San Pedro La Laguna
Nightlife, schoolsThe backpacker village.
Lake guide
Things to do in Lake Atitlán
A deep blue crater lake ringed by volcanoes and Maya villages, each with its own character: yoga in San Marcos, nightlife in San Pedro, weaving in San Juan, Tz'utujil traditions in Santiago, all linked by boat.
3
Volcanoes on the shore
4–5
Days
The lake of villages
Lake Atitlán fills a huge volcanic caldera in the western highlands, at around 1,560 metres, with the volcanoes San Pedro, Atitlán and Tolimán rising from its southern shore. Writers have called it the most beautiful lake in the world, and the view across it at sunrise makes the case.
Around its shores are a dozen Maya villages, mostly Kaqchikel and Tz'utujil, each with its own feel. Panajachel is the busy gateway town; San Pedro La Laguna has Spanish schools and the lake's nightlife; San Marcos is the centre of yoga and meditation; San Juan has weaving and painting cooperatives; and Santiago Atitlán is the largest and most traditional, with its shrine of Maximón.
Lanchas, public boats, cross between the villages all day, so it is easy to move around. Give the lake four to five days, and stay in more than one village.
Where to base yourself
San Pedro for nightlife and schools, San Marcos for yoga, San Juan for quiet, or Panajachel for transport.
San Marcos La Laguna
Yoga, swimmingA quiet, spiritual village.
San Juan La Laguna
Weaving, quietNext to San Pedro.
Panajachel
Transport, shopsThe gateway town.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do at Lake Atitlán
Hop between villages by lancha: see the weaving cooperatives and murals of San Juan, the market and Maximón shrine in Santiago, and the yoga and swimming spots of San Marcos, including the Cerro Tzankujil nature reserve with its jumping platform.
Watch sunrise from Indian Nose, a hill above San Juan, on a guided hike, or climb San Pedro volcano. Kayak or paddleboard on the lake in the calm mornings.
Study Spanish in San Pedro, and take a day trip to the Thursday and Sunday market in Chichicastenango.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking the villages, their markets and the lakeshore costs nothing, and so does sunset over the volcanoes.
Swimming from the public shore in most villages is free.
Lanchas cost a few euros a ride, and Indian Nose and Cerro Tzankujil charge small fees.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Comedores in every village serve set lunches for €3 to €5, and markets sell tamales and fresh fruit. Try black bass from the lake and pepián.
San Pedro and San Marcos have cheap international cafes, vegetarian food and good coffee grown on the lake slopes.
A 10 per cent tip is customary in restaurants, and is sometimes already added to the bill.
Nightlife
Going out
San Pedro La Laguna is the lake's party village, with bars and weekly parties popular with backpackers. Panajachel has a few bars on Calle Santander.
San Marcos and San Juan are quiet at night.
Gallo costs €1.50 to €3. Lanchas stop running around dusk, so plan to sleep where you drink.
Getting around
Getting around
Tourist shuttles run from Antigua to Panajachel or San Pedro in about three hours, and from Xela and Guatemala City. Chicken buses go to Panajachel via Sololá.
Public lanchas cross between the villages from early morning until about dusk, for a few euros. Agree the fare before boarding.
Tuk-tuks run within villages, and some villages are linked by road.
Costs
What Lake Atitlán costs
Dorm beds start at around €7 to €14 a night. Comedor lunches cost €3 to €5.
Lancha rides cost about €2 to €4, yoga classes about €8 to €12, and Spanish school with homestay about €130 to €220 a week.
Carry cash; cash machines are in Panajachel and San Pedro, but can run out.
Safety
Safety and scams
The lake villages are generally relaxed, but robberies have happened on hiking trails between villages and on Indian Nose and San Pedro volcano, so hike with a local guide.
Afternoon winds, the xocomil, can make the lake rough; take morning boats if you can. Avoid walking between villages after dark.
Do not drink the tap water; bottled and purified water is cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 110 for the police, or 1500 for PROATUR, the tourist assistance line.
Worth the trip
Markets, villages and volcanoes.
Chichicastenango
The Thursday and Sunday market.
Santiago Atitlán
Maximón and the market.
Xela
Highland city.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Markets and festivals.
Thursdays and Sundays
Chichicastenango market
Chichicastenango
The biggest market in the region.
March or April
Semana Santa
Santiago Atitlán
Maximón processions.
When to go
November to April is the dry season, with clear views of the volcanoes. May to October brings afternoon rain. Easter and the end of the year are busiest.
Jan
Dry, clear
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Semana Santa
May
Rains begin
Jun
Afternoon rain
Jul
Short dry spell
Aug
Rain
Sep
Wettest
Oct
Wet
Nov
Dry returns
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Cool evenings at 1,560 metres.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Lake Atitlán prices.
Treat these as a guide. Lessons and tours cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Lake Atitlán questions
The ones we get asked most.
Which village should I stay in?
San Pedro for nightlife and schools, San Marcos for yoga, San Juan for quiet, Panajachel for transport.
How do I get around the lake?
By public lancha, from early morning until about dusk.
Is Lake Atitlán safe?
The villages are relaxed, but hike with a local guide, as robberies have happened on trails.
Can I swim in Lake Atitlán?
Yes, in places such as San Marcos and Cerro Tzankujil.
How do I get there from Antigua?
By shuttle in about three hours.
How many days do I need?
Four to five, in more than one village.
When is the best time to visit?
November to April.
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