Your Ultimate Guide to Lake Atitlan
If you’ve ever looked up the best things to do in Guatemala, you’ve undoubtedly come across Lake Atitlan. This beautiful lake is one of Guatemala’s top tourist destinations, and it is easy to see why given its natural beauty and cute little lakeside towns. That being said, I will say that we were not super overwhelmed by Lake Atitlan, but I do still think it’s absolutely worth a visit when you’re in Guatemala. Therefore, in this post we’ll explore a few of the towns around the lake, go over logistics like where to stay and how to get there, and answer some questions we had when we visited!
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Exploring the Towns of Lake Atitlan
There are tons of small towns surrounding the lake that are fun to spend a day or two exploring! We only went to the main towns of San Pedro, San Juan, Panajachel, and San Marcos, but there are a bunch of other towns to explore as well if you have more time!
San Pedro
If you’re backpacking Guatemala, you’ll likely find yourself staying in San Pedro. This is where we stayed, and it was definitely where most backpackers end up. San Pedro is a cute little town, and though there’s not a ton to do, there’s enough to keep yourself busy while still giving you time to relax.
Some of the best things to do in San Pedro include:
1. Indian Nose Hike for Sunrise
Summit Indian Nose at sunrise for an unbelievable view overlooking Lake Atitlan and the surrounding towns. This is a super popular hike (especially at sunrise), so there are tons of tour operators/hostels in San Pedro that will offer this hike as a guided tour for around 100 Quetzales (about 12.75 USD). We definitely recommend going with a tour so that you don’t have to worry about transportation or safety. With the tour, you’ll be picked up around 4 AM and driven about 30-45 minutes to the start of the hike, where you’ll hike about 30-45 minutes to get to the top (fairly steep, but rewarding!). You’ll spend some time up there and watch the sunrise, then hike down and be back in San Pedro by about 8 AM.
2. Do a Yoga Class
When we were in San Pedro, one of my favorite things that we did was a morning yoga class at Sababa Resort. This resort is absolutely stunning, and the spot where you do the yoga overlooks the lake. It was beautiful and such a relaxing way to start the day. The class is at 9:30 AM and you just have to text her the night before to reserve a spot. You can text her on Whatsapp at +502 3735-9174.
3. Soak in at Los Termales
The thermal pools are something that absolutely cannot be missed in San Pedro. We went here one evening and spent a wonderful hour soaking in a pool heated to a hot tub temperature. The lake views are amazing, and there’s a cold pool to jump in if you get too hot. You can also bring whatever beverages you want with you to enjoy! It takes 20-30 minutes for the owner to prepare a pool for you, so we recommend going at least half an hour before you want to be in the pool (though there may be a longer wait if there are others waiting in front of you). For 60 minutes, the cost is 60 Quetzales (about 7.75 USD) per person.
4. Water Activities
While it is relatively questionable whether or not swimming in Lake Atitlan is that safe, there are still a number of water activities that you can do here. There are tour operators that offer wakeboarding and water skiing, and there are also tons of spots to rent kayaks (this is a good option if you want to be on the water without being IN the water!).
San Juan
San Juan was our favorite town that we visited along the lake. The whole town is filled with colors and tons of shops selling souvenirs, coffee, and chocolate. There are also tons of art galleries that are so fun to explore.
If you’re staying in San Pedro, getting to San Juan is incredibly easy – you can either take the boat for a short ride or take a 5 minute tuk tuk ride (which is cheaper than the boat!). We went to San Juan a couple times when we were at Lake Atitlan and loved it. Some of our favorite things we did were:
1. Mirador Kaqasiiwaan
This short little hike (basically just stairs) led to absolutely stunning views of the lake and San Juan. We highly recommend this – it only takes 15-20 minutes to climb up and costs 30 Quetzales (about 4 USD).
2. Wander La Calle de las Sombrillas
San Juan has plenty of beautiful, colorful streets, but this one lined with umbrellas might just take the cake! This is the main street of San Juan, and filled with art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and shops. Take your time exploring this charming street!
3. Make, Eat, and Drink Chocolate at Licor Marron
The chocolate at this place is absolutely amazing – and we really cannot recommend the hot chocolate here enough. There is also a class where you can learn about their process of making chocolate, which I definitely recommend if you’ve never done something like that!
Panajachel
Panajachel is the main town from which you’ll likely arrive and depart Lake Atitlan from. We spent a little bit of time wandering around the main part of the city; there are beautiful views of the lake from here and tons of shops to do you souvenir shopping!
There honestly wasn’t too much to do right in the town, but if you venture out a little bit, you’ll find the Atitlan Natural Reserve. We highly recommend coming here, this was a fun spot to explore.
The reserve has hanging bridges, lots of opportunities to spot wildlife (we saw monkeys and tons of coatis!), a waterfall, and a butterfly garden. You can walk here from the ferry terminal (about 20 minutes) or take a quick tuk tuk ride.
San Marcos
San Marcos was definitely the most interesting of the towns we visited. It has a strong hippy vibe and is all about healing and spirituality. If you’re into that kind of stuff, you’ll feel very at home here! If not, San Marcos is still a cool place to visit for a couple hours, grab a delicious vegan meal, do some yoga, or get a massage! There is also a small nature reserve here that you can visit with a 12 meter platform you can jump off.
How to Get Around Lake Atitlan
Getting around Lake Atitlan is incredibly easy. There are tons of water taxis running pretty much all the time. The cost varies on where you’re going, but it should never cost more than 25 Quetzales (about 3 USD) for a one way trip. You can also rent a private boat if you want a more personalized experience!
Where to Stay on Lake Atitlan
There are tons of places to stay around Lake Atitlan, and where you should stay really depends on what you’re looking for out of your trip there. Here are our recommendations:
San Pedro: For the Budget Backpacker and Party Lover
Hostels galore and bustling streets thrum with nightly live music and affordable eats. Hike the volcano by day, dance under the stars by night, all on a shoestring budget.
San Pedro Accommodations
San Marcos: For the Wellness Seeker and Creative Soul
Yoga studios and meditation retreats nestled in tranquil gardens. Discover local art galleries, organic cafes, and a laid-back community embracing conscious living.
San Marcos Accommodations
Jaibalito: For the Luxury Seeker and Romantic Escape
Boutique hotels perched on the shore offer stunning lake views and luxurious amenities. Savor gourmet cuisine, private boat rides, and intimate getaways. There aren’t too many options here, but I definitely need to mention La Casa Del Mundo. This is my dream stay on Lake Atitlan – it looks absolutely stunning.
Is It Safe to Swim in Lake Atitlan?
We googled this a lot when we were at Lake Atitlan and found mixed responses, so we aired on the side of caution and didn’t swim in the water. There’s been a ton of contamination in the lake over the years, and no one seems to really know what exactly is in it (or if it really IS safe). However, there are tons of water activities offered such as water skiing and wakeboarding, and there are certainly areas where it’s popular to hop in for a swim. If you really want to swim, I would stick to spots where you see a good amount of other swimmers.
When is the Best Time to Visit Lake Atitlan?
The best time to visit Lake Atitlan is during the dry season, which runs from November to April. During this time, expect pleasant weather with sunny skies and mild temperatures, perfect for hiking, exploring, and enjoying the outdoors. However, the dry season (especially around Christmas) is peak tourist season, so prices will be higher and the towns and attractions may feel pretty crowded.
How to Get to Lake Atitlan
You’ll likely be coming to Lake Atitlan from Guatemala’s other hotspot, Antigua. If that’s the case, you have three options: chicken bus, shared shuttle, or taxi. A taxi is obviously the most expensive, but it is the most comfortable and quickest option. Shared shuttles are relatively cheap and are a good option if you’re on vacation; you can expect to pay about 15 USD per person to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. However, if you’re backpacking Guatemala or on a budget, you’re going to want to take the chicken buses!
How to Travel Between Antigua and Lake Atitlan by Chicken Bus
Keep Exploring Guatemala…
- The Best Things to do in Guatemala
- Guatemala Itinerary: An Epic 2 Week Adventure
- Best Things to do in Antigua
- The Ultimate Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike
- From Antigua to El Salvador By Bus: Your Ultimate Guide
- Complete Guide to Semuc Champey: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- Antigua to Lake Atitlan (and Back!) Using Public Transportation
- Incredible Things to do in Flores
- The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Tikal in Guatemala
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Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
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