Lake Atitlan gets its name from the Mayan word “atitlan”, which translates to, “where the rainbow gets its colors.” That description of Lake Atitlan is about as good and accurate as they come. Among other things, Lake Atitlan is known as not only being the deepest lake in Central America, but arguably the most beautiful as well.
Location
Lake Atitlan is located only about 80 miles from Guatemala City and rests in the western highlands of Guatemala. The area is easily reached from both Guatemala City and Antigua.
How to get to Lake Atitlan
The most popular destination when arriving to the Lake Atitlan area is the city of Panajachel. Buses to Panajachel are easily found in most major cites, especially Guatemala City and Antigua.
Visiting other cities and villages on Lake Atitlan is also very easy. There are a number of boats that can transport you across and around the lake. Some of the boats run on a fixed schedule like a bus, while others leave once they have enough passengers.
Weather
Because Lake Atitlan is situated in the Guatemala highlands, the temperatures here are much cooler than the rest of the country. Many of the towns and villages on the lake tend to have a very mild climate. The evenings and mornings are cool, while the afternoon temperatures usually range from 80 to 85 degrees.
Some of the towns in the area that rest further up the mountainsides can be much cooler and downright cold at night. These mountainside towns can be 10 to 20 degrees colder than the towns on the lake.
What to do
Being such a beautiful place, one can spend a whole day simply wandering around enjoying the view. The entire area of Lake Atitlan is the perfect place to spend the day taking photos, having a picnic, or simply hanging out in a hammock and enjoy doing nothing.
On Tuesdays and Fridays in nearby Solola there is an outdoor market. Locals come here to by food and other staple items.
These markets may not sport a lot of touristy items, but it is a great experience none the less. The market is a great place to do some people watching and spend a day without spending much money.
Day hikes can be fun way to spend the day if you need to save money or just want to enjoy the outdoors. two of the popular day hikes include the trail from Santa Cruz to San Marco and Santa Cruz to the Casa del Mundo. The Santa Cruz to San Marco trail takes about two and a half hours. Avoid this trail late at night and don’t take anything valuable, as robber have been known to walk this trail as well (find out how to stay safe in Guatemala). The Santa Cruz to Casa del mundo is much shorter and only about a half hour walk. You can enjoy a nice lunch and swim at the hotel
If you want to shop, visit the town of Santiago de Atitlan. The town is known for having an abundance of local crafts and art. The main street in town is full of shops and street vendors selling all kinds of handmade goods. Fridays and Sundays can be especially fun, as these are the local market days.
If you are up for it, you can climb the Volcan San Pedro. This is the easiest of the three surrounding volcanoes and can be climbed in a single day. On a clear day, the views from the climb are well worth the effort. If you decide you want to climb the volcano, it is suggested to find a local guide to help you.
The town of San Juan La Laguna provides little in the way of businesses that cater to tourists, but that doesn’t mean you should pass it up. San Juan La Laguna is home to some of the countries greatest artists and artisans. Here you can watch locals create amazing art, textiles, and more.
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share              |
