Beautiful beaches, colorful markets, traditional Maya villages, yoga retreats, waterfalls, and some seriously good food. Every town around Lake Atitlán has its own personality.
Calle de los Sombreros, San Juan La Laguna
One of the best things about staying in San Pedro La Laguna is how easy it is to explore the rest of the lake. Hop on a public boat (called a lancha), jump into a tuk-tuk, and you'll find yourself somewhere completely different in no time.
Here are some of the places we love visiting, along with our recommendations for what to see, where to eat, and how to get there.
Before You Go: A Few Tips
Getting around: Public boats connect most of the towns around the lake. They're inexpensive, generally run throughout the day, and are part of the experience. Tuk-tuks are great for shorter trips between neighboring villages.
Bring cash: Small bills and exact change are useful. Having the correct fare ready makes everything easier and helps avoid misunderstandings about prices.
Plan your return: Public boats generally stop running in the early evening - the last boat back to San Pedro leaves Panajachel at 7 pm and the last boat from San Pedro towards Pana leaves at 5.30. If you're heading out for dinner, a concert, or an event in another village, arrange your return transportation in advance. You can arrange a private boat at the dock.
Take your time: Each village has its own atmosphere. Rather than trying to visit five towns in one day, we recommend choosing one or two and spending some time exploring.
San Juan La Laguna
Art, Colors & Local Traditions
Our neighboring town is a fun place to spend a couple of hours or half day.
San Juan is known for its colorful streets, art galleries, weaving cooperatives, and traditional crafts. It's become increasingly popular with visitors, but there's still plenty of local life to discover beyond the main tourist streets.
We've put together a separate guide with our favorite places and things to do in San Juan.
How to get there
Simply wave down a tuk-tuk outside our gate and ask for San Juan.
Travel time: Around 15 minutes
Price: Approximately Q20 per person
Bring exact change if possible.
San Pablo La Laguna
Authentic Village Life & Beautiful Beaches
San Pablo receives very few tourists, and that's exactly what we like about it.
The town has a wonderfully genuine atmosphere, with a strong sense of local identity and everyday Maya life.
We particularly recommend visiting on Wednesday or Sunday, when the local market takes place. Wander through the streets, explore the market, and enjoy a side of Lake Atitlán that feels refreshingly untouched by tourism. You may even become the attraction - that’s how we feel, when we bring our blond kids there.
Just before reaching San Pablo, you'll also find Las Cristalinas, one of our favorite swimming beaches around the lake.
How to get there
Take a tuk-tuk from outside our gate and ask to be dropped off at los tuk-tuks para San Pablo, near the entrance to San Pedro.
From there, take another tuk-tuk to San Pablo.
First tuk-tuk: Q10 per person
Second tuk-tuk: Q20 per person
Bring small bills and agree on the fare before leaving.
Hippie Highway, San Marcos La Laguna
San Marcos La Laguna
Yoga, Healing & Swimming in the Lake
San Marcos is the spiritual hub of Lake Atitlán.
You'll find just about every healing modality imaginable here, alongside yoga studios, meditation retreats, alternative therapies, and plenty of places serving healthy food.
A few of our favorites:
Eagle's Nest: Check their schedule for yoga classes, workshops, and events with spectacular views of the lake.
Hippie Highway: The lively little street leading from the dock toward the village center, lined with cafés, shops, and wellness businesses.
The Hidden Garden: A lovely place to stop for lunch.
Burrito House: Visit our friend Tío Lío for burritos with a view, served from his wonderfully eccentric, self-built house.
Tzankujil Nature Reserve: A beautiful little lakeside reserve where you can swim and jump into the lake from designated platforms. A must for anyone who loves swimming!
How to get there
Take a public lancha from the Pana dock (Embarcadero de Panajachel) in San Pedro.
Travel time: Approximately 10 minutes
Price: Around Q15 per person
Departures: Frequent during the day, often around every 15 minutes
Tzununá
Permaculture, Herbalism & Conscious Living
If San Marcos is the spiritual hub of the lake, Tzununá is its permaculture and herbalism hub.
This little village attracts people interested in regenerative agriculture, medicinal plants, natural living, and creative community projects.
There's quite a lot going on for such a small place.
Granja Tz'ikin: Visit for lunch or join a permaculture class.
Love Probiotics: Their Friday pizza nights are a popular local gathering.
Waterfall hike: Book a guided waterfall tour with José on WhatsApp: +502 4823-1175.
Casa Curativa: Treat yourself to a herbal spa experience.
Gaia Dance Temple: Check their schedule for concerts, gatherings, and Sunday ecstatic dance.
If you're attending an evening event, remember to arrange a private boat back to San Pedro.
How to get there
Take the public lancha from San Pedro's Pana dock, traveling past San Marcos.
Tzununá is the next village after San Marcos.
Travel time: Approximately 15 minutes
Price: Around Q20 per person
Departures: Frequent during the day, often around every 15 minutes
Jaibalito
A Tiny Village & One of the Lake's Prettiest Walks
Jaibalito is a small, quiet village with just a handful of shops and restaurants.
Tres Tenedores: A lovely little restaurant in the heart of Jaibalito, serving traditional Guatemalan dishes alongside homemade pizzas and cocktails. Run by a graduate of the culinary school in neighboring Santa Cruz, it's a great place for a relaxed lunch on the rooftop terrace, with friendly service and reasonable prices.
For us, one of the best reasons to visit is the beautiful lakeside walk to Santa Cruz.
From the dock, head right when facing the mountains. The trail takes approximately 20–30 minutes and offers wonderful views across the lake.
Along the way, you'll pass Casa del Mundo, the spectacularly located hotel that's become something of an Instagram favorite.
The area is also lovely for swimming, so bring your swimsuit.
How to get there
Take the public lancha from San Pedro's Pana dock.
Jaibalito is two stops beyond San Marcos, after Tzununá.
Santa Cruz La Laguna
Lake Views, Good Food & Water Adventures
Santa Cruz is one of the most dramatically situated villages around Lake Atitlán.
The village itself sits high above the water, so we recommend making the walk uphill for the beautiful views and a glimpse of local life away from the waterfront.
Down by the lake, you'll find several good places to eat and plenty of opportunities to get out on the water.
La Iguana Perdida: A relaxed, friendly place by the dock to stop for a drink or something to eat.
Café Sabor Cruceño: Traditional Guatemalan food with spectacular lake views, served by graduates of a local culinary training program. A wonderful initiative worth supporting.
Hotel Isla Verde: A more refined option in beautiful surroundings.
Water activities: Santa Cruz is a great place to try scuba diving, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
How to get there
Take the public lancha from San Pedro's Pana dock.
Santa Cruz is the next village after Jaibalito.
Calle Santander, Panajachel
Panajachel
Shopping, Traditional Textiles & Good Coffee
Panajachel is the lake's main transportation hub and one of its busiest towns.
We wouldn't necessarily recommend spending a whole day here, but it's a good place for shopping, exploring local markets, and taking care of practical errands.
If you're looking for souvenirs or presents to bring home, Panajachel is worth a visit. You'll find a wide selection of textiles, handicrafts, and other locally made products, often at lower prices than in the smaller villages.
Traditional textile market: One of our favorites is the textile market by the fire station (Bomberos), a short walk from the dock. Held on Tuesdays and Fridays, it's where local vendors sell traditional Maya textiles, both new and antique. A wonderful place to look for beautiful old huipiles (traditional embroidered blouses) and other handwoven treasures.
Go early, as the market closes around lunchtime.
Calle Santander: Panajachel's main tourist street close to the dock is lined with shops selling textiles, handicrafts, jewelry, and souvenirs. It's busy and touristy, but worth a stroll if you're looking for gifts.
Good coffee: Although the much-loved Café Loco has closed, Panajachel still has some excellent coffee shops. Try Hidden Coffee, a small specialty coffee bar on Calle Monterrey, or Crossroads Café, a longtime local favorite where the coffee beans are roasted in-house.
Circus Bar: A fun, slightly eccentric place to stop for a pizza, a meal, or a drink. A Panajachel classic, also known for its live music.
Reserva Natural Atitlán: If you'd rather spend your time in nature, this reserve just outside town offers forest trails, hanging bridges, a butterfly sanctuary, and ziplining.
Supermarkets: Unusually for Lake Atitlán, Panajachel has two proper supermarkets. La Torre is conveniently located around a 10-minute walk from the dock and is a useful stop if you need groceries or supplies that are difficult to find in the smaller villages.
Panajachel is also where many shuttles to Antigua, Guatemala City, and other destinations arrive and depart.
How to get there
Take the public lancha from San Pedro's Pana dock.
Travel time: Approximately 30–45 minutes, depending on stops
Price: Around Q25 per person
If you're planning to return to San Pedro, ask about the yellow round-trip ticket (boleto amarillo), which costs Q50.
The rare quetzal
Santiago Atitlán
Maya Traditions, Colorful Markets & Local Crafts
Santiago is the largest town around Lake Atitlán and one of our favorite places to experience the region's rich cultural traditions.
Maximón (Rilaj Mam): One of Santiago's most well-known traditions is the worship of Maximón, also known as Rilaj Mam, or the Great Grandfather. This Maya spiritual figure represents a unique blend of ancient Maya beliefs and Catholic traditions. Dressed in a suit, colorful scarves, and a hat, he receives visitors who come to ask for protection, good fortune, or help with life's challenges, often bringing offerings of candles, alcohol, or tobacco.
Maximón is cared for by a local religious brotherhood (cofradía) and moves to a different house every year. Ask a local tuk-tuk driver to take you to him. Remember that this is a living spiritual tradition, not just a tourist attraction. Be respectful of ceremonies and ask permission before taking photographs. A small offering is customary.
Traditional textiles & woodcarving: Santiago is particularly known for its woodcarving traditions and beautifully embroidered huipiles – the traditional blouses worn by many local women. Santiago's characteristic embroidery features birds in all shapes and colors. We recommend visiting Francisca and Salvador's little workshop, Arte de Madera Patopoc, tucked away on a side street near the dock.
Local markets: Visit early on Friday or Sunday to experience the lively atmosphere of Santiago's market days. The market is placed by the dock and in a sidestreet to the main road leading up from the dock.
Quetzal watching: The mountains surrounding Santiago are among the places where you can spot the rare quetzal, Guatemala's magnificent national bird.
We've included more information about guided quetzal-watching trips in our guide to hiking around Lake Atitlán.
Hotel Bambu: A lovely option for lunch, with beautiful views across the lake.
Local churrasco: Or simply sit down on a plastic chair at one of the little churrasco stands near the dock. A grill, a cooler, and a few fresh ingredients from the market – that's all it takes to make a simple, delicious, and inexpensive lunch.
Café Rafá: Stop for a cup of freshly roasted, organically grown coffee at this little café on Calle de Artesanías, a short walk from the dock. They grow and process their own coffee and also sell beans to take home.
How to Get There
Walk approximately 15 minutes from La Cocina Bonita to the Santiago dock in San Pedro, or take a tuk-tuk.
Travel time: Approximately 15–20 minutes by boat. Allow extra time, as boats generally wait until they have at least 12 passengers before departing.
Price: Around Q20 per person.
Santa Catarina Palopó & San Antonio Palopó
Colorful Villages, Ceramics & Traditional Weaving
These two villages are a little more complicated to reach from San Pedro, but they're well worth the journey.
Santa Catarina Palopó is known for its colorful, painted houses and beautiful setting along the lake.
San Antonio Palopó is particularly interesting for its traditional weaving and ceramics.
We recommend visiting Cerámica Mayan-Ke, where you can discover locally made, hand-painted ceramics. Inside the workshop you find a shelf with slightly flawed items for sale at much lower prices than the usually quite expensive pieces found in the gift shops around the lake.
Take some time to explore the villages on foot and visit the small weaving workshops.
How to get there
First, take a public lancha from San Pedro to Panajachel.
From Panajachel, take a tuk-tuk to the departure point for the local shared pickup trucks (transportes públicos) heading toward Santa Catarina and San Antonio.
Approximate fares:
Lancha to Panajachel: Q25 per person
Tuk-tuk in Panajachel: Q10
Shared pickup truck: Around Q5 per person
Our Advice? Don't Try to See Everything.
One of the things we love most about Lake Atitlán is how different the villages are from one another.
You can spend the morning exploring a traditional Maya market, have lunch at a permaculture farm, go swimming in the afternoon, and finish the day watching the sunset over the volcanoes.
But some of the best experiences happen when you don't have a plan at all.
Choose a village, hop on a boat, and see where the day takes you.
And when you're ready to come home, San Pedro is waiting.
Staying at La Cocina Bonita? We're always happy to share our latest recommendations and help you find your way around the lake.
