4 Amazing Things to Do in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Lake Atitlan was an absolute gem of Guatemala, the views of the lake and the surrounding scenery are honestly magical. With many different villages on the lakefront all offering different activities and authentic Guatemalan experiences there is plenty to keep you busy.

Lake Atitlan was actually formed from a volcanic eruption many moons ago and today you will still see the 3 volcanos surrounding the lake: Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro, it’s also the deepest lake in all of Central America.

It’s a must-add to your Guatemala itinerary and if you keep reading you can discover 4 amazing things you can do in Lake Atitlan.

Visit the lakeside village of San Juan

There are countless villages to visit around the lake each offering something different, but San Juan was my personal favourite. From the moment you step off the boat, you will see the colourful flag-style decorations that line the main road of this artsy village.

As you walk up the street away from the pier, you’ll find cafes, art galleries, souvenir shops, restaurants and much more. I highly recommend getting a coffee from Cafe San Juan, they grow and roast their own coffee beans right there at the cafe, it was delicious and you can even stroll around the small coffee plantation.

You obviously also want to grab a photo of you under the colourful umbrellas, just watch out for the tuk-tuks they ain’t stopping for nobody. If you’re in the mood to see some beautiful views of the lake and impressive artwork you could hike up to the San Juan Mirador which is called El Cerro del La Cruz. It takes about 20 minutes from the centre and there is a 30Q entrance fee, it’s recommended to head up early before it gets crowded and too hot.

You’ll be able to find a boat to take you to San Juan from wherever you are staying around the lake, just make sure to get the public boats if you wish to keep your spending down. The private boats are much more expensive and they will often try to sell these to you at the piers.

Zip-lining at Atitlan Nature Reserve

All though this was a little outside our usual backpacker budget it was such a fun day out and I highly recommend it. The Atitlan Nature Reserve is located just outside of the village of Panajachel and you can easily walk or grab a tuk-tuk.

Inside the nature reserve you will find plenty of walking trails, a butterfly geo-dome and activities such as Zip-lining and even a BiciCable (check out all the attractions here). 

There are two different Zip lining options and we chose to do the cheaper one which is the Cables X-Tremos (8 Zip Lines), it cost us 280Q per person and also allowed us admission to the rest of the nature reserve. If you didn’t wish to do any of the activities the entrance fee to the reserve is 80Q per person.

The zip lines were an absolute blast, you’ll start off with a safety demonstration before hiking to the top of the reserve. The views coming down through the trees on the zip lines were incredible, particularly on the first few lines as you can really see a lot of Lake Atitlan as well. And don’t worry the fun doesn’t end after that there’s plenty more to see and do.

After we finished zipping through the treetops we explored some of the hiking trails, there are a few different paths, but none of them is that long or strenuous. We walked all of the trails in about an hour and a bit. 

If you follow the yellow trail you will find yourself at a secluded beach spot where you can cool off and take a dip in Lake Atitlan and on the way back to the visitor centre you can pop in to see the butterflies. And if you follow pretty much any other route you’ll be walking among hanging bridges in the forest, you’ll come across a monkey viewpoint, a stunning waterfall and some gorgeous viewpoints from the top of the reserve.

Stay at Atitlan Sunset Lodge

Atitlan Sunset Lodge was probably one of the nicest accommodations I have ever stayed at in my whole life. Now it was a break from the budget options we have been staying at on this trip so don’t expect this place to offer budget prices, but it’s most certainly worth the cost. The views from this place were just magical (just look at the photos above), I think it has to be one of the most special places I have ever stayed.

It’s located between the villages of Panajachel and Santa Cruz, the only way to get there is by boat, but if you ask the driver the public boats will stop at the hotel pier. We stayed in the one-bedroom apartment and everything about it was great, the bed was massive and we looked out at the incredible views of the lake, and even the shower had views of the lake. We had our own kitchen and balcony again both with stunning views. If you don’t want to cook for yourself they have an on-site restaurant that has fantastic reviews you just have to book this in advance.

During our time there we took advantage of the free paddle boards and went out and explored the lake, not that I actually managed to stand up, it was far too wavy. There was a hot tub that opened for you to relax and watch the sunset in. This was one of the highlights of our stay here, I can see where Sunset Lodge got its name from. Also, we took a stroll around the lake to the small village of Santa Cruz, it was only about 40 minutes however the walk is quite steep up to the village centre.

Writing about this place makes me want to go back so much, it was such a peaceful and relaxing place. We spent our mornings wrapped in blankets, drinking coffee and watching the sunrise from the balcony. Then during the day we just lazed around on the sun loungers reading, chatting and watching the boats go by. It’s the perfect place to disconnect from reality and enjoy the beauty of Lake Atitlan.

Watch the Sunset from Sunset Cafe in Panajachel

Sometimes it’s the simple things that stick with you and the sunsets at Lake Atitlan are one of them. Unfortunately, Josh had a serious allergic reaction during our time in Lake Atitlan and this meant we spent a lot of time doing a whole lot of nothing. But one of the things we could still do was watch the sunset and if you’re in Panajachel the cleverly named Sunset Cafe is the place to do that from.

With gorgeous views looking over the lake, you can watch the sun lower and lower until it disappears and lights up the sky with rich hues of red and orange. Obviously with a glass of wine in hand or whatever your drink of choice may be.

Other Popular Things to Do in Lake Atitlan

Here is just a little idea of what else you can get up to around Lake Atitlan

• Sunrise hike to up the Indian Nose
• Be adventurous and go Paragliding over the lake in Panajachel
• Explore the villages of Santiago and Santa Catarina Palopo
• Swim and cliff jump at Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve 
• Hike the Lower Mayan Trail
• Climb one of the Lake’s volcanoes
• Go scuba diving at altitude in Lake Atitlan

Tips for Visiting Lake Atitlan

• Stay in more than one place during your time here if you have enough time, that way you experience the different village vibes for yourself.
• Prepare to get absolutely soaked any time you go on a boat, it’s often quite wavy and some of the boats don’t have curtains to stop the water from coming in.
• If you kayak/paddle board in the lake be wary of the boats as they won’t always see you.
• When swimming in the lake stick to the dedicated spots to keep yourself safe from lake traffic.
• If you want to hike the Indian Noose I recommend you stay in San Pedro as it’s much easier to get to for sunrise.
• If you’re going to hike the volcanoes it’s recommended you do it with a guide, we heard a few rumours about people getting robbed on these trails, so take caution.
• Here’s a little breakdown of the 3 main villages to stay in:  Panajachel – The largest village in Lake Atitlan, most touristy but well connected to other Guatemalan destinations and has the most amenities e.g. supermarket, hospital. San Pedro – Party central for backpackers, also a popular spot for Spanish schools. San Marcos– Meditate, do yoga and be one with nature.

Lake Atitlan exceed all of the expectations I had and I would recommend it to everyone from backpackers to luxury travellers. Whether you want to come to visit to disconnect from life and just relax or be more adventurous Lake Atitlan is the destination for you.

If you’ve visited Lake Atitlan before sharing your favourite things to do or any recommendations you have in the comments below.

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