Everything You Need to Know to Visit Lake Atitlan
Hike San Pedro Volcano for spectacular views, explore the nooks and crannies of the shoreline on a kayak, learn Spanish, buy souvenirs at Central America’s largest market, take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of a nature reserve and watch magical sunsets. These are just some of the best things to do on Lake Atitlan; continue reading our complete guide for more and everything you need to know for your visit.
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Renowned as being one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Atitlan (or Lago Atitlan) will no doubt leave a lasting impression.
The local Mayans say that Lake Atitlan is the “bellybutton of the world” and unique energy fields run through the area. Whether you believe that or not, you won’t be able to deny that it’s a truly special place.Â
Lake Atitlan is a volcanic lake located in Southwest Guatemala. It lies in a spectacular setting in the central highlands, nestled between three volcanoes; Atitlan, Toliman and San Pedro. It’s 18 kilometres long, 6 kilometres wide and 325 metres deep, making it the deepest lake in Central America!
There are many wonderful things to do on Lake Atitlan including hiking, volunteering, kayaking, learning Spanish, doing yoga and much much more. It’s also the perfect place to get away from it all and relax. Don’t be surprised if you end up staying longer than you intended!Â
There are numerous towns on Lake Atitlan in the foothills of the volcanoes. The majority of the population are Maya descendants who still treasure their traditions and customs resulting in each village having its own distinct personality and charm.
Some villages are lively with a wealth of activities and entertainment, others more secluded with a laidback hippy vibe. We’ll discuss some of the villages later.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the best things to do on Lake Atitlan, then the logistics including where to stay, how to get there and how long we’d recommend to visit Lake Atitlan.
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Best Things to do on Lake Atitlan
There are so many amazing things to do on Lake Atitlan, you could easily spend a couple of weeks here and continue discovering more gems.
Here are some of the top Lake Atitlan activities:
Kayaking
One of the absolute best Lake Atitlan activities is kayaking. Enjoy the calm and peaceful water and explore the little nooks and crannies of the shoreline while appreciating the majesty of the volcanoes and mountains looming in the distance.Â
Kayaking on the lake will reward you with some of the best 360-degree views of the surrounding landscapes.
Many guesthouses will have their own kayaks you can rent, or, if not, they’ll know someone who does.
Watch the Sunset
Sunsets on Lake Atitlan are spectacular!
The lake is a truly magical place in general and watching the sky and neighbouring volcanoes turn different hues of reds, oranges and pinks feels completely surreal.
As the sky gets darker the volcanoes turn to silhouettes. On a calm evening, you’ll be able to see their reflections in the lake, treating you to the bucketlist of all sunsets.
Swim in Lake Atitlan
One of the best Lake Atitlan activities on a hot day is taking a refreshing dip.
Not everywhere, however, is great for swimming. Although you may find big inflatables on the water’s edge by some of the guesthouses in San Pedro, the lake in this area is fairly dirty and polluted unfortunately.Â
The nicest area we swam in was in San Marcos. Cerro Tzankujil is a nature reserve with sheltered swimming areas and crystal-clear waters. You’ll also find walking trails, places to sit and relax and gaze open-jawed at the volcanoes across from you. There’s even a wooden platform built on the edge of a cliff where you can jump into the water. Entrance to the nature reserve is 20Q (3 USD).
Shop at Chichicastenango
Nicknamed ‘Chichi’ by the locals, Chichicastenango is home to the largest market in Central America. It’s hundreds of years old and welcomes buyers and sellers from far and wide. Â
Chichi Market is most famous for its textiles, especially huipils; traditional garments worn by indigenous females in Guatemala.
Each huipil takes between 3 and 12 months to complete and they’re usually decorated with vibrant colourful and intricate designs. Different regions of the country use different patterns and tones but it’s widely acknowledged that the best quality huipils are found here.Â
Chichi is also known for its wood carvings, leather goods, colourful fabrics, handmade jewellery, candles, medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, candles, condiments and numerous other souvenirs to take home.Â
The market is open every day with the main days and extended opening hours being on Thursdays and Sundays. There are tourist shuttles to take you to the market but for the most authentic experience, take the local “chicken buses”.
Hike to La Nariz
One of the best things to do on Lake Atitlan for magnificent views is to hike to La Nariz (Indian’s Nose). It’s a short but steep 30-minute uphill climb but the views are definitely worth it.Â
This place is considered sacred to the indigenous people Lago Atitlan is home to. They sometimes pray and conduct religious services at the top.Â
The hike starts in Santa Clara. If you want to reach the summit for sunrise, we’d recommend taking a guide as there isn’t a lot of accommodation close by so you’ll need to travel. Robberies, in particular, while it’s dark are also known to happen here.Â
Alternatively, you can take a local chicken bus to Santa Clara. Maps.Me is a great app where you can download maps offline and it’ll clearly show you where the trail is.
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Hike San Pedro Volcano
Towering above San Pedro village is San Pedro Volcano, rewarding hikers with striking views over Lake Atitlan, Mayan villages and multiple neighbouring volcanoes. The volcano is no longer active and is now a protected wilderness area.Â
San Pedro Volcano is 3020 metres above sea level with an elevation gain of roughly 1400 metres. The 6.5-kilometre hike is rated as medium-difficult and should take around 3 hours to reach the top.Â
The easiest way to get to the trailhead is to take a tuk-tuk for the 10-minute drive. It should cost around 15Q. Once you’ve reached the trailhead, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee of 100Q (approx. 13 USD) which will also include a guide if you wish.Â
There are agencies in San Pedro where you can pay for a guide but they’ll also charge more for the transport costs. The cheapest thing to do is take a tuk-tuk and use a guide included in the entrance fee.
Our Top Tip:Â robberies can be quite common here so only take the money you’ll need and leave all valuables at your accommodation. Police are quite regularly on patrol here to protect tourists.
Do Yoga
Unsurprisingly, one of the most popular Lake Atitlan activities is yoga. As the surroundings are incredibly peaceful and tranquil, practising yoga overlooking the lake and neighbouring volcanoes and mountains sounds very appealing and rather enchanting to many people.
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You’ll find yoga studios and retreat centres sprawled around the lake offering classes and yoga teaching qualifications.
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Although you’ll find studios dotted around all of the villages, San Marcos has the highest concentration if you want more options.
Learn Spanish
If visiting Guatemala is part of a larger Central-South America adventure, it’s definitely worth learning some Spanish. There’s no better way to completely immerse yourself in the culture than being able to communicate with the locals.Â
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Guatemala is a great place to learn Spanish as the accent is mild and the locals naturally speak quite slowly. There are numerous Spanish schools around Lake Atitlan and classes are inexpensive compared to other places. Also, imagine sitting in school with a view of Lake Atitlan…sounds perfect!
That rounds off our list of the best things to do on Lake Atitlan. Continue reading for everything else you need to know.
Where to stay on Lake Atitlan
When you visit Lake Atitlan, I’d recommend staying in a couple of towns to experience different areas and the towns’ distinct characters and charms. You can also enjoy different views of the lake and volcanoes.
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Panajachel
I’ll mention Panajachel first as it’s the gateway to Lago Atitlan. Depending on what time you arrive, and if boats are still running, you may have to spend a night here anyway.
Panajachel is the most developed and touristy town on Lake Atitlan’s shore. You won’t get the laidback vibes of the smaller villages, but you’ll have lots of options for shopping, hotels and eating out. If you’re looking for somewhere more lively, I’d recommend Panajachel. Head to Santander Street where you’ll find handicraft stalls, restaurants and bustling bars.
San Pedro La Laguna
San Pedro La Laguna is popular with backpackers as you’ll find some of the cheapest prices around Lake Atitlan. It’s also a great place to meet new people, socialise and go out in the evenings.Â
Although San Pedro has earned a reputation for being a bit of a party town, it’s also a great place to completely unwind and relax while retaining some of its charm.
It’s the town with the most options in terms of accommodation, restaurants, and shops and if you want to learn Spanish, it has the highest concentration of Spanish schools making the prices extremely competitive. You can easily avoid the parties.
Hostel Fe is the party hostel in San Pedro. I stayed here for 2 nights before heading to the more laidback San Marcos. The outside bar can get quite rowdy and there’s a deck you can jump off into the lake. Sometimes they have large inflatables to jump on. It’s a great place for nightlife and meeting new people.
Our Top Tip: the only downside to San Pedro is that, although you can swim in the lake, it’s fairly dirty and polluted. The government are doing their best to clean it but it’s not uncommon for people to get sick after swimming. I’d recommend taking a boat over to San Marcos to swim.
San Marcos La Laguna
San Marcos is a cute town, on the opposite side of the lake to San Pedro with a very different vibe. If you’re looking for something more peaceful and less crowded but still with options for dining and activities, then San Marcos is an idyllic choice.Â
San Marcos is also the perfect place if you’re into meditation, massages, spiritual practises and yoga. It’s best described as having a “hippy vibe” and it’s pretty common to see dreadlocked foreigners who’ve made this place home for a few months by selling jewellery.
The best places to swim in the lake are found here. I’d recommend heading to Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve for crystal clear water, walking trails and a platform on the cliff edge to jump off.
There are a few other villages, like Santa Cruz, that are very secluded. You’ll most likely eat all of your meals at your accommodation, but they’re a great place if you want to get off the grid and completely unwind. Regardless of which village you stay in, you can easily make trips to the other villages.Â
Our Top Tip: some of the towns have paths between them but it’s not recommended that you walk. There have previously been robberies targeting backpackers. Instead, take a tuk-tuk or a boat (see below).
Getting Around Lake Atitlan
Getting around Lake Atitlan is very easy if you’re moving to a different village or if you’d prefer to use one as your base and make day trips out.
One of the first things you’ll notice is how dire the roads are! Most roads are bumpy dirt tracks, so, the easiest and most comfortable way of getting around Lake Atitlan is using boats or lanchas.Â
Boats leave from the dock in each town and those working there will point you in the direction of which boat to take for your destination. There isn’t a set schedule per se, instead, they tend to wait to fill up before leaving.Â
Boats start running at 6:30am and the last boat leaves around 7:30pm. Prices seem to change quite regularly, but as a tourist, you’ll be charged more than a local.
Our Top Tip: if you can, take the boat in the morning when the water is calmer. The wind usually picks up in the afternoon and makes the conditions rougher.
All the towns around Lake Atitlan are full of tuk-tuks. They’re quick and convenient but fairly pricey compared to other means of transport. They’re handy for getting around the town you’re in but I’d recommend taking a boat to another town. Prices increase at night and also when you enter a new part of town.
Chicken buses are also a common way of getting around Lake Atitlan. You may have to take a few rather than a direct one, but they’re fun and cheap to use. They’re also quite straightforward to use if you do have to change as usually, your next bus will depart exactly where the last one dropped you off.
How to get to Lake Atitlan
Panajachel is the main gateway to Lake Atitlan with regular boats from 6:30am until 7:30pm. The boats stop at the different villages so you may have to go via somewhere to get on to where you’re staying.
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Panajachel is easily accessible from Guatemala City via a 4-hour bus. If you’re coming from elsewhere in Guatemala, you can choose to take a local chicken bus or a shuttle.
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Due to increasing tourism in Guatemala, there are now tourist shuttles to take you directly between places. I travelled from Lanquin, which is very remote, on a direct shuttle. It took around 9 hours and once we’d reached Panajachel we were too late for the boats so we spent a night here and then got an early ferry the following morning.
How Long Should I Spend on Lake Atitlan?
There are so many wonderful things to do on Lake Atitlan and places to experience that you can spend anywhere from a few days to a few months. I had 3 nights and would have liked a couple more.
I’d recommend at least two nights in two places so you can experience the different atmospheres of the villages and the contrasting views on different sides of the lake. Four nights will give you enough time to get a feel for the place and try various things.
It’s also very common for people to spend longer here either through one of the numerous volunteering options or at a yoga retreat.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful in planning your visit to Lago Atitlan. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or contact us 🙂
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