Santa Cruz is one of the many hidden gems of Lake Atitlan. Tucked away in its own little bay, the small town is a fun and relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of the larger towns and cities. Despite being one of the quieter destinations in Guatemala, there’s still plenty to do if you venture outside of Free Cerveza.
Here are some of our favorite activities you can easily do during your stay here:
Do the Sunrise Hike
Want to see the lake from above? We love to organize early morning hikes for our guests so they can catch that glorious sunrise from a high vantage point. We usually like to start the hike bright and early, around 5:00 – 5:30 AM and we make our way up the giant hill beside us. Overall, the hike up the hill and back down again takes about an hour and a half (give or take) and the end result is a stunning panoramic view of the entire lake as the sun peeks over the mountains.
Walk to Jaibalito
Jaibalito is the town over from Santa Cruz and it’s a relatively short and scenic walk that’s suitable for most fitness levels. There’s a brief section of the walk that’s uphill, but the rest is pretty relaxing and you should be able to make it to the next town in roughly half an hour. There are plenty of gorgeous photo opportunities along the way and once you arrive there are a few tasty places to eat and take in those lake views.
Take a cooking class at CECAP
Learn how to make some delicious Guatemalan dishes at CECAP, a restaurant and education center located up in the main town of Santa Cruz. They regularly run a range of cooking and craft classes available to the public and hosted by their amazing staff. Their cooking class will teach you how to make Guatemalan tamales, pepian, and more accompanied by a glass of wine.
Go on a Paddleboarding Tour
Right around the corner from Free Cerveza is the one and only SUP Atitlan – a small stand-up paddleboard business that specializes in intimate tours of Lake Atitlan. The owner and operator, Marshall, offers a range of tours catering to every level. You can paddleboard over to San Marcos to do the cliff jump or even take a sunrise trip across the lake to Santiago. No matter what you’re interested in, they’ll provide an incredible experience.
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