The Top 10 Things to See and Do in and Around Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan | © Christopher William Adach / Flickr

Freelance writer

Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Encircled by volcanoes and valleys and with authentic Mayan towns dotted around the perimeter, Lake Atitlan will stun visitors with its dramatic and mysterious beauty. It would be easy to spend your time here just sitting in a café and gazing out at the views, but there’s so much more to this area than that. Here are the top 10 things to do in and around Lake Atitlan.

Learn traditional Mayan weaving at San Juan

Just a 10-minute tuk-tukride from bustling, touristy San Pedro, San Juan couldn’t be more different. With only a few eateries here, the best food is from the local comedors on the streets, and the local, sustainable approach to tourism is a breath of fresh air. Known mostly for its textiles and art, at San Juan, you can enjoy a traditional Maya experience as you learn backstrap weaving. A course with Asociación Lema takes two hours and costs around Q115 ($15), and afterwards, you can browse the embroidery co-ops along the street.

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GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

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An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

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A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

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An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

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ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

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An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

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A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

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1. South Korea

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THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

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EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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IMMERSIVE KENYA

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Mayan Weaving

Paraglide over the lake

If you’ve ever wanted to try paragliding, Lake Atitlan is the best place to do it; zooming over the deep blue lake and circling the towering volcanoes is something you’ll never forget. Most paragliding courses start from Panajachel, where you’re taken to a launch site by the town of Santa Catarina. When the wind conditions are perfect, you’ll take off with your instructor and enjoy an adrenaline-pumping 40-minute experience before landing in the Panajachel River flatbed. There are several companies you can paraglide with, but Real World Paragliding is regarded as the best.

Kayak to San Pedro

If soaring through the sky is a bit too much for you, why not take a kayak out? San Pedro is the best town on the lake to paddle around, and you can navigate through a floating forest and partially submerged buildings. You can rent a kayak for about Q15 ($2.00) an hour from the Santigo dock. The lake can get a little choppy later in the day, so go in the morning if possible.

Watch the sunrise from Indian’s Nose

If you’re all about catching magnificent views, hiking Indian’s Nose should be on your Lake Atitlan must-do list. This volcano is shaped like a man’s face, and the summit (the ‘nose’) was thought to be sacred by the Mayans. The hike begins early (around 3:45 am), but the brutal start will be totally worth it when you reach the top and see the sun peaking over the misty lake. Make sure you bring a camera!

Lake Atitlan sunrise

Learn Spanish in San Pedro

Thanks to the extremely intelligible accent, Guatemala is the best place in Central America to learn Spanish. If you’re hoping to improve your Spanish while you’re here, take a few classes in San Pedro, where there are several outstanding language schools. San Pedro Spanish School is the biggest and most well-known, but Cooperativa Spanish School and Orbita Spanish School are also good.

Go on the sunset BYOB cruise

Lake Atitlan is known for its spectacular sunsets, and the Panajachel cruise is the best way to see it. Every weekend evening the boat leaves from the western dock, and at only Q10, it’s an absolute bargain. You’re only cruising for 20 minutes, but you’ll get to enjoy unrivalled views as the sun sinks below the volcanoes and the lake lights up. It’s BYOB too, so what could be a better way to kick off the night?

Hike San Pedro volcano

With three dramatic volcanoes circling the lake, hiking up at least one of them is on most people’s Atitlan bucket list. You can climb San Pedro volcano in between 2.5 and 5 hours, and unlike other volcano treks, you can do this one on your own. The path is well-kept, but make sure you bring warm clothes as it gets chilly near the top. Set off early, as the visibility becomes poor after around 11 am.

Lake Atitlan

Motorcycle to the hot springs

The area around Lake Atitlan has some of the best roads in the world for motorcycling. They’re well maintained, winding and smooth and are a joy to whizz along. If you have motorbike experience, you can hire a bike and spend the day riding past the different Mayan villages, marvelling at the views from the 2,000-foot (609-meter) ridges and taking photos of the lake from these unique vantage points.

Take a lakeside yoga class

There are many places to practice yoga around Lake Atitlan, but San Marcos is the best place to do the downward dog. Full of hippies and expats, this peaceful town has dozens of yoga and meditation classes, but one is especially unique. If you want to do yoga right over the lake, head to the yoga deck at Hostal Del Lago, where you can join the morning yoga classes for just Q40. If you’re looking to reconnect with nature and yourself, it’s hard to imagine a more powerful setting.

Hike from Santa Cruz to Jaibalito

The walk from Santa Cruz to Jaibalito is easily one of the best short hikes around Atitlan. You’ll stroll up the side of a mountain, all along a winding cliff path and down some well-worn ancient steps before arriving in Jaibalito where you can treat yourself to a beer and a hot tub soak at Club Ven Aca. While not a particularly strenuous hike, the uninhibited views over the lake are magnificent.

Lake Atitlan
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