Tropicana Hostel

This review is regarding the Acatenango Hike: I saw a lot of negative reviews on here about hiking with Tropicana but I can honestly say that we had the best experience. The groups are larger but I’ve didn’t mind as it meant everyone could go at their own pace. If you are a super hiker, maybe go with a different company as you will be waiting for slower people. The staff were incredible throughout the whole experience. They never rushed anyone and always kept people motivated to keep going. At basecamp, they cooked a great meal and kept us busy with wine, hot chocolate and marshmallows. Tropicana doesn’t recommend the Fuego Hike but the guides do offer it to you at the top so it is still an option. We didn’t do it as the view from basecamp was enough for us. The summit hike in the morning was challenging but so worth it as the sunrise is insane. Again the guides were so motivating and honest about how hard it was going to be. My only reason for not giving 5 stars is the process before and after at the hostel. This trip is getting more and more popular each month and the hostel isn’t big enough to host all the people doing the hike. It’s tight, crowded and getting your rented gear is chaos! The same when arriving back it’s just chaos in a tight space. I’d recommend branching the your business away from the hostel as it much be an unpleasant experience for the guests staying there.

My wife and I booked the couples tour for Acatenango and it was fantastic! Our guide Sergio was very nice and knows all the best shortcuts. We recommend asking specifically for him as he gave us a great experience up and across and down the volcanoes. The breakfast before and the lunch and dinner at the top are all delightful and satisfying. If you want to do the extra hike to Fuego its G350/person cash so make sure to have that on hand. We did not stay at the Tropicana Hostel itself due to it being a younger crowd and a party vibe (which is still the case). However, all the staff treated us extraordinarily well and went above and beyond for us. Highly recommend.

🌋 Re: Acatenango Hike After reading their reviews I had my doubts but do hear me out: Tropicana organized a top-notch Acatenango hike. It's less expensive than other companies and yes, groups can be large, but still they prepare everything with lots of care and attention. I chose them among other reasons because they were the only company that openly catered to all dietary needs, and they were very mindful about it during the whole hike. They were super helpful in advance helping me arrange everything and answering all my questions. Once you're getting ready for the hike you can tell it's a well-oiled machine where every step has been thought of. You need gear? The fee includes 3 pieces, and you can rent more if needed. You don't want to go hungry before the hike? They provide a nice breakfast before departure for the whole group. You can store your luggage with them safely, and you can even use their showers once you get back from the hike. Sleeping wasn't necessary comfortable (regular backpacker cabin), but it was alright. The experience itself was absolutely amazing, we also had a super cool group of hikers which resulted in a lovely, very wholesome experience. En resumen: in my experience, Tropicana took great care of us during the hike. Kuddos to their guides Luis, Emiliano and Timoteo. Get ready for a once in a lifetime experience 🤩🌋

My husband and I went through Tropicana for our trip/hike to Acatenango this week and we’re so grateful. First and biggest shout out is to our guide Henry. We booked a private guide with him - also a note that for anyone that’s not ready to run a marathon, book a private guide. Being able to stop whenever you need or want was the key to us making it up that volcano. Henry was absolutely amazing, so patient when I needed to take my breaks. He was just as enthusiastic as us to capture the perfect moments of Fuego erupting in the background and all the sites in general. On our way back down the volcano he literally helped me step by step in the tricky areas and helped me up when I slid. Just cannot overstate how great he was. The other shout out is to our driver Brian. He made our trip so smooth the way there and back, especially helpful for early morning. On the way back, he went out of his way to get us back to the hostel quickly. Overall, if you’re looking to go to Acatenango, have Brian as your driver and Henry as your guide.

Did not stay overnight but enjoyed breakfast and did the hike with them! I had a great experience. They throughly thought out the logistics, everything was planned, I received all the information I needed. You can rent cold weather gear and backpacks if you need. The food was good. I felt comfortable and accommodated taking the hike with them. I was moving slow, and they had a guide stay back with me. They re organized as needed based on how fast people were going. They were able to have a fast group, a medium group, and the stragglers didn’t get left behind. Shoutout Fernando!!

I really liked the hostel, good atmosphere and location. The only reason not 5 stars is because of the hike to the volcano with them. The groups are extremely big (mine was 52), and even though they are like 6 guides, we always have to be together for some reason, meaning that we are going at the pace of the slowest in the group (extremely slow). Also, i DONT reccomend you do the last extra hike (the fire one), imo its not worth it, and the guides push you to do it acting on their own interests, making it feel like a scam. 2 guides earned over 1000usd in 5 hours possibly daily (38 people, 30usd each). The view is nearly as good from the basecamp plus you get ti watch it comfortably, instead of watching it only 30 minutes out of the 5 hour extra hike. You will save some money, sleep better and watch it more comfortably from basecamp. Also, the sunrise hike is a much better view, free and way shorter. *Update to their reply* We definitely did not ascend in smaller groups according to pace as you state in you reply, we were in a huge group all the time. And i never said the fire hike was not optional or obligatory, just that there was pressure to do it by the guides (looking in their own interests), and that i wouldnt reccomend it.

Great hostel to stay at and great company to book your Acatenango trip through! They have the logistics nailed down from beginning to end. They even go so far as to have half off lunch + free massages available after for everyone who did the hike! Unreal! Shoutout specifically to the employee who did the run through of all of the logistics at breakfast and helped with the after-hike process as well (she has the cool tattoo sleeve). She was incredibly helpful and kind to everyone despite the preparation/after-hike chaos haha. I'd also like to add that in contrast to the recent review left about the guides, ours were incredibly clear about Fuego being optional. They encourage you to do the hike because it is truly the highlight of the experience, but our guides never pressure you to do anything you don't want to do. Also, it being "worth it" just depends on the person. If you want views of the explosion that are 10x closer than what you'd get at basecamp -- then it's extremely worth it! It was something we will truly never forget. Also, I would not say the tips received by guides are a scam. I think it's a bit presumptuous to assert amounts they received without knowing how tips are split between the group of guides (our group had like seven or eight). They worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone is safe, fed, and having a good time. It is an incredibly daunting task to ensure that big of group completes that expedition safely and efficiently. Not to mention the porters who are bringing up 3-4x the weight each of us had. That level of service (food, supervision, assistance, direction) would cost a fortune elsewhere. Every quetzal that was tipped was well earned. Thank you to Tropicana and our guides!

Amazing stay at Tropicana Hostel! I had such a great time staying at Tropicana Hostel. I did the Fuego hike and it was honestly an unforgettable experience — tough but absolutely worth it. Everything was well organized and the vibes were on point. The Christmas dinner was amazing too — super cozy, great food, and such a fun way to connect with everyone. Erik is an awesome host — super chill, welcoming, and always making sure everyone feels at home. Team Tropicana till I die 🔥🌴 Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for good vibes, adventure, and a real community feeling!