Acatenango is joined with Volcán de Fuego and collectively the volcano complex is known as La Horqueta.

Although many of the centres have been active contemporaneously, there is a general sequence of younger volcanism, from north to south along the trend.

The volcano complex comprises remnants of multiple eruptive centres, which periodically have collapsed to form huge debris avalanches.

[2] The only known historical eruptions of Acatenango volcano occurred in the 20th century, between 1924 and 1927 from just north of the summit peak (Pico Mayor) and again in December 1972 from the saddle between Yepocapa and Pico Mayor.

This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey