16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Sunrise hike

Travelling for one month in Guatemala, I had the incredible experience of climbing the volcano of Acatenango. A very intense 2 days walk ending above the clouds, probably the hardest hike I experienced so far. But probably the most beautiful and rewarding as well. In the end of the night, after a cold and short sleep in a small tent, we climbed the last meters and reached the top in the early morning. The sun started to rise on one of the most beautiful landscapes I had ever seen, revealing the wild and burning power of the volcano.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2017
Date Uploaded: 08.2018
Photo Location: La Aurora, Guatemala
Camera: DSC-RX100M3
Copyright: © Bénédicte Blondeau