Travelling to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala: A Information to The Villages

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala has extended been a well-liked hangout for hippies, backpackers, expats and travellers. And, after residing on the lake for 2 months in early 2015, we’re able to positively see why! There’s merely one issue about Lake Atitlán which will get beneath your pores and pores and pores and skin, and in the end makes it very troublesome to go away.

Lake of Atitlan on account of it’s acknowledged in Spanish, is the deepest lake in all of Central America and is flanked by three towering volcanoes – Tolimán, San Pedro and Atitlán. There are fairly a number of Mayan villages surrounding the lake, nonetheless there are actually just a few that you just’re prone to go to / relocate to indefinitely.

Please keep in mind: We travelled Lake Atitlan on a worth fluctuate and this textual content material reveals that. In case you happen to’re looking for additional upscale lodging and excursions, take a look at LuxuryLatinAmerica.com.

Panajachel

Let’s begin with the favored backpacker village on the lake. Panajachel (Pana for non permanent) is the primary port of entry to the lake, and do it’s important to’re coming from Mexico, Antigua or Guatemala Metropolis, that is nearly definitely the place you’ll end up first. It’s a bustling, dusty village, with a extraordinarily busy foremost avenue. As a consequence of the fact that this village is claimed to the freeway to the “exterior world”, there may be furthermore fairly a number of website online company correct proper right here.

Whether or not or not or not you’re a traveller or anybody who’s on the lookout for to stay on Lake Atitlán for fairly a number of months, Pana will seemingly be of curiosity to you, at the very least for a short while. That is the place the largest grocery retailer is, together with “Sandy’s” grocery retailer, which sells a plethora of Western goodies. In case you happen to’re looking for tour firms, transfers to Antigua and former, a variety of inns, many western consuming areas, a number of bars, good nightlife, and pretty priced Guatemalan handicrafts, that is the place to hunt out it.

We do advocate visiting Pana and even staying correct proper right here, nonetheless we terribly advocate that you simply simply take a speedboat (taxi boat) and take a look at just some of the assorted (additional actual) villages, surrounding Lake Atitlán.

Location:

Northern finish of the lake, the village of Solola is north of Pana, a number of the fully completely different villages of curiosity are west of correct proper right here.

What to Do:

Kayaking, bar-hopping, go on day journeys to close by villages, go to Saint Francis Church, take Spanish classes, go to the market.

What to Depend upon:

A great deal of vacationers, busy streets, a mixture of dad and mom – foreigners, Spanish and (fantastically dressed) Maya individuals. Views of all three volcanoes. NOT a extraordinarily clear place for swimming.

Prime Options:

That’s among the many many few locations the place you presumably can take out cash from an ATM on the lake, replenish in Pana! One of the best grocery retailers are correct proper right here. A dependable tour agency for reserving transportation is Xocomil, positioned appropriate close to the speedboat port.

To get a bigger concept of what Panajachel is like, take a look at our video correct proper right here:

Santa Cruz la Laguna / Paxanax

Solely a fast, 10 minute boat journey from Pana and likewise you’ll arrive correct proper right here. We lived in a suburb of Santa Cruz typically often known as Paxanax for 2 months and absolutely appreciated it. That is our favorite village on the lake. It’s true that we can also be a bit bias, nonetheless with no freeway entry, Santa Cruz manages to retain its secluded, tranquil enchantment. Rickety, bamboo platforms are raised out of the water on stilts making a cool kilometre-long walkway alongside the shoreline.

There’s not a complete lot to do correct proper right here when it comes to sight-seeing, nonetheless for such a small, secluded village, there’s really fairly a number of fully completely different actions to get pleasure from. The swimming in Paxanax is nice, the CECAP program may be very spectacular and there’s a Spanish school as appropriately. Take a look at out the precise village of Santa Cruz on the extreme of the hill (take a tuk-tuk or a strenuous stroll) and revenue from the beautiful vistas!

Location:

Solely a ten minute boat journey to the west of Pana, on the northern shore.

What to Do:

Go scuba diving (the one dive retailer on the lake is positioned correct proper right here). Hangout at La Iguana Perdida resort (comfortable hour, BBQs, backpackers) and luxuriate in healthful meals at Lodge Isla Verde. Go to the Saturday morning market. Go kayaking. Take a look at CECAP, among the many many greatest pro-economic functions on the lake.

What to Depend upon:

A really quiet, peaceable village. No hooked up freeway to Panajachel or roads exterior of the lake. Many native Mayan individuals.

Prime Options:

There should not any ATMs correct proper right here, and no grocery retailers. Refill!

To be taught additional about Santa Cruz/Paxanax, take a look at our video correct proper right here:

San Marcos La Laguna

San Marcos is the place to go do it’s important to’re into healings, meditation, yoga, therapeutic therapeutic therapeutic massage and all factors religious and holistic. Nonetheless it’s not solely a spot for spirituality and yogis, that is furthermore certainly one of many important stunning villages on the lake. Slender cement pathways meander by means of lush timber and flowering bushes, and the swimming correct proper right here is nice as appropriately – there’s even an home for leaping off the rocks.

The consuming areas in San Marcos are plentiful and the meals is often very healthful. The one draw once more is that it’s fairly expensive as in contrast with the opposite villages all through the lake. There are only a few small retailers correct proper right here and there are native distributors promoting produce. You will stroll from San Marcos to the village of Tzununa in about quarter-hour as appropriately. A ship journey from correct proper right here to San Pedro is solely 10 minutes.

Location:

On the northwestern shore.

What to Do:

Yoga, meditation, therapeutic therapeutic therapeutic massage or reiki. Attend a religious gathering, go swimming, volunteer, go strolling, climbing and day-trip to close by San Pedro.

What to Depend upon:

A peaceable vibe, lush areas, no bars, nonetheless many good consuming areas. Views of the towering San Pedro Volcano.

Prime Options:

There’s no ATM machine correct proper right here. Don’t stroll between correct proper right here and San Pedro as there’s a excessive prevalence of robberies alongside this route.

San Juan La Laguna

This small village is usually neglected by vacationers, which is simply too unhealthy. Optimistic, it’s not as busy on account of the likes of San Pedro, San Marcos or Pana, nonetheless there’s one issue particular about San Juan. The dad and mom residing listed beneath are very good, it’s a protected village and the views are pretty as appropriately. This village is serene and peaceable. There are solely just some locations to eat and to remain, nonetheless we advocate Lodge Uxlabil for meals and for an evening’s protect.

From San Juan, you presumably can merely stroll to San Pedro, or take a fast tuk-tuk journey, which is what furthermore makes this village so good.

Location:

West coast of the lake.

What to Do:

Wander spherical metropolis, go to the church, take a day-trip to San Pedro, loosen up.

What to Depend upon:

Hardly any vacationers, good locals, an actual really actually really feel.

Prime Options:

There are solely just some small consuming areas. The meals at Lodge Uxlabil is nice, or you should buy some small objects on the retailers and put collectively dinner to your self at your resort. The swimming correct proper right here is just not good. A lancha boat from Pana going to San Pedro will drop you on the dock in San Juan do it’s important to ask. No ATM.

San Pedro La Laguna

That is the worth fluctuate backpacker hangout on the lake. There’s a direct freeway out of the lake from correct proper right here and the vibe is good. This village has a foremost freeway working alongside the shoreline, which is the place you’ll uncover all the backpacker requirements: retailers, tour firms, consuming areas, bars and hostels.

Heading up the very steep hill from the freeway alongside the lake, you’ll uncover what appears to be a separate village, that is the place the locals maintain, and is definitely an home that you simply simply’ll wish to strive.

There are many factors to do correct proper right here in San Pedro, whether or not or not or not you’re concerned about chilling out in hammocks, going to bars, discovering out about espresso, buying for unimaginable artisan devices, discovering out Spanish or trekking up volcanoes, that is the village to return once more to.

In case you happen to solely had time to go to at the very least one village, this may nearly definitely be the one which we advocate – it has only a bit one issue for everybody.

Location:

Western shore, on the underside of the San Pedro Volcano.

What to Do:

Day-trip to San Marcos for swimming, go to the church, go to the native produce market, hangout on decks overlooking the water, go to bars, meet fully completely different travellers, uncover out about how the native espresso is produced. Hike the San Pedro Volcano and Indian Nostril lookout.

What to Depend upon:

A great deal of backpackers, a busy village, many consuming areas/cafes/bars, good locals, stunning views – nonetheless not of volcanoes.

Prime Options:

The swimming correct proper right here isn’t good, head to San Marcos. There are only a few first payment grocery retailers correct proper right here for self-catering. There’s an ATM.

To be taught additional concerning the funky village of San Pedro, take a look at our video correct proper right here:

Jaibalito

Though not many travellers protect correct proper right here, this village deserves a specific degree out as appropriately. Jaibalito is positioned just some minutes west of Santa Cruz. The fact is, you presumably can really stroll there on a excessive mountain path, or, it’s a fast boat journey. There are hardly any individuals residing correct proper right here or vacationers staying correct proper right here, nonetheless there are a collection of expats and good locals. There are furthermore just some inns to remain in. Take a look at the Wednesday Jaibalito Market and Le Casa del Mundo for a drink on a implausible patio.

Santiago Atitlán

Santiago Atitlán is mainly primarily probably the most populous village on the lake, with the overwhelming majority of the parents being Tz’utujil Maya. Situated on the very south of the lake, on an inlet between the Tolimán and San Pedro Volcanoes. It is a very normal, actual village, one that each purchaser ought to see all via their protect. Friday and Sunday are the primary market days, nonetheless visiting any day of the week could also be good.

Go!

Primarily, regardless of which village you resolve to journey to on Lake Atitlán, you’ll be impressed. The encircling volcanoes, native Mayan individuals and delightful lake are what makes this home so unimaginable and distinctive. It’s going to almost certainly look like a frightening job when looking for out which village is the best, so hopefully this data gave you a terrific breakdown of what to anticipate from every village 🙂

Traveller’s Notes

Value Of Principal Boat Rides:

Panajachel to Santa Cruz – 10Q ($1.67)

Panajachel to San Marcos – 15Q ($2.50)

Panajachel to San Pedro – 25Q ($4)

San Pedro to San Marcos – 10Q ($1.67)

San Pedro to Santa Cruz – 15Q ($2.50)

Risks:

Some areas aren’t protected for strolling, search the advice of with a neighborhood before trekking between any of the villages. Normally every village is protected all via the day, nonetheless the paths between them are infamous for robberies and muggings.

In case you happen to thought individuals are the one mobs bothering vacationers at evening, you’d be mistaken. Packs of stray canines have been acknowledged to assault unsuspecting individuals, notably late at evening. Regularly journey with quite a lot of particular specific individual after darkish and ponder carrying pepper spray.

Annoyances:

The boat drivers have an “official” vacationer worth for boat rides. You might uncover an indication stating the primary routes in San Pedro, nonetheless do it’s important to don’t know the costs, they’ll nearly definitely attempt to tear you off. Use the worth data above and don’t pay any additional.

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For additional data on Lake Atitlán, take a look at our articles:

Important Options & Info: Border Crossing from San Cristobal to Lake Atitlán

Our Digital Nomad Life on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

The Value of Residing on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Have you ever ever ever travelled to Lake Atitlán before? Which village do you suppose is the best?