1. Take in the Culture
Lake Atitlan is home to one of the most densely populated areas of indigenous Mayan people in the whole world. Traveling across the lake you’ll notice that different towns have varying customs, signature clothing designs, and even different native languages. Want to check out the artisanal markets? Head to Panajachel. Want some custom-made textiles? Check out San Juan La Laguna. Interested in making an offering to the effigy of a Mayan deity called Maximon? Go to Santiago.
If you want to pick up some new skills and learn how to make traditional food or weave some gorgeous textiles – talk to our friends at CECAP – Cafe Sabor Cruceño en Santa Cruz, Lake Atitlan.
2. All of the Activities
There are so many things to keep you occupied and active on Lake Atitlan. Head to Reserva Natural Atitlan en Panajachel and feed monkeys, walk on suspension bridges, and zip line. If you’re a thrill-seeker, go to San Marcos and do the 8-meter Cliff Jump into the crystal-clear blue lake. Hike a Volcano in San Pedro. If you want to chill out, grab a kayak or paddle board at Free Cerveza and float around on the water. We can guarantee you won’t get bored, no matter how long you’re on the lake!
3. Learn Spanish
Guatemala is known as one of the best and cheapest places in the world to learn Spanish. You can do casual classes, group classes, sign up for a week’s worth of private lessons, or you can even go the extra mile and do your classes coupled with a homestay – this is when you live with a local family for a week and fully immerse yourself in the language. There are a bunch of schools on the lake to learn – we suggest Jabel Tinamit en Panajachel o San Pedro Spanish School en San Pedro.
4. Explore the Towns
Every single town on the lake has a completely different vibe and atmosphere. Panajachel is the spot to go shopping during the afternoon & drink at night: check out the markets and get some cool gifts, then head to our friends at Dreamboat hostel for some nightly drinking games, and then Club Azul Rosa for delicious cusha cocktails and nightly DJ’s. San Marcos is the place to get your inner hippie on. Go to Circles Cafe for some local coffee or kombucha, then make the hike over to The Yoga Forest to zen out or check out one of their awesome essential oil classes. San Pedro is our pick to day drink. Head over to Sublime for some yummy food and lakeside views, and then go visit our friends at Mr. Mullets for a couple of cold ones and spontaneous beer-fueled adventures.
5. Go for a hike
So much of Lake Atitlan is beautiful, undeveloped land ready for you to hike and explore. Take the 2.5-hour hike from Santa Cruz to San Marcos for awesome views and pass through a couple of little towns on the way. Head over to Santa Pedro or San Juan, grab a guide and do the incredible trek up Indian Nose for unbelievable panoramic views of the lake. Otherwise, if you want something a little less strenuous, join our Sunrise Hike at Free Cerveza and head up to a smaller peak to watch the sunrise while learning some fun facts about the beautiful Lake Atitlan.
EN