Wicho & Charlie's Volcano Tours
Wicho & Charlie's Volcano Tours
Wicho & Charlie's Volcano Tours
5
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Volcano and active volcano tour operator in Antigua. We have the only safety shelter and cabins on Acatenango Volcano.
Antigua, Guatemala
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Wicho & Charlie's Volcano Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,033 reviews
Excellent
942
Very good
53
Average
17
Poor
8
Terrible
13
Ayeesha
London, UK36 contributions
Mar 2023
Had such a wonderful time doing the Acantenengo hike! Wicho and Charlie were very on it! They had all the equipment I needed which I could hire (walking poles, thermals, backpack, clothes, three jackets coats included in the price, gloves, hats, scarves). I was especially worried about how slippery it can be as I heard some people get injured but the walking poles were good quality and stopped that from happening! The guides were all very lovely and I travelled alone but met lots of other solo travellers too on the hike. We had to also carry around 4.5L of water (1L for cooking) and they gave us 1.5L water bottles to fill up beforehand. I would defo recommend bringing a bit more because they only sell water bottles in the first leg of the journey. In terms of the itinerary we started at around 8 to hire the equipment. Then had breakfast which included bread, spreads, fruits and oats. Ideally it would have been nice if we could hire the equipment the day before and have orientation before as it was quite hectic in the morning. We then set off on the hike at around 10:30 by the time we reached there. You can ask for a porter at the office when hiring the equipment which I would definitely recommend (costs around 200Q one way up) and they walk with you throughout the journey. They frequently took breaks, around every 15 minutes so the actual hike was not too bad. We stopped for lunch halfway which included vegan meatballs and mashed potatoes. We then reached base camp at 3:30pm and then left for fuego at 4:30pm. The hike to fuego was a lot harder but the views made it worth it! We then got back at 9:30pm and had some lentil curry for dinner and a very warming hot chocolate. The next morning there was the sunrise hike at 4:30am and then got back, had breakfast which included a breakfast burrito and coffee. We then set off back home at 7:30 and reached at around 10ish to the bus. Highly recommend this tour guide! Sounds like the most organised company and couldn’t recommend it more!
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle
New Jersey93 contributions
Mar 2022
The highlight of my trip to Guatemala. I decided to ring in my 30th birthday on top of Acatenango, and I am so happy to have chosen to do that with the Wicho & Charlie's team.
I loved the selection of gear that they provided. I'm happy I had less to pack for my overall trip to Guatemala, knowing that Wicho & Charlie's provided the appropriate gear. Almost all of the other tour groups only offered wooden walking sticks, whereas Wicho & Charlie's provides real trekking poles for optimal support. Loved that 3 meals were included so that we didn't have to carry as much food going uphill. Dinner and breakfast were delicious! The hot chocolate, roasting marshmallows, and bonfire set the perfect ambiance for the show that Fuego put on for us that night.
Other tour groups provide only tents to sleep in, whereas Wicho & Charlie's has metal roof cabins, and I believe 4 private cabins. My boyfriend and I stayed in a private cabin, that kept us warm throughout the night. Sleeping bags and blankets are already set up for you when you get to base camp too!
Thank you to Brandon, Milton, and Rudy for their positive attitudes throughout the trek and for all of the porters for their extra assistance to anyone who needed it in our group. Special shout out to our guide Elmer, for all of the physical and moral support offered to my boyfriend, who was struggling with altitude sickness. If it wasn't for Elmer, my boyfriend would have never made it up to base camp. Also thankful for Whitman for assisting us with transport to Lake Atitlan when we returned back to the office after our original transport plans fell through.
I am an avid hiker, but living at sea level, I understood the challenges of conquering the altitude. My boyfriend and I came prepared and started taking altitude sickness medication (Diamox) a couple days before our trek, and it was still difficult to adjust to the altitude. Many other people in our group were also prepared with the same medication, and the challenges of altitude did not hit them until the middle of the night or the next morning. However, even the slowest people in our group made it up to base camp within 5.5 hours. Do not worry if you are fit, out of shape, slow, or fast. Wicho & Charlie's ensures that every single makes it up to base camp safely and they do not leave you alone if you are struggling. I also noticed that Wicho & Charlie's was the first amongst all the other tour groups in the morning to make it to summit for sunrise.
There are many tour groups offering treks up to Acatenango, but I highly recommend Wicho & Charlie's for the best equipment, accommodations, and overall experience.
I loved the selection of gear that they provided. I'm happy I had less to pack for my overall trip to Guatemala, knowing that Wicho & Charlie's provided the appropriate gear. Almost all of the other tour groups only offered wooden walking sticks, whereas Wicho & Charlie's provides real trekking poles for optimal support. Loved that 3 meals were included so that we didn't have to carry as much food going uphill. Dinner and breakfast were delicious! The hot chocolate, roasting marshmallows, and bonfire set the perfect ambiance for the show that Fuego put on for us that night.
Other tour groups provide only tents to sleep in, whereas Wicho & Charlie's has metal roof cabins, and I believe 4 private cabins. My boyfriend and I stayed in a private cabin, that kept us warm throughout the night. Sleeping bags and blankets are already set up for you when you get to base camp too!
Thank you to Brandon, Milton, and Rudy for their positive attitudes throughout the trek and for all of the porters for their extra assistance to anyone who needed it in our group. Special shout out to our guide Elmer, for all of the physical and moral support offered to my boyfriend, who was struggling with altitude sickness. If it wasn't for Elmer, my boyfriend would have never made it up to base camp. Also thankful for Whitman for assisting us with transport to Lake Atitlan when we returned back to the office after our original transport plans fell through.
I am an avid hiker, but living at sea level, I understood the challenges of conquering the altitude. My boyfriend and I came prepared and started taking altitude sickness medication (Diamox) a couple days before our trek, and it was still difficult to adjust to the altitude. Many other people in our group were also prepared with the same medication, and the challenges of altitude did not hit them until the middle of the night or the next morning. However, even the slowest people in our group made it up to base camp within 5.5 hours. Do not worry if you are fit, out of shape, slow, or fast. Wicho & Charlie's ensures that every single makes it up to base camp safely and they do not leave you alone if you are struggling. I also noticed that Wicho & Charlie's was the first amongst all the other tour groups in the morning to make it to summit for sunrise.
There are many tour groups offering treks up to Acatenango, but I highly recommend Wicho & Charlie's for the best equipment, accommodations, and overall experience.
Written April 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica K
2 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
So I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I went thinking it was a cute little 3 hour hike then just hanging out at the top. You get there at 8am and they start prepping you as if you’re going to climb my Everest with snow gear. It’s warm in town so I didn’t have any idea it could get to -15 at the top of the volcano if you hike El Fuego. The gear is needed, I slept with all the gear and the blanket and was still really cold! The hike was around 5 hours up then another 4 for el fuego then you wake up at 4:30 if you want to summit. The last two are optional but if you can, do them. If you want to enjoy yourself and get the most out of the experience, pay for a porter!!!!! You need to carry a good amount of things and it’s already a hard hike. A porter is $20-40 USD depending on the weight of your bag and well worth it, it’ll give you the energy to pack the other items. Also, load up on gear. It’s cold at the top. I’ll absolutely go back and do it again now that I know what I’m getting into. My guides were Jordy, Mauricio, Victor…..and 3 others I think. All amazing! Highly recommend
Written March 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fiona b
Grand Cayman97 contributions
Nov 2022
What an incredible experience!
I would say it was a once in a lifetime experience, but this is my 2nd Acatenango hike, and I am already planning my next one. It is truly amazing. I am lucky to live in Antigua.
Wicho & Charlie was amazing, and I highly recommend. Very well organized and the guides were great and the cabins so much warmer than tents. I was concerned I wouldn't like sharing a 12-berth cabin, but it was great.
I hired a porter each way which cost Q250 each way (costs start from Q200 each way for lighter bags) plus a tip for the porter because they were excellent. The porters were arranged by Wicho & Charlie and each porter stayed with you for the entire hike so it was nearly like having a personal guide.
Most of the group hiked Fuego for Sunrise instead of the Acatenango summit which I had done in 2019. Both are amazing hikes for sunrise but Fuego is a simple WOW WOW WOW. Personally found it a harder hike than Acatenango summit.
We got very lucky with the weather. Sunset was a little cloudy but still amazing and Sunrise was perfection. It was cold, I had all my own gear, but you can get warm clothes from Wicho & Charlie so ensure you do. It was very cold but with the right clothing I was OK.
I would say it was a once in a lifetime experience, but this is my 2nd Acatenango hike, and I am already planning my next one. It is truly amazing. I am lucky to live in Antigua.
Wicho & Charlie was amazing, and I highly recommend. Very well organized and the guides were great and the cabins so much warmer than tents. I was concerned I wouldn't like sharing a 12-berth cabin, but it was great.
I hired a porter each way which cost Q250 each way (costs start from Q200 each way for lighter bags) plus a tip for the porter because they were excellent. The porters were arranged by Wicho & Charlie and each porter stayed with you for the entire hike so it was nearly like having a personal guide.
Most of the group hiked Fuego for Sunrise instead of the Acatenango summit which I had done in 2019. Both are amazing hikes for sunrise but Fuego is a simple WOW WOW WOW. Personally found it a harder hike than Acatenango summit.
We got very lucky with the weather. Sunset was a little cloudy but still amazing and Sunrise was perfection. It was cold, I had all my own gear, but you can get warm clothes from Wicho & Charlie so ensure you do. It was very cold but with the right clothing I was OK.
Written December 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel
London, UK21 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
This was one of the best experiences of my life. The tour guides are well organised with a good array of kit options to hire before you set off - definitely hire the walking poles! Bear in mind it’s cold, so definitely hire as much as you think you might need to stay warm. We hiked the extra trip to Fuego and then the sun rise hike the following morning - it’s a fair amount of walking and definitely more challenging and colder than expected.
The food is all vegetarian and which was appreciated. The “tents” are permanent huts (still chilly, but come with blankets and sleeping bags) and we had the private option which is well worth it if your budget allows. The guides are attentive and ensure they have someone accompanying groups for different levels so you always fee safe and can walk at a pace that suits you. Even though the overall group was big, we never felt like this was a big tour and always had a personal feel.
Hiking Fuego is an additional fee, but we felt it was worth it as the day was clear and we arrived in time for sunset. We saw so many eruptions, but have heard that others weren’t so lucky and either arrived late or on cloudy days.
This was one of the best tour operators I’ve come across, and definitely a highlight of the trip to Guatemala.
The food is all vegetarian and which was appreciated. The “tents” are permanent huts (still chilly, but come with blankets and sleeping bags) and we had the private option which is well worth it if your budget allows. The guides are attentive and ensure they have someone accompanying groups for different levels so you always fee safe and can walk at a pace that suits you. Even though the overall group was big, we never felt like this was a big tour and always had a personal feel.
Hiking Fuego is an additional fee, but we felt it was worth it as the day was clear and we arrived in time for sunset. We saw so many eruptions, but have heard that others weren’t so lucky and either arrived late or on cloudy days.
This was one of the best tour operators I’ve come across, and definitely a highlight of the trip to Guatemala.
Written February 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobby H
6 contributions
Nov 2021 • Solo
This volcano hike was so great it deserves an in depth review. Firstly, are you wondering if the Acatenango hike is worth doing? Absolutely! Watching the Fuego Volcano erupt from basecamp was an incredible experience for someone like me who lives in a country without volcanoes.
Secondly, if you are wondering if Wicho and Charlie's is a good tour company to go with, my answer again is absolutely. The guides were friendly, encouraging and totally committed to helping every member of our group get up the volcano at a pace they were comfortable with.
The basecamp has sturdy huts with warm sleeping bags and a thick sleeping mat. It also offers great views of the erupting volcano.
I brought some extra snacks with me in case the meals weren't enough but they were plenty. The guides also offered us hot chocolate at night and a coffee the next morning, which was a much appreciated luxury given that we were up on the side of a volcano.
Now a few things about the hike itself. I did the hike to basecamp, to Fuego and the summit of Acatenango all in slip on sneakers. So it's possible but some better footwear definitely would have helped with everything past basecamp. If you don't have great hiking shoes and are planning on hiking further than basecamp, rent the trekking poles. I got two and they helped a lot. You also need to get a headlamp to do either the Fuego hike or the sunrise Acatenango summit as you will be in the dark for portions of those.
Importantly, you want pants and a jacket that will break the wind. My thin windbreaker pants were fine but the wind went through my sweater so I was glad I had taken a windbreaker jacket from the gear stash.
They told us to take 3 1.5 litre bottles of water and you will definitely need them. I took an extra 1L bottle and finished all 5.5 litres by the time I returned.
Hiking Acatenango and Fuego was an incredible experience. Wicho and Charlie's was a great tour company to do it with, everything ran smoothly and they clearly have done the work to make the experience great. 5 star experience.
Secondly, if you are wondering if Wicho and Charlie's is a good tour company to go with, my answer again is absolutely. The guides were friendly, encouraging and totally committed to helping every member of our group get up the volcano at a pace they were comfortable with.
The basecamp has sturdy huts with warm sleeping bags and a thick sleeping mat. It also offers great views of the erupting volcano.
I brought some extra snacks with me in case the meals weren't enough but they were plenty. The guides also offered us hot chocolate at night and a coffee the next morning, which was a much appreciated luxury given that we were up on the side of a volcano.
Now a few things about the hike itself. I did the hike to basecamp, to Fuego and the summit of Acatenango all in slip on sneakers. So it's possible but some better footwear definitely would have helped with everything past basecamp. If you don't have great hiking shoes and are planning on hiking further than basecamp, rent the trekking poles. I got two and they helped a lot. You also need to get a headlamp to do either the Fuego hike or the sunrise Acatenango summit as you will be in the dark for portions of those.
Importantly, you want pants and a jacket that will break the wind. My thin windbreaker pants were fine but the wind went through my sweater so I was glad I had taken a windbreaker jacket from the gear stash.
They told us to take 3 1.5 litre bottles of water and you will definitely need them. I took an extra 1L bottle and finished all 5.5 litres by the time I returned.
Hiking Acatenango and Fuego was an incredible experience. Wicho and Charlie's was a great tour company to do it with, everything ran smoothly and they clearly have done the work to make the experience great. 5 star experience.
Written November 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stuart G
Oakland, CA13 contributions
Nov 2021
This was truly a once in a life time experience. I'm not talking about just the hike or just the views, but the entirety of the Wicho & Charlie's experience. This certainly is not for the faint of heart. We are athletic people who were pushed to the limit physically on this hike. But it was all worth it.
Our guides (Papi & Willy) were simply amazing. They mentally prepare you for each part of the hike (which section is the hardest, how long the stretch is, etc), and were fluent in English. They shared stories about the volcano history, Guatemala lifestyle, etc. At the top they were more hospitable than most that welcome you to their house: made us hot chocolate, dinners, fires, made sure we were warm enough, woke us up in time for sunrise.
Of course your experience will be very weather dependent, as you're at ~4,000meters after all and the fog/weather is unpredictable. But we were blessed with perfectly clear skies and beautiful weather, yet it still got very cold (<30 degrees F) at night.
There was nothing quite like sitting around a campfire, drinking a Gallo, and watching a volcano erupt with such magnificence every 10-15 minutes while sharing the experience with new friends from across the world. We even had a proposal in our group to celebrate at the Summit!
Please tip generously within your means. Tips to these guides go such a long way and they are truly amazing people who do all they can to ensure your experience is great while taxing their own bodies the entire time.
Our guides (Papi & Willy) were simply amazing. They mentally prepare you for each part of the hike (which section is the hardest, how long the stretch is, etc), and were fluent in English. They shared stories about the volcano history, Guatemala lifestyle, etc. At the top they were more hospitable than most that welcome you to their house: made us hot chocolate, dinners, fires, made sure we were warm enough, woke us up in time for sunrise.
Of course your experience will be very weather dependent, as you're at ~4,000meters after all and the fog/weather is unpredictable. But we were blessed with perfectly clear skies and beautiful weather, yet it still got very cold (<30 degrees F) at night.
There was nothing quite like sitting around a campfire, drinking a Gallo, and watching a volcano erupt with such magnificence every 10-15 minutes while sharing the experience with new friends from across the world. We even had a proposal in our group to celebrate at the Summit!
Please tip generously within your means. Tips to these guides go such a long way and they are truly amazing people who do all they can to ensure your experience is great while taxing their own bodies the entire time.
Written November 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matty Vaughan
9 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
This hike was an amazing experience, made fully possible by the crew at Wicho and Charlie's!
They gave us most of the gear we needed for the chilly temperatures at base camp; jackets, pants, beanies, scarves, gloves, socks, packs and poles.
To be honest it's kind of like thrift shopping for 80s outdoor gear, pretty dated and worn. If you don't race for the good stuff you might end up stuck with an extra large heavy bulky jacket that isn't too practical for hiking
We packed a few of our own lighter layers which helped as the backpacks wouldn't hold too many bulky layers. Though providing a backpack was a huge help!
They provide trail snacks, lunch, and breakfast all conveniently packaged ready for your pack. They even gave us coffee and breakfast at the office the morning of the hike while we packed out for the big day.
The boys cooked us a delicious dinner at camp (and had plenty for seconds and thirds!) and sorted hot drinks and a fire at night while we watched the fireworks of the volcán!
There's also the opportunity to purchase wine and beers; Huge bonus at the top!
The accommodation were small huts that squeezed in 8ppl. A little tight, but plenty of blankets and sleeping bags to keep us warm.
The hike itself was challenging, pretty grueling in spots (would recommend hiking poles) but the boys at W+C's stop frequently and broke the larger group up into smaller ability groups to account for faster/slower hikers.
Cool bonus: when we returned to the office in town to return the gear, they had complimentary cold beers for all of us.
From start to finish they were a great company and provided awesome service... Plus seemed far cheaper than other services we researched.
Thanks Wicho and Charlie's, couldn't have done it without you. Hope the boys keep practicing their English 💪
They gave us most of the gear we needed for the chilly temperatures at base camp; jackets, pants, beanies, scarves, gloves, socks, packs and poles.
To be honest it's kind of like thrift shopping for 80s outdoor gear, pretty dated and worn. If you don't race for the good stuff you might end up stuck with an extra large heavy bulky jacket that isn't too practical for hiking
We packed a few of our own lighter layers which helped as the backpacks wouldn't hold too many bulky layers. Though providing a backpack was a huge help!
They provide trail snacks, lunch, and breakfast all conveniently packaged ready for your pack. They even gave us coffee and breakfast at the office the morning of the hike while we packed out for the big day.
The boys cooked us a delicious dinner at camp (and had plenty for seconds and thirds!) and sorted hot drinks and a fire at night while we watched the fireworks of the volcán!
There's also the opportunity to purchase wine and beers; Huge bonus at the top!
The accommodation were small huts that squeezed in 8ppl. A little tight, but plenty of blankets and sleeping bags to keep us warm.
The hike itself was challenging, pretty grueling in spots (would recommend hiking poles) but the boys at W+C's stop frequently and broke the larger group up into smaller ability groups to account for faster/slower hikers.
Cool bonus: when we returned to the office in town to return the gear, they had complimentary cold beers for all of us.
From start to finish they were a great company and provided awesome service... Plus seemed far cheaper than other services we researched.
Thanks Wicho and Charlie's, couldn't have done it without you. Hope the boys keep practicing their English 💪
Written January 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alyssa C
Brooklyn, NY8 contributions
Mar 2023
Wicho and Charlie is by far the best set up, with really sweet guides who are invested in your safety. The lodges/communal eating area and benches are really nice, and looked to be the best built out of the other campsites. The gear they had included in the price and for rent was clean and warm, and they definitely prepared you for this hike.
Apart from Wicho and Charlie, this hike was grueling! I have done a fair amount of treks, so please make sure you are up for it. The altitude is no joke, so if you can, take two days to acclimate in Antigua (my party only took 1 and definitely felt the altitude sickness). Hire a porter! It is inexpensive, they are really helpful and sweet, and even if you are accustomed to weight on your back, the 4 liters of required water really takes a toll when you're climbing for 4+ hours. Hiking poles are very helpful, especially coming down. The sand is very unstable and basically everyone in my party slipped at least once (thankfully no injuries). Knee support braces would definitely help anyone on the way down as well. Finally, get one of the neck gaiters included in your ticket or bring your own facemask/gaiter. The amount of dust you will get in your mouth and nose is crazy. This was definitely the toughest hike I've done thus far, but that being said, getting close to Fuego and seeing the eruptions at night (highly recommend doing the sunset portion of the hike to Fuego) was 100% worth it.
Apart from Wicho and Charlie, this hike was grueling! I have done a fair amount of treks, so please make sure you are up for it. The altitude is no joke, so if you can, take two days to acclimate in Antigua (my party only took 1 and definitely felt the altitude sickness). Hire a porter! It is inexpensive, they are really helpful and sweet, and even if you are accustomed to weight on your back, the 4 liters of required water really takes a toll when you're climbing for 4+ hours. Hiking poles are very helpful, especially coming down. The sand is very unstable and basically everyone in my party slipped at least once (thankfully no injuries). Knee support braces would definitely help anyone on the way down as well. Finally, get one of the neck gaiters included in your ticket or bring your own facemask/gaiter. The amount of dust you will get in your mouth and nose is crazy. This was definitely the toughest hike I've done thus far, but that being said, getting close to Fuego and seeing the eruptions at night (highly recommend doing the sunset portion of the hike to Fuego) was 100% worth it.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
H_dara
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Friends
Wicho & Charlie’s did a great job in some areas but severely lacked in others. The staff at the center were super friendly, pre-hike breakfast was phenomenal, and they had on-site hiking gear available for rental. They had all the gear you need for the hike!
Before heading out I told them that I don’t speak Spanish and to make sure I get an english speaking guide, they assured me that this is what I’ll get. But for all of the hike the guides stayed with the fast hikers and we were left with just a porter that we paid extra for to carry our heavy bag. The porter did not speak a word of English and he is obviously NOT trained to be guide. This made me anxious and I did not feel safe for the majority of the hike. There should Always be a guide behind the last person in the group. Without a guide we also missed out on the insights that could’ve been shared by them about the area. I understand they are short on guides but for the money we paid I expected to at least have a guide accompanying us. There were 5 guides in our group and they failed to manage to keep one with the last group of hikers.
We paid for a private cabin which was very nice but the roof was leaking so our blanket was wet in the freezing temperature. The weather was terrible (heavy rain, hail, cloudy sky). This is out of anyone’s control but the guides did not do anything to make the situation a little better. There was an hour of clear sky during the night and I would’ve expected them to alert people and let them know they can now leave their cabins to see the volcano. Only 3 or 4 people from our group were able to see the volcano erupting. I felt they were just doing the bare minimum, no campfire, did not check on anyone, and showed zero experience with reading the weather.
I read amazing reviews about them but overall, I was disappointed with their service.
The hike itself was once in a lifetime experience, I would do it again but I would be more careful about who to do it with. W&C’s overpromised and underdelivered.
Before heading out I told them that I don’t speak Spanish and to make sure I get an english speaking guide, they assured me that this is what I’ll get. But for all of the hike the guides stayed with the fast hikers and we were left with just a porter that we paid extra for to carry our heavy bag. The porter did not speak a word of English and he is obviously NOT trained to be guide. This made me anxious and I did not feel safe for the majority of the hike. There should Always be a guide behind the last person in the group. Without a guide we also missed out on the insights that could’ve been shared by them about the area. I understand they are short on guides but for the money we paid I expected to at least have a guide accompanying us. There were 5 guides in our group and they failed to manage to keep one with the last group of hikers.
We paid for a private cabin which was very nice but the roof was leaking so our blanket was wet in the freezing temperature. The weather was terrible (heavy rain, hail, cloudy sky). This is out of anyone’s control but the guides did not do anything to make the situation a little better. There was an hour of clear sky during the night and I would’ve expected them to alert people and let them know they can now leave their cabins to see the volcano. Only 3 or 4 people from our group were able to see the volcano erupting. I felt they were just doing the bare minimum, no campfire, did not check on anyone, and showed zero experience with reading the weather.
I read amazing reviews about them but overall, I was disappointed with their service.
The hike itself was once in a lifetime experience, I would do it again but I would be more careful about who to do it with. W&C’s overpromised and underdelivered.
Written March 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will be doing the overnight hike in January and curious on the cleanliness of the gear they provide/can rent. Is it clean? Any odors from the gear? Also curious on the stats for the hike from base camp to Fuego and back. What is the approximate distance (in miles or km) and elevation gain. Thank you!
Written November 3, 2024
everything was very clean. attracted at about 4 1/2 miles with almost 3000 feet of elevation gain
Written November 4, 2024
Bonjour, ma soeur et moi désirons faire cette randonnée autour du 4 juin. Premièrement, offrez-vous cette randonnée à ce moment de l'année? Et est ce qu'il y a possibilité de laisser nos bagages de voyage à l'agence durant la nuitée? Merci
Written December 27, 2019
Merci d'avoir contacté Wicho & Charlie's ! Nous offrons la randonnée tout les mois de l'année donc vous n'avez pas å vous en faire. Nous avons également une salle de rangement avec casiers å votre disposition vous devrez toutefois avoir avec vous votre propre cadenas. N'hésitez surtout pas å nous contacter si vous avez d'autres questions.
Au plaisir de vous voir en Juin de toute la part de l'équipe de Wicho & Charlie's
Written December 28, 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.