One of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Atitlán in Guatemala offers stunning volcanic views, living Mayan culture, and a range of activities from trekking to diving and horseback riding. Lake Atitlán is a deep caldera lake surrounded by volcanoes with breathtaking views as well as small towns and Mayan villages. With its main tourism center, Panajachel, Lake Atitlán is a perfect place to relax in scenic settings, to shop colorful traditional fabrics, or to get acquainted with Mayan culture.
Scenic Lake Atitlan, locally known as Lago de Atitlán, is located in the highlands of Western Guatemala. It is the deepest lake in Central America, filling a volcanic caldera formed in an eruption some 84,000 years ago. The area around the lake has been settled by several different groups of indigenous Mayan people since the 13th century. The largely agricultural area remained remote until it was founded by hippies in the 1960s. The 36-year civil war in Guatemala kept the tourists away, but today, Lake Atitlán is again a popular destination especially for independent travelers. The main tourism hub in the area is the town of Panajachel with its good tourism facilities, but the small towns of San Pedro la Laguna or Santa Cruz la Laguna are getting popular as well.
Panajachel, the main town in Lake Atitlán region is filled with restaurants and nightlife spots, as well as souvenir shops and Spanish schools. You can also visit a restored 16th century Catholic church, a Mayan cultural centre or a couple of museums in Panajachel. The nearby San Buenaventura Nature Reserve is a good place to see the local wildlife or to try a canopy zip line tour. Panajachel hosts a popular festival of San Francisco de Asís in October. The town of Santiago Atitlán is renowned for its shrine of Maximón, an idol created by fusion of Mayan religion and Catholic saints. Mayan archaeological sites of Sambaj and Chiutinamit are located below the surface of Lake Atitlán, while Las Tarrales Nature Reserve can be visited without getting yourself wet. The town of San Pedro la Laguna that has a natural thermal spa and the village of San Marcos are also popular places around Lake Atitlán to visit and stay.
Scenic Lake Atitlan, locally known as Lago de Atitlán, is located in the highlands of Western Guatemala. It is the deepest lake in Central America, filling a volcanic caldera formed in an eruption some 84,000 years ago. The area around the lake has been settled by several different groups of indigenous Mayan people since the 13th century. The largely agricultural area remained remote until it was founded by hippies in the 1960s. The 36-year civil war in Guatemala kept the tourists away, but today, Lake Atitlán is again a popular destination especially for independent travelers. The main tourism hub in the area is the town of Panajachel with its good tourism facilities, but the small towns of San Pedro la Laguna or Santa Cruz la Laguna are getting popular as well.
Sights and activities in Lake Atitlán: trekking, boat tours, fishing & Mayan culture
The scenic Lake Atitlán area offers a myriad of sights and activities from trekking and sailing tours to underwater archaeological sites, Mayan villages and kayaking, diving and fishing in Lake Atitlán. There is a path around the lake that is great for trekking around Lake Atitlán, and you can also hike on the slopes of the imposing volcanoes around the lake. Horseback riding is also available. There is a scuba diving center in Santa Cruz la Laguna where you can try freshwater diving, and kayaks can be rented from many places around the lake. Boat cruises and sailing tours on Lake Atitlan are also available, and local coffee farms can be visited. Lake Atitlán is surrounded by many villages of Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel Mayans where you can still see traditional dresses of these indigenous people and visit traditional markets for shopping local textiles and art.Panajachel, the main town in Lake Atitlán region is filled with restaurants and nightlife spots, as well as souvenir shops and Spanish schools. You can also visit a restored 16th century Catholic church, a Mayan cultural centre or a couple of museums in Panajachel. The nearby San Buenaventura Nature Reserve is a good place to see the local wildlife or to try a canopy zip line tour. Panajachel hosts a popular festival of San Francisco de Asís in October. The town of Santiago Atitlán is renowned for its shrine of Maximón, an idol created by fusion of Mayan religion and Catholic saints. Mayan archaeological sites of Sambaj and Chiutinamit are located below the surface of Lake Atitlán, while Las Tarrales Nature Reserve can be visited without getting yourself wet. The town of San Pedro la Laguna that has a natural thermal spa and the village of San Marcos are also popular places around Lake Atitlán to visit and stay.
Lake Atitlán travel information and practical tips
Travelling to Lake Atitlán are is done by road, with Panajachel being the main arrival point.
Photo: alq666, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
The nearest international airport is in Guatemala City, 3.5 hour drive away from Panajachel. Public buses and tourist shuttle buses to Panajachel are available in all major towns in the Guatemalan Highlands. Once in Panajachel, you can take a boat, a taxi or a shuttle bus to the other towns and villages around Lake Atitlán. Both slow ferries and fast small motorboats called lanchas are available for transportation. Motorboat prices can be negotiated, and some knowledge of Spanish may help you in getting a cheaper price. Bicycle and car rental in Panajachel is also available.
Climate. Lake Atitlán has a pleasant tropical highland climate with two main seasons; The dry season from November to May is warm with a virtually rainless period between December and March, whereas the Guatemalan rainy season from mid-May to mid-October features some heavy rains especially in September. The days can be chilly during the rainy season and as Lake Atitlán is located in a high altitude, nights can be cold throughout the year. There is also a windy season between November and February when boat travel on Lake Atitlan gets less comfortable.
Visitor services. Hotels around Lake Atitlan can be found especially in the main town Panajachel, but also in many towns and villages around the lake, ranging from cheap to luxurious. There is a good variety of restaurants in Panajachel, but all small towns and villages in the area have some dining choices. Panajachel has plenty of bars and nightlife spots, while most small towns and villages do not have much nightlife options. English is spoken in the area mainly by those people working in the tourism industry.
Safety. Lake Atitlán is generally a safe destination, with most Mayan villages in the area having lower crime rates than in the United States. However, pick-pocketing and theft does occur. Violent crime such as robbery has happened on the road around the lake, and it is therefore not recommended to travel on some stretches of the road by yourself.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala City
