Antigua Guatemala is one of those towns that feels instantly familiar, even if you’ve never been. Laid out in a neat colonial grid beneath hulking volcanoes, it mixes crumbling churches, lively plazas, and pastel-colored streets where everyday life moves at a gentle pace. Once the Spanish capital of Central America, it still carries the weight of history—but without losing the … [Read more...]
From Lake Atitlán (San Pedro) to Antigua Guatemala by Public Transport
Two weeks of memorable adventures passed on the misty shores of Lake Atitlán. It was time to continue our journey toward Guatemala’s former capital and arguably most beautiful city, Antigua. The easy way would’ve been to travel directly in a shared tourist van—about €20 per person for a 3–4-hour ride. You can book one through any of the ubiquitous tour agencies in San Pedro … [Read more...]
Best things to do in San Pedro La Laguna, Lake Atitlán
San Pedro is the main backpacker hub on Lake Atitlán and the place where nightlife, cheap hostels, and long stays naturally concentrate. It has a reputation for parties and late nights, but the picture is more layered than that. Indigenous Tz’utujil Maya life is still very visible—traditional dress, markets, daily routines—coexisting with bars, language schools, and yoga boards … [Read more...]
Santa Clara La Laguna: A Lake Atitlán Village Without a Lake
Santa Clara La Laguna sits high above the southwestern end of Lake Atitlán, on a ridge at roughly 2,100 meters. Unlike most of the villages associated with the lake, it doesn’t touch the water at all. It’s a highland town first and a lakeside destination only by association, known mainly as the access point to the Rostro Maya (Indian Nose) viewpoint rather than as a stop in its … [Read more...]
Panajachel, Guatemala: A Day Exploring Lake Atitlán’s Largest Town
Panajachel (usually “Pana”) is Lake Atitlán’s main transport and service hub, and the most developed town on the shoreline. It’s where a lot of people first arrive from elsewhere in Guatemala, and it shows: more banks, more shops, more tour agencies, more restaurants, and a street layout that feels like a town rather than a village. It was also a notable stop on the 1970s … [Read more...]
San Marcos: a Day Trip to Lake Atitlán’s Spiritual Village
San Marcos La Laguna is a small lakeside village on Lake Atitlán, known for its strong association with spirituality, wellness, and alternative lifestyles. It has built a reputation as the lake’s center for yoga, meditation, and holistic practices, attracting travelers interested in retreats, workshops, and slower, inward-focused experiences. Vegetarian and vegan cafés are … [Read more...]
San Juan La Laguna: a Day Trip to Lake Atitlán’s Artsy Village
San Juan La Laguna sits immediately east of San Pedro and feels like its quiet, deliberate counterpoint. It’s a small Tz’utujil Maya town that has leaned heavily into community-based tourism, built around art, textiles, and local production rather than nightlife or mass transit. Compared to other lakeside villages, San Juan feels carefully tended—clean streets, clear signage, … [Read more...]
Santa Cruz La Laguna, Lake Atitlán: Our Day Trip & Things to Do
Santa Cruz La Laguna is a small, steeply terraced village on the northern shore of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, accessible primarily by boat due to its lack of a practical road connection. The village is known for its dramatic setting—perched on the lake’s edge and climbing sharply into the surrounding highlands—with panoramic views of the lake and the looming volcanoes of … [Read more...]
Kayaking on Lake Atitlán: Beneath Volcán San Pedro
Kayaking is one of my favorite modes of exploring. A spontaneous urge to paddle almost always takes hold whenever I’m faced with an inviting stretch of water. When we arrived at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala—ringed by steep, jungle-covered slopes and dominated by looming volcanoes—the temptation was inevitable. Organized vs. Independent Kayaking Organized kayaking tours … [Read more...]
From Quetzaltenango to Lake Atitlán by Chicken Buses
About a week had flown by in Quetzaltenango. We’d had some lovely adventures in the area, including climbing the active volcano Santa María and witnessing rain-calling Maya rituals on the sacred shores of Lake Chicabal. Now, it was time to continue our journey through Guatemala toward the enchanting Lake Atitlán. There are two ways to reach Lake Atitlán from … [Read more...]
