Volcano Hiking with a Dog

Are you considering volcano hiking with a dog? If so, you’re in the right place! These tips are transferable to any long, overnight, or more extreme hike you’d like to go on with your furry friend.

I love taking my dog, Lily, on my adventures, so I was thrilled when she accompanied me on a hike up Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala. We’d been on many hikes together, both long-distance and steep, so I knew she could handle it physically.

Before the hike, I researched how much water my dog would need per ounce of body weight, read up on some basic dog first aid, and thought through what she would need to feel comfortable sleeping with me in the tent.

I’ll go over each of these points in more depth below so you and your canine companion can have the best experience hiking together.

Tip: Check out my post on hiking Acatenango on your own.

Physical Conditioning for Volcano Hiking with a Dog

Before you take your dog with you on a long hike, consider the following important points:

Some dogs are built for running and trails and love it, others prefer to lounge at home or can’t handle short walks. Be realistic about what your dog is capable of and what your dog will enjoy. Ask yourself if your dog can handle hiking for five to nine hours.

Make sure your dog is ready by training for the hike together. Go on long walks, hike up and down hills, and go on trails with varied terrain.

Tip: If you’re wondering if you’re fit enough to climb Acatenango, check out my post discussing the difficulty of the hike here.

Prep for the Hike: Tough Paws

Make sure to toughen up your dog’s paws before the hike by taking them on regular and long-distance hikes.

Getting Tent Ready for Overnight Hiking with a Dog

If you’re doing an overnight and your dog hasn’t slept in a tent before, it’s important to make this fun and familiar beforehand.

I set up my tent in my backyard and tried coaxing my dog inside with treats. I had to carry her in the first time, and we sat inside and I fed her treats and praised her. Feel free to do this over a period of time. I also left the tent set up for a while and left her food bowl inside.

Lily had been camping before, but not in the tent I was using for the volcano hike. I knew she would be okay sleeping inside once she got used to it.

If your dog has never slept in a tent before, you might want to spend a night or two sleeping in your tent ahead of time, even if it’s in your house.

Some Dogs Refuse to Sleep in Tents

My friend Micah enjoys hiking with his German Shepherd, Pata, and has taken her up Acatenango Volcano. But for some reason, Pata refused to sleep in the tent. Instead, she slept outside, keeping guard.

She did fine with the cold, wind and sand.

Water & Food Needs for Your Volcano Buddy

Make sure you have enough water for your dog. You can calculate how much you’ll need based on your dog’s weight.

My friend Micah takes double the amount of water he would drink himself to keep himself and his German Shepherd hydrated.

For food, keep track of how much you feed your dog in a day and then take some extra because they’ll be working hard.

Behavior Training for Hiking with a Dog

Brush up on training and etiquette before your trip.

I kept Lily off the leash for most of the hike. She’s decent about coming when I call or returning to check up on me when she runs ahead. However, she is extremely friendly, so I had to call her a few times to keep her from heading off with other groups.

I actually lost Lily on the way down the volcano. We stopped for a couple of seconds at a restaurant, and then kept going. There were a hundred people going up and down the trail by then, and Lily must have run off to greet a stranger.

I didn’t notice until 10-minutes later and had to back-track to find her. Fortunately, she was still at the restaurant, tail-wagging her way from patron to patron.

What to Pack for Volcano Hiking with a Dog

My dog weighs about 35 pounds, so I took:

• 70 fluid ounces for her for our two-day hike
• Five cups of concentrate
• A bag of treats
• Two pieces of light foam for her to sleep on
• Tweezers in case she got a splinter in her paw (plus my first-aid kit)
• The lid of a large coconut oil container to put water and food in (ghetto, I know)*
• A towel in case she got wet

*A friend has since bought me collapsible dog bowls, which I highly recommend for traveling anywhere with your pet.

I also bought three pairs of baby socks to serve as booties in case we encountered frost or her paws got tender, but I didn’t need them.

Tip: Make your dog carry some of the weight by buying your pet a dog pack.

Hiking with a Dog – Additional Resources

This article about hiking with a dog was a great resource for me in preparing to take my dog up Acatenango Volcano.

Volcano hiking with a dog – My Experiences

To date, I’ve taken my dog up two volcanoes, but I hope to take her up many more in the future.

Acatenango Volcano Hike with a Dog

Acatenango is the third-highest volcano in Guatemala, with an elevation of 13,045 feet above sea level. The elevation gain from the trailhead to the summit is more than 5,000 feet over about five miles.

I hiked Acatenango with my dog, Lily, in February 2021.

Tip: If you’re considering hiking Acatenango Volcano with your dog, check ahead with your tour company. Not all tour companies allow dogs. I wanted to take Lily on my hike in 2024, but Soy Tours wouldn’t allow it. Hiking Acatenango without a guide is also an option.

San Pedro Volcano Hike with a Dog

I also did a day hike up San Pedro Volcano with my dog, Lily.

The hike up took only three hours at a moderate pace. Since this volcano has been dormant much longer than Acatenango, the trail was dirt rather than volcanic sand (which was easier on the paws).

Tip: Pacaya Volcano is another great hike to consider if you’re looking for volcanoes to summit in Guatemala.

This couple hiked Acatenango with two dogs

Check out their experience in this video. It includes amazing views of the terrain and Fuego volcano, and will give you an idea what to expect.

Conclusion

Volcano hiking with a dog is a fun and rewarding experience where you can bond with your pet and make memories together. To prepare, it’s essential to toughen up your dog’s paws with regular hikes, brush up on their behavior and obedience training, and figure out how much food and water to take along.

Don’t miss my other posts on how difficult Acatenango is to hike, how to climb Acatenango on your own, and the 7 best tour companies to take up the volcano. I also have posts about Pacaya Volcano tours and climbing San Pedro Volcano.