Roman Kuster

Growing up, my favorite shows to watch were always on National Geographic. I remember being glued to the screen, watching explorers trek through jungles, climb mountains, and scale volcanoes in far-off countries I could only dream of at the time.

Like many of you, I played ‘the floor is lava’ as a kid, jumping around the room trying not to touch the “lava.” I always dreamed of seeing it in real life—and hiking Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala made that dream come true.

It’s one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Every few minutes, the ground beneath us would shake, followed by yells of “¡Fuego! ¡Fuego!”—a signal to look up as the volcano erupted, sending ash, smoke, and lava into the sky. So far in this life, I haven’t had an experience with Mother Nature so humbling or witnessed such raw power. It’s something I will never forget, and forever appreciate.

Travel Tips for Volcán de Fuego:
📍 Where to Stay: Antigua (about 10 miles from the volcano). It’s an absolutely beautiful city with hostels, Airbnbs, and Vrbos.

Best Experience: Hike Acatenango for the overnight view. We booked with @oxexpeditions they were awesome! They provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus an overnight stay in shared huts and transportation to and from the base.

Best Time to Go: Dry season (November–April) for the clearest views.

Enjoy this drone shot I got of the sunset above the clouds and us on the ridge, finally summiting after a two-day hike. @natgeo