:
Real, raw, and ridiculous travel storiesVolcano hiking in GuatemalaBackpacking comedy with an edge of dangerInspiring (and slightly reckless) solo challenges
Timestamps
00:00 Chasing Adventure: The Fuego Hike Experience
02:06 Travel Insights: The Winging It Podcast Introduction
06:04 Traveling for Work: Perks of the Travel Industry
12:09 The Evolution of Travel: From Family Trips to Solo Adventures
17:48 Exploring El Salvador: A Journey of Discovery
30:05 Guatemala Awaits: The Acatenango Volcano Hike
38:46 Booking Adventures: The Importance of Local Knowledge
40:57 Booking and Initial Expectations
43:02 Red Flags on the Journey
49:31 The Volcano Hike Begins
52:00 Challenges of the Ascent
58:29 Reaching Base Camp
01:01:10 Accommodation Realities
01:05:11 The Fuego Hike Decision
01:10:42 The Descent to Fuego
01:13:06 Experiencing Fuego's Eruptions
01:17:54 The Dinner Dilemma
01:21:25 Cold Nights and Stunning Sunrises
01:23:56 The Volcano Experience: Fuego vs. Akatenango
01:28:54 Reflections on the Hike and Company Recommendations
01:35:12 Exploring Antigua: A Tourist's Perspective
01:39:35 Lake Atitlán: A Hidden Gem
01:42:41 Tikal: The Underrated Marvel
01:43:44 Quickfire Travel Questions
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Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com
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