16 May 2025
This was an awesome experience. We did an overnight hike on Toliman Volcano. The hike up is fairly strenuous but doable. As you go up the mountain, you go through some farmland with avocado and coffee trees, and then eventually through a beautiful cloud forest with old-growth trees and wildlife (we spotted a few horned guans). We set up camp in the saddle between the two peaks of the mountain. On one side, we hiked up to a volcanic crater, which was gorgeous. On the other side, we hiked up at sunrise to the top which has views of the area and Atitlan Volcano.
This is definitely a more low-key, off the beaten path hike. It feels very serene. We did not encounter other groups of hikers, only a few locals here and there.
Our guides were great and offered a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm about the area and its environment. They were very engaged and welcoming.
I highly recommend this hike. It is a great way to get into nature around Lake Atitlan and take in all its beauty.