Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. The park can get busy, particularly on long weekends, so it’s recommended that you book your tent or bungalow early. That’s done by calling the park at 042-871-333 or 042-871-458. You then need to make a wire transfer. Tents are B225 (sleeping bags, a pillow and foam mattress come out to an extra B60 per person, payable on site).

Is it a long hike?
It’s 9km and, yes, it’s pretty strenuous. Competitive athletes might pull it off in 3 hours, fit and healthy folk usually takes 4-5 hours and sloths can take 6 hours or more. There’s plenty of food on the way though, nearly every kilometer. This also means you can’t even attempt the hike if you show up after 3pm. You wouldn’t make it to the summit before sunset.

Really, there’s no shortcut?
There are porters who will carry your stuff for B15/kilo. And we’ve seen them carry a person! But there’s no road to the top, only a hiking trail.

Can I sleep at the park on the night before the hike?
There are a couple of tents by the parking lot, which suck. But you do want to get an early start. The other solution is to sleep in town, at one of the grungy “resorts” there, which cost B350-550 a night. Make sure you inspect the room carefully before handing over your cash.