{"id":7070,"date":"2020-12-09T17:01:29","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T17:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/lake-atitlan-guatemala\/"},"modified":"2024-01-18T14:46:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T14:46:13","slug":"lake-atitlan-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/lake-atitlan-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Lake Atitl\u00e1n in Guatemala"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Guatemala, Lake Atitl\u00e1n is one of the country’s top tourist attractions and for good reason: the lake and the surrounding landscapes are quite simply spectacular! Follow the guide! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc4d The Captain’s top picks \ud83d\udc4d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Accommodation, flights, activities, excursions … You’ll find all the Captain’s suggestions in the section Captain Ulysses’ favourites<\/a> at the very end of the article!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A few words about Lake Atitl\u00e1n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Geography\nof Lake Atitl\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nestled in a caldera\nformed during a volcanic eruption over 80,000 years ago, Lake Atitl\u00e1n\nis located in the south of the country, approximately 90 kilometers\/55 miles from Antigua and 125 kilometers\/77 miles from Guatemala\nCity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an average depth of 188 meters (617 ft) and a maximum depth of 340 meters (1,120 ft), it is the deepest lake in Central America. Nestled 1,554 meters (5098 ft) above sea level, it stretches over 130km\u00b2 (50.2 sq mi). It is watched over to the south by three volcanoes: San Pedro (3,020 m), Tolim\u00e1n (3,158 m) and Atitl\u00e1n (3,535 m). To the north, a landscape of hills, mountains and high plateaus unfolds as far as the eye can see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The magical charm of Lake Atitl\u00e1n\nhas seduced countless poets and well-rounded travelers. Famous German explorer Alexander von Humboldt\nsimply described Lake Atitl\u00e1n as “the most beautiful lake in\nworld \u201d. Aldous Huxley was slightly more loquacious and wrote: \u201c\u201cLake Como, it seems to me,\ntouches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitl\u00e1n is\nComo with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much\nof a good thing.\u201d\u202a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brief history of Lake Atitl\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to historians,\nthe suroundings of Lake Atitl\u00e1n have been inhabited for many centuries. The\nTz’utujil, Cakchiquel, Mam and Quich\u00e9 communities settled\nin the region 5 to 7 centuries ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remnants of\nan ancient Mayan city, Samabaj,\nare actually submerged 17 meters deep below the surface of the lake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cohabitation between the different\ncommunities inhabiting the surroundings of the lake was eventful, to say the least: over the\ncenturies, Lake Atitl\u00e1n was the scene of countless wars, alliances and conflicts\nbetween indigenous communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish conquistadors set foot in\nthe region in the 16th century and encountered fierce resistance from local populations.\nLegend has it that the inhabitants of the region threw all their\nriches in the waters of the lake rather than ceding them to the\nSpanish invaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centuries later, visitors of a\nvery different kind started flocking to Lake Atitl\u00e1n!\nIn the 1960s, the lake became\na \u201chippie\u201d destination. Some of the villages of the region\nstill retain this bohemian and whimsical spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But today no\nneed to be a hippie to appreciate the charms of the lake. Lake Atitl\u00e1n\nhas become one of the top tourist attractions in Guatemala and is well worth the hype. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Guatemala<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lake<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Culture & religion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the waves of invaders\n(both Spanish and hippie), Lake Atitl\u00e1n has thankfully retained its authentic spirit and\npreserved its traditions. Most of the region’s inhabitants\nare from indigenous communities. They make a living from\nagriculture (mainly corn and coffee), fishing, tourism and handicrafts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional Mayan culture\nremains very much alive, as does the religious syncretism\nbetween Catholicism and local folklore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the eyes of the local\ncommunities, the lake, which they nicknamed “Grandmother Atitl\u00e1n”, is sacred. As for the\nstrong wind blowing on the caldera (Xocomil), legend has it that\nthat it is the soul of an ancient Mayan princess\nincessantly looking for her long lost\nlover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lake<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Lake Atitl\u00e1n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Lake Atitl\u00e1n\nif you’re traveling on your own<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are traveling on your own, two options to get to Lake Atitl\u00e1n: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The chicken-bus, a very inexpensive local option:<\/strong> local buses travel back and forth between Guatemala City, Antigua or even Chichicastenango and Lake Atitl\u00e1n. That being said, be warned, the journey isn’t exactly comfortable and drivers tend to have very different standards of safety from those of Western tourists!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Tourist shuttles:<\/strong> although more expensive, this option is still affordable ($10-15 per person). The shuttles are comfortable and air-conditioned! You can book your trip through a local travel agency or online here<\/strong><\/a><\/mark>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Guatemala<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day trips to Lake Atitl\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some agencies also offer day trips to Lake Atitl\u00e1n from Antigua Guatemala. These day trips are handy if you’re only staying in Guatemala for a short time, but Captain Ulysses definitely recommends spending a few days in Lake Atitl\u00e1n if you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 You can book your day trip to Lake Atitl\u00e1n here<\/strong><\/a><\/mark>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organized tours\nin Guatemala<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t want to plan your entire trip to Guatemala yourself, Captain Ulysses recommends one travel agencies in particular: Evaneos<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Lake Atitl\u00e1n:\nthe best things to do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Panajachel <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Panajachel<\/strong> is the most touristic and therefore the least traditional of the villages on Lake Atitlan. The village looks like a small seaside resort and is home to quite a few hotels, restaurants and shops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Panajachel isn’t\nexactly authentic, it is a nice stopover\nto relax and unwind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you’re looking to\nget off the beaten track, then Panajachel is definitely\nnot the right option for you (San Pedro de\nLaguna or San Juan de La laguna should be better suited to your needs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, the Captain recommends two attractions in Panajachel:
\ud83d\udc49 The Galer\u00eda Panajachel<\/strong> where local and international artists living in the region exhibit their works
\ud83d\udc49 The Butterfly Sanctuary<\/strong> nestled in a geodome sheltering thousands of butterflies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the villages on the shores of Lake Atitl\u00e1n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Santiago Atitl\u00e1n<\/strong> , San Pedro La Laguna<\/strong> , San Juan La Laguna<\/strong> , San Pablo La Laguna<\/strong> , San Marcos La Laguna<\/strong> and Santa Cruz La Laguna<\/strong> are just waiting to be explored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get there, you’ll have to hop on\na lancha, a water taxi connecting the different villages located\naround the lake. The price of the trip revolves around 15 to 25 quetzales.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lancha<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t have time to explore all the villages, you should at least go to San Pedro de la Laguna<\/strong> and San Juan de la Laguna<\/strong> . With their colorful houses, bustling markets, craft shops and murals, they’re definitely worth the visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s also where the Captain recommends\nstaying if you’d rather avoid the touristy hotels in\nPanajachel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for San Marcos,<\/strong> it has remained a hippie stronghold ever since the 1960s! Meditation, yoga, holistic medicine, mysticism and even astral travel: you name it, it’s all in San Marcos! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bus<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Bus<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Visiting the\nlocal markets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vibrant, colorful, lively… local markets are most definitely\nworth a visit. If you can,\nyou should definitely make sure that you’ll be around\non a market day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Captain highly recommends going to Solol\u00e1 market<\/strong>, especially since the walk from Panajachel is quite simply spectacular and the view on the lake is truly breathtaking. You can also to get to Solol\u00e1 by bus (10 minute drive from Panajachel) or opt for a day tour to Solol\u00e1<\/strong> <\/a>(but it’s much more expensive!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Market days – Schedule<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n Sunday\n <\/td>\n San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitl\u00e1n, San Lucas Tolim\u00e1n\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Tuesday\n <\/td>\n Solol\u00e1, Santiago Atitl\u00e1n, San Lucas Tolim\u00e1n\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Thursday\n <\/td>\n San Lucas Tolim\u00e1n\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Friday\n <\/td>\n Santiago Atitl\u00e1n, Solol\u00e1, San Lucas Tolim\u00e1n\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Solola<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lake<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hiking up the Indian\nNose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nestled between the villages of San Pablo de la Laguna and San Pedro de la Laguna, the “Indian Nose”<\/strong> (in Spanish “Nariz del indio”), is a rock formation whose silouhette seems to outline the shape of a nose, hence its name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It offers a breathtaking panorama of Lake Atitlan.<\/strong> The view is particularly magical at sunrise but you’ll have to wake up dreadfully early (around 3 am)! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can hike up the Indian Nose\non your own but if you’re not experimented, you should opt for a guided tour so as not to\nget lost, especially if you leave before the sun is up to admire the view\non Lake Atitl\u00e1n in the morning light. Horseback tours are also\navailable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 You can book your hike directly at the agencies in San Pablo de la Laguna and San Pedro de la Laguna, or online: sunrise Indian Nose hiking tour<\/strong><\/a><\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiking up San Pedro Volcano<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you in good physical condition, the Captain recommends hiking up San Pedro Volcano<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The volcano is located in a\nnatural park whose entrance is a 30-minute walk from the village of San\nPedro de la Laguna approx. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can hike on your own\n(entrance fees are 100 quetzales) or to opt for a\nguided tour (125 quetzales, entrance included). The trail is pretty clearly\nmarked out, and there’s no risk of getting lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll find a cabin in the park\nwhere hikers can camp to admire the view at sunrise and\nsunset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trail is quite steep: avoid this hike if you’re not in good physical condition and remember to bring plenty of water! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Book you hike up San Pedro Volcano<\/strong><\/a><\/mark> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sport\nactivities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kayaking, climbing, cycling, horseback riding …you’ll find plenty of sport activities<\/strong> around Lake Atitlan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can either book your activities directly with the local agencies or online beforehand, on Viator (a TripAdvisor company)<\/a> and GetYourGuide<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n