If you want to plan ahead, check out these guided tours and activities around Lake Atitln. This is our second vacation with Anywhere. I stayed in 3 different villages (Pana, Santa Cruz, and San Pedro), and visited 8 different villages (see my complete Guatemala itinerary ). These pick-up colectivos take locals to and from Santa Catarina Palop for just 5Q. A peaceful vibe, lush areas, no bars, but many good restaurants. We also sum up thebestthings to do in Lake Atitlan. Always travel with more than one person after dark and consider carrying pepper spray. TheLake Atitlan townsand villages are drenched in a hippie and backpacker vibe. In Panajachel, you can findmultiple ATMs. I like to find beauty even in the most underrated places, so maybe you won't be a fan of everything I write about. From Panajachel, you cantake a ferry or lanchato any of thevillages around Lake Atitlan. There are a couple of decent grocery stores here for self-catering. The first village you'll visit is San Juan La Laguna. You may need to negotiate the rate as they tend to overcharge foreigners. Taking pictures will cost a little more. Lake Atitln is a volcanic lake that originated in the caldera of a supervolcano following an eruption roughly 84.000 years ago. Lake Atitln guards many other fascinating stories and secrets, but Ill let you discover them on your own. Always drink that to be safe. Top 12 Must-Visit Towns of Lake Atitln, Guatemala This way, you appear like you know what you're doing. You can also engage inworkshopsin order to learn aboutlocal handicraftshere. Lake Atitlan Guatemala Guide: Best Towns & Things to Do - Adventurous Kate Depending on the traffic, it can take anywhere between 2.5 and 4 hours from Antigua to Panajachel and even 5 hours to San Pedro. Climbing Atitlan can be done in one to two days. If youre wondering can goats swim, do they like water, or if they sleep, youve come to the right place. You will need cash in most places, so make sure you exchange or withdraw enough money. The lake itself is magical as it is, but theviews from the top ofone of the volcanoes are even better. If you want to experiencerural Guatemalawith fewer tourists and more local culture, San Antonio is a good place to start! You can also engage in some hiking or practice yourstand-up paddleboardskills. Lake Atitln and its villages are a winning combination of scenic beauty, a relaxed atmosphere, easily accessible Mayan culture, and a good tourist infrastructure, at 1562 m of altitude, and the Tolimn volcano at its extreme southern end (3158 m). I recommend checking it out on a short day trip if you have time, but dont go out of your way to get there, unless you want to pay a visit to Maximn. What is San Marcos La Laguna Guatemala known for? We will be in Lake Atitlan for 5 nights / 6days. Instead, we explored more of San Juan, checked out some art galleries where we chatted with local artists, and discovered gorgeous street art. Just follow the road to San Pablo, and youll find a narrow path to the left, right before the turn to Eagles Nest. Most of the villages are easily accessible by boat and the tour companies have their docking place on the piers. We experienced on multiple occasions thatprices suddenly went up, just for tourists. I now travel full time (I also work almost full time) so I will do my best to share here regularly. There are only a couple of small restaurants. Its streets are often lined with handicraft vendors or farmers drying corn in the sun. Located on the very south of the lake, on an inlet between the Tolimn and San Pedro Volcanoes. Lake Atitln To get around the villages and travel between nearby villages, you can use tuk-tuks. Is San Marcos la Laguna Safe? San Marcos La Laguna is a modern hippie's heaven. Most travelers choose to go straight to Antigua from the airport. There are also a couple of hotels to stay in. This village is serene and peaceful. Booking with Anywhere was the best decision we made. Foreigners can visit Maximon too. Just be prepared for a crowded, touristy place. In San Juan La Laguna, we recommend staying inEco Hotel Uxlabil. Im sure many lakes in the world are just as scenic, if not more, but I agree with the magic thing. I left my full-time job (more than once actually, hopefully for good) because I wanted to be able to see and experience more of the world. The inhabitants of the towns around Lake Atitlan are mostly indigenous, coming directly from Mayans. It is, however, less popular than most other villages. San Marcos Atitlan has thebest views over the lakeand its one of thebest places to stay at Lake Atitlan. They will be happy to walk with you in exchange for a Quetzal or a pen. Their expert advice has been featured on the Lonely Planet, CNN Money, Business Insider, WiseBreadand Forbes and they also spoke at the World Tourism Forum in Istanbul about the business of travel blogging. If youre short on time, joining guided tours may help you optimize. What I do know is this place has a piece of my heart, and Im sure one day Ill be back. The local currency in Guatemala is the Quetzal. Offered in: English. Another thing you need to be aware of is the water you drink. And yes, its very Instagrammable. 10 Epic Towns in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala (All My Favorite Villages) A third option to get around is to walk. The local family that hosts Maximon, will see their living room transformed into a semi church. How to Get Around Lake Atitlan How to Book your Accommodations Best Places to Stay in Panajachel Best Places to Stay in Santa Cruz Best Places to Stay in Jaibalito Best Places to Stay in Tzununa Before getting on the first plane to Central America, read up on these interesting facts about Guatemala! All those things I want to share with you. New holiday homes and hotels have restricted some of the access to the lakeside path, but it's still possible to walk it. So this is about the busiest of all thetowns on Lake Atitlan. 15 Things You Didnt Know About Goats Who doesnt love goats? Dont walk between here and San Pedro as there is a high occurrence of robberies along this route. Lake Atitlan Towns - Guide to the best Lake Atitlan villages Things to do in Lake Atitlan and a guide to all the cute little Lake Atitlan towns - Which ones to visit and which Lake Atitlan villages to skip? Lake Atitln, Guatemala has long been a popular hangout for hippies, backpackers, expats and travellers. Others go to sleep when the night falls. Next you'll visit Santiago Atitln, where you can experience living Maya traditions. Narrow cement pathways meander through lush trees and flowering bushes, and the swimming here is good as well theres even an area for jumping off the rocks. Now, lets get into the places you can visit around Lake Atitln. Go scuba diving (the only dive shop on the lake is located here). Some boats are scheduled like buses, other will go as soon as they accumulate enough passengers, like share-ride taxis. Learn more about Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift on their respective author archives on this site and on the Goats On The Road About Us Page. It was a random house, and I could see a colorful shrine with lit candles through the open door. This village has a main road running along the shoreline, which is where youll find all of the backpacker necessities: shops, tour agencies, restaurants, bars and hostels. The only downsideis that its quite expensive compared to the other villages around the lake. Adventures Await at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala: A Guide Santa Clara is located inland, just up from San Pablo, and is the departure point for the Nariz del Indio hike. Yoga is just one of thethings to do in San Marcos La Laguna. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, it has lots of services and is well connected to all the other villages around the lake, so its good if youre short on time and want to explore a few nearby places. We stopped for great coffee and cake at Cafe San Juan, where you can also buy local ground coffee. I think San Juan is also a nice place to stay, although you may be a bit more limited in terms of transportation if you want to move around. .mw-parser-output .oo-ui-icon-unesco{background-image:url("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/WorldHeritageBlanc.svg")}.mw-parser-output .oo-ui-icon-star{background-image:url("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Cscr-featured.svg")}.mw-parser-output .oo-ui-icon-ftt{background-image:url("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Writing_Circle.svg/25px-Writing_Circle.svg.png")}.mw-parser-output .oo-ui-icon-dotm{background-image:url("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Yes_Check_Circle.svg/25px-Yes_Check_Circle.svg.png")}.mw-parser-output .oo-ui-icon-otbp{background-image:url("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Right_turn_icon_blue.svg/25px-Right_turn_icon_blue.svg.png")} I love anything art and my husband is into photography. This is a very traditional, authentic village, one that every visitor should see during their stay. 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. Guatemala City has a reputation for being dangerous, so many visitors avoid it altogether. Between great yoga lessons, the breathtaking views, the wonderful people I met, and the fun activities, I fell in love with the place. Northern end of the lake, the village of Solola is north of Pana, most of the other villages of interest are west of here. While the small town is filled with Mayan locals, it's also seen an influx of expats and travelers interested in yoga, meditation, and natural living. A Town-Hopping Guide To Lake Atitlan - Indie Traveller The cookies collect this data and are reported anonymously. My favorite place for eating out in San Pedro is the middle eastern Pita Sabij, while my favorite coffee place is Tornados Coffee. This San Marcos hotel has afantastic locationand it looks amazing! Restaurants serve filtered water free of charge. I was treated exceptionally well with professionalism and kindn Best vacation of my life! I was not disappointed. I always took shuttle buses to move between cities. This beautiful state has something to offer everyone, from stunning mountain ranges and pristine lakes to charming cities. Among these 11, there are 5 destination that truly stand out from the rest. At the end of the tour you'll return to Panajachel. Hiking in the mountainous areas around San Marcos La Laguna is not recommended- there are several known thieves in the area and police and community members, while helpful after an assault, have very little control of the situation. 3 Magical Villages to Visit on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala - Hippie in Heels There is no road circling Lake Atitln, just small portions connecting some villages. Just a 10 minute boat ride to the west of Pana, on the northern shore. Power Boats. San Pedro is a newly hip town that lies at the base of the San Pedro Volcano. PanaHouseandABU hotelare bothbudgethostels in Panajachel. There exists a vague, and at times somewhat precarious, path that encircles pretty much the whole lake. Whats the best VPN for Europe right now? San Pablo is the least tourist-friendly village. Lake Atitlan itself is probably the most beautiful place in Guatemala, especially since it acts as a giant mirror to the three volcanoes that surround it. Diving is also possible in Santa Cruz la Laguna through the hostel "La Iguana Perdida". I also stayed three nights in San Marcos, at Eagles Nest, which I recommend if you have the budget for it. My Favorite Villages in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala - Jack and Jill Travel But its not just a place for spirituality and yogis, this is also one of the most beautiful villages on the lake. Those who come here and have time to spare will probablystay a long time. Not to the people who live there, they seem to have a pretty good handle on what's going on. I only went out one night with a friend, and we didnt find the town to be particularly lively. Lake Atitln, Guatemala Villages, Archaeological Sites & Activities for It is not recommended to book tours for climbing the volcanoes in Pana. The lake is located in the Solol Department of southwestern Guatemala. Santa Cruz has avery ruralfeel and a lot of visitors are day-trippers. They offer all-inclusive stays in gorgeous cabins overlooking the lake. We walked about 25 mins to get to the main square area. If you have a day to spare in Guatemala, just go zip lining! There are many small villages located around the lake, each with its own vibe and characteristics. The atmosphere around the villages, the kindness of locals, the beauty of the lake, and its surrounding nature, all made me want to stick around longer. Ask in your hostel what the price for your trip should be and agree on this price with the boatman before you take off! Travel comfortably by private transportation. Lake Atitln is a better place to relax than to party. Top 5 Villages to Visit at Lake Atitlan and what to do in each of them By Ilona February 29, 2020 I absolutely loved Lake Atitlan. Yoga is just one of thethings to do in San Marcos La Laguna. There are lots of thingsto do here in San Pedro, whether youre interested in chilling out in hammocks, going to bars, learning about coffee, buying incredible artisan goods, learning Spanish or trekking up volcanoes, this is the village to come to. Have you been to one or moreLago Atitlan townsor do you plan on going there? How to plan an international trip in 10 easy steps. And, after living on the lake for two months in early 2015, we can definitely see why! EveryThursday and Sundaythis huge market is the place to be in the area. Wander around town, visit the church, take a day-trip to San Pedro, relax. Share your bucketlist to get inspiration and local connections. San Marcos la Laguna: 2023 Guide to Lake Atitlan's Most Spiritual Village The mainreason for visiting Santiago Atitlan is Maximon. The region encompasses the lake and the towns around them. Most of the prices for climbing the volcanoes will be very similar at most agencies (around US$40 for San Pedro) and they probably collude to keep the price there. The beautiful lake is a must-see in the Central American country, and for good reason. This is your best choice in San Pedro forromantic accommodation. For me, Lake Atitln is one of those places that makes you never want to leave. Lake Atitlan is a place tofind peace and connect with nature. Also known as Tzunun'Ya, Chuitinamit is an archaeological site situated on a hill overlooking Lake Atitln's southern shore, near the town of Santiago Atitln. 3. Although you can potentially hike all three volcanos, San Pedro is the most accessible and popular for day hikes. This is one of the few places where you can take out money from an ATM on the lake, stock up in Pana! Which villages are easier to reach from Pana and San Pedro? - Lake At night, you can enjoy regularlive music performances. Keep reading to find out which are thebest villages at Lake Atitlan. An eco-resort in the middle of the forest, with a yoga platform overlooking the lake, a lovely caf serving delicious food, and lots of activities, from breathwork sessions to salsa. Name Atitln means "between the waters". The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The most funthings to do in Lake Atitlanare relaxing and give you the opportunity to absorb the laid back atmosphere in the tiny ruralLake Atitlan villages. Surrounded by dozens ofrural villages and guesthouses, Lake Atitlan has something for every budget. Finally, this tour visits San Pedro La Laguna. Panajachel is best known, and a good entry point, but more off the beaten track are San Pedro La Laguna or the "less party, more meditation" village of San Marcos. Imagine a very blue lake surrounded by mountains, with lots of cute villages dotting the shore. To move around the country, you can opt for the flashy and colorful chicken buses for a local experience or the shuttle colectivos used by locals and foreigners alike. To help you decide which town to visit, below you'll find a brief overview of Lake Atitlan's most popular towns and what makes each of them unique. Heading up the very steep hill from the road along the lake, youll find what seems to be a separate village, this is where the locals live, and is definitely an area that youll want to check out. This page is not available in other languages. They basically sell the same stuff as the shops in the villages, but prices are more reasonable in the Dispensar Familiar in Panajachel. This place on the south bank of the lake is especially popular with those who want to climb one of the two volcanoes, Tolimn and Atitln. Lake Atitln - Wikipedia From San Juan, you can easily walk to San Pedro, or take a quick tuk-tuk ride, which is what also makes this village so great. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ill cover practical information on how to get to Lake Atitln and where to stay at the end of the article. This is a very traditional, authentic village, one that every visitor should see during their stay. Santiago Atitln is a hub for the Tzutujil-speaking Maya, and you may be able to see people selling handicrafts or produce along the streets. Theres a direct road out of the lake from here and the vibe is great. I was quite unfortunate on the way there. In this article, Ill review the best places to visit in Montana. and 1 more. Lake Atitlan Towns - Guide to the best Lake Atitlan villages Wachalal Lake Lodgeis one of thebest lodgings in San Pedro. At night, you can enjoy regularlive music performances. There are a number of activities you can do on the water, such as kayaking (rent from Casa del Mundo below, or San Pedro la Laguna) and jet skiing. Still, this market had a very local feel. Although the road from San Marcos La Laguna to the next northern village is now controlled by the Tourist Police, walking this way with backpacks or large amounts of money is not recommended. The following hotels or resorts are not in a specific town. Make sure to spend some time exploring all the small streets of San Juans center, youll find some beautiful spots. The road from San Lucas Toliman to Cerro de Oro, once dangerous, is now considered safe. Theres an ATM. The tour of the Lake Atitlan Villages was excellent. The Hidden Treasure of Travel Agency ( that shouldn't be anymore )! To learn more about Santa Cruz/Paxanax, check out our video here: San Marcos istheplace to go if youre into healings, meditation, yoga, massage and all things spiritual and holistic. Together they have been travelling and working abroad since 2008 and have more than 20 years of combined experience in online business, finance, travel and entrepreneurship. The most popular places to stay on Lake Atitln are Panajachel, San Marcos, and San Pedro. Due to the fact that this village is connected to the road to the outside world, there is also a lot of traffic here. In San Juan La Laguna, we recommend staying in. However, I would recommend spending upwards of five days to truly get a feel of the local culture, visit more villages, try some activities, and enjoy the magic of the lake. For more information on LakeAtitln, check out our articles: Essential Tips & Information: Border Crossing from San Cristobal to LakeAtitln, Our Digital Nomad Life on Lake Atitln, Guatemala, The Cost of Living on Lake Atitln, Guatemala. 3. The maize farming methods have changed little through the years, and in many ways the local people continue to live in the same way they have done for centuries. San Lucas Toliman: 2023 Guide to Lake Atitlan's Secret Village Check out thisstunning overnight hiketo thesummit of San Pedro Volcano. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If you thought humans are the only mobs bothering tourists at night, youd be wrong. Check out more accommodation around the Lake. We studied at the Community Spanish School and definitely recommend studying in this school. According to one of them, a monster lives in the depths of the lake, much like the Loch Ness monster. But beyond that, we really knew very little. From Lake Atitlan, you can also hike up to a peak that resembles anIndians Nose. Its in the village of San Marcos with access to the water. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Used as I was to the compact San Pedro, I expected Santiago to be somewhat similar. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Due to the region's popularity, other towns along the lake, such as Santa Cruz la Laguna and San Juan, are now starting to see growing tourism. I'm no picky traveler. My shuttle departed nearly one hour late from Antigua, and I got to San Pedro around 8 PM. A large collapsed volcanic cone can be found right at the lake. I've traveled a lot and wish to explore some more unknown territory. You canengage in workshops to learn how colorful fabrics are woven. Rickety, bamboo platforms are raised out of the water on stilts creating a funky kilometre-long walkway along the shoreline. Stock up! The people living here are very friendly, its a safe village and the views are lovely as well. Just a 15 minute walk away from San Pedro or a 5-minute boat ride, you will find San Juan Lake Atitlan. Cafes on the waterfront offer amazing sunset views, so theyre perfect for a few drinks in the evening. Hike the San Pedro Volcano and Indian Nose lookout. January 29, 2023 Tags: Lake Atitlan Outrageously photogenic Lake Atitln is surrounded by villages, each with their own style, feel and personality from backpacker favourites like Panajachel and San Pedro to alternative enclaves such as San Marcos and Tzunun. If you travel to Guatemala, you must spend a few days in some of the villages around Lake Atitln. But in this village, you get some of thebest views over the lake, so its definitely worth to spend a few nights in Santa Cruz. Check out the Wednesday Jaibalito Market and Le Casa del Mundo for a drink on a beautiful patio. Most travelers arrive in Panajachel. 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