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Indian Nose Hike For Sunrise At Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Indian Nose Hike For Sunrise At Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

In the mountains towering over the towns surrounding Lake Atitlan, is one of the most epic sunrise viewpoints in Guatemala. The beauty of the Indian Nose hike is that the trek up is less than 30 minutes. At the summit, you will have views over San Pedro, San Clara, San Pablo, Lake Atitlan, and San Pedro Volcano as the sun rises.

INDIAN NOSE SUNRISE HIKE

INDIAN NOSE HIKE DISTANCE

The total distance of the Indian Nose hike is just 3 kilometers in total distance, which is just under 2 miles

INDIAN NOSE HIKE ELEVATION GAIN

The total elevation gain for the sunrise hike to the summit of the Indian Nose hike is just 290 meters or 951 feet. It works out to about 150m of incline per kilometer, which is a pretty steep ascent to reach the summit, which is 2,236m.

INDIAN NOSE HIKE DIFFICULTY

This hike is very short and sharp so you can expect to be at the summit within 40 minutes. While it is relatively steep, the pain will be short-lived as your adrenaline takes over as the summit nears. I would say this hike is possible for kids, families, travelers, and those with moderate fitness.

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MY INDIAN NOSE HIKE TOUR EXPERIENCE

In the early hours of the morning, I didn’t want to take the chance of getting lost and missing the sunrise with my one and only chance to attempt the Indian Nose hike. Also, I don’t think it would be easy to get a tuk-tuk at four in the morning so I organized a tour through the hostel.

So, my tour guide picked up my new friend from Germany, who I met at the Circle Cafe hostel I was staying at. It was four in the morning and the drive to the start of the Indian Nose hike was about 30 minutes along a steep and incredibly bumpy road.

Our guide lead us up the path for the first fifteen minutes and then after we had made the last turn told us to go ahead as he helped some other slower members of the group. We made good time along the dirt trail, which was only moderate in difficulty.

We reached the first viewpoint well before sunrise. It was still an amazing view, which we shared with 10 others who had arrived earlier. We took in the views and spotted San Marcos in the distance before heading up to the higher viewpoint. It was only another five minutes hiking before we had reached the Indian Nose summit.

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We explored the area while patiently waiting for the sun to rise and add some color and light to the spectacular scene before us. I had seen photos before hiking Indian Nose of rolling clouds but on the day we hiked the sky was clear.

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The sun broke through and lit up Lake Atitlan and the small collection of towns that are situated beside the lake. Indian Nose hike was up there in my top ten sunrise views so far and there are quite a few to compare it to. I also did the Pacaya Volcano hike in Antigua, while backpacking in Guatemala, which you should check out if you are in the area.

On the way down we stopped again at the lower viewpoint to take some photos now that the lighting was giving the lake a beautiful shimmer and sending orange and pink tones throughout the landscape.

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The walk down took us less than 20 minutes before our guide drove us back along the scenic and bumpy route, which was more potholes than road.

If you are staying near Lake Atitlan, Indian Nose has got to be on your bucket list. It’s a cheap, short adventure with epic views and a great way to kick-start your day of adventures in the area.

I hope this article about the Indian Nose Hike was a helpful guide and prepared you for an adventure of your own.

What are my favorite pieces of hiking gear?

There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Here are my hiking essentials.

  • Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
  • Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots: For the best ankle support, waterproofing, and durable exterior I’m a fan of tough but light hiking boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
  • Black Diamond Head Torch: I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve arrived back from a hike unexpectedly late. I always keep this lightweight but strong headtorch in my bag for the unexpected.
  • Darn Tough Socks: These are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever worn and last for years. They also have a lifetime warranty and you just send them in with a hole and they replace it no questions asked.

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Nick Compton

Sunday 11th of April 2021

I'm doing a school project, and this site helped! Thanks!

Laura

Tuesday 12th of June 2018

I am currently in Atitlan and this hike is on my bucket list! Your photos are making me really excited to hike this trail! Amazing!