Thinking of visiting Lake Atitlan? Check out our 3-day travel guide to Lake Atitlan to help you plan and visit one beautiful area!
Lake Atitlan is located in the central highlands of Guatemala at 5,128 feet above sea level. This is one of the deepest lakes (1,049 feet deep) in Central America. It was formed by the eruption of a supervolcano thousands of years ago. Surrounding the lake are three volcanos: Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro. Along the lake are small Mayan towns that you can visit with plenty of eating, shopping, and hiking to enjoy.
This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Truly, just awe-inspiring. It is hard to put into words how beautiful the lake is. If you are in Central America and don’t make the effort to visit Lake Atitlan, then you have made a mistake. I only visited for 3 days but wished I could have spent more time enjoying this natural wonder.
If you are planning on visiting, use this travel guide to create an amazing 3-day visit to Lake Atitlan.
At Pragmatic Travelers, we only recommend what we actually do and experience. No round ups from the internet here! Looking for information on Guatemala City? We got you covered!
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What to know before going to Lake Atitlan
Safety
Lake Atitlan is a pretty safe destination in Guatemala. (A bit different from Guatemala City when it comes to safety. Check out our Guatemala City guide for more details.) The same safety precautions you take in any foreign country can be followed here. The following are the safety precautions my friends (who are locals) recommend for Lake Atitlan.
- Don’t flash your wealth. Keep your valuables at home or locked up in your hotel room.
- Consider an anti-theft bag from Travelon. Here is my favorite: Travelon Addision Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag.
- Don’t walk alone at night. Limit nighttime wandering.
- Don’t leave your drink unattended.
- Watch out for the hikes between towns. There are reports of tourists getting hurt or jumped. Boats are the safest way to get around the lake.
- Dress conservatively. I hate this one but could make sense for a solo female traveler.
Tips and Tricks for Lake Atitlan
- Most vendors in the small towns accept cash only. Make sure to hit up an ATM (during the day) before you go to any of the smaller towns. Panajachel had plenty of ATMs to visit.
- Learn some Spanish. You will need some in the smaller towns.
- Boats are the best way to get around the lake.
- Make sure to check the weather and hiking conditions before you go venturing out.
- Bring a few sweaters, it got chilly at night when we visited in July/August.
- If you are driving, use Waze to navigate your way around as it is much more up-to-date. We tried Google Maps and got stuck on several smaller streets resulting in us backing down a crowded road. Also, I wouldn’t bother driving between towns as the boats are way easier to deal with.
When to visit Lake Atitlan?
The rainy season in Guatemala runs from May to October with the dry season being November to April. I went during the rainy season (July/August) and it only rained a few days. Everything was lush and beautiful. I will say Lake Atitlan got very chilly at night so make sure to bring something warm.
How to Get to Lake Atitlan
For most, you will be coming from Guatemala City. There are a few different options including a shuttle, a chicken bus, and an UBER. There are no trains. You will likely end up in Panajachel which is the main starting point for the area. From here you can take a boat to the other small towns.
We drove with friends from the city. Driving in Guatemala is not for the faint of heart. Here are a few things you will need to keep in mind when it comes to driving in Guatemala.
- Roads are not always well taken care of, so you will need to be vigilant with potholes, twists, and turns.
- Driving operates in chaos. You will get used to it but it’s not a relaxing drive when you have chicken buses flying ahead of you and cutting you off. People routinely ignore stop signs and won’t indicate. Driving in Guatemala requires your full attention and it will be exhausting.
- Make sure to check road conditions in case there is a landslide or issues with the road.
- Use Waze, not Google Maps. Waze is the most up-to-date navigation system in Guatemala.
- Traffic can be insane, particularly when leaving Guatemala City.
- Make sure to check that the route you are taking is safe. There are just some parts of the country that you shouldn’t be driving in.
- Roads can be very narrow.
- There will be limited lighting in the country.
- Again, you must be vigilant while driving in Guatemala.
Sample 3 Day Travel Guide for Lake Atitlan
This is based on my 3 days in Lake Atitlan. As you know, I only recommend what I have actually experienced.
Day 1: Explore the small town you have chosen as your base. Spend some time soaking in the beauty of the lake by sitting on the water’s edge. Go for a swim. Enjoy dinner at the Lake Atitlan Hotel.
Day 2: Hire a private boat tour or hop on the public boats and tour the lake. Visit small towns around the lake. Have lunch at one of the local restaurants.
Day 3: Enjoy breakfast and the beauty at Hotel Atitlan. Explore their beautiful gardens. Sit and enjoy the beauty of the lake.
Best Places to Stay in Lake Atitlan
Airbnb in Lake Atitlan
Lakefront Colonial Oasis Airbnb: Located in Santa Catarina Palopo (just outside of Panajachel.) We stayed at this Airbnb while visiting Lake Atitlan. And holy cow. This place was magnificent, massive, and had truly jaw-dropping views. Sitting on the dock or porch looking out over the lake while drinking excellent Guatemalan coffee are some of my favorite travel memories. The interior was gorgeous. The owners were friendly and responsive. They even organized a very affordable private boat tour around the lake. I highly recommend this Airbnb. WARNING: This is a trek if you don’t have a car. It is outside of Panajachel and uphill. Also, the road conditions weren’t great so I do recommend a car that can handle the rougher roads. (Not affiliated with Airbnb.)
Hotel in Lake Atitlan
Hotel Atitlan: Located in Panajachel. Full Disclosure I didn’t stay here overnight but did have both dinner and breakfast here. Then spent ample time wandering the gardens. This is where I want to stay when I visit the lake again.
BECAUSE this hotel, their view and their gardens are truly beautiful. The gardens are lush and full of blooming flowers. It was an absolute joy to wander amongst the gardens. The views of three different volcanoes from the pool/outdoor patio was breathtaking. The hacienda style architecture of the building is also something to see. The food at the restaurant was delightful. This hotel has one of the best views I have ever seen. It was just amazing.
Not feeling these two places? Check out hotels in Panajachel.
Best Restaurants in Lake Atitlan
We didn’t eat out that much in Lake Atitlan. We spent most of our meals at the Airbnb and made food. We did eat at one restaurant for dinner and breakfast.
Hotel Atitlan Restaurant: Told you I was obsessed with this hotel. The dinner was delicious, the service excellent, and the cocktails lovely. However, the breakfast beat out dinner. The food was spectacular. The views, during breakfast, were the highlight. It was gorgeous to sit and look out at the lake and volcanoes.
Best Things to Do in Lake Atitlan
- Go for a swim: I mean it’s a lake with volcanoes. You should swim in it.
- Rest and enjoy: I mean it. Slow down for a bit and enjoy how beautiful this area is. Take it in.
- Hire a private boat tour to take you around the lake and to the different small towns. Our Airbnb owner arranged a private boat tour that picked us up at our dock. Then took us around the small towns and gave us an in-depth history lesson. Speak to your Airbnb about this. Most will help you arrange a tour. If this isn’t your jam, there are plenty of public boats that will take you to the different small towns dotting the lake.
- Small Town Hop: Like I said above, hop in a boat and visit the small towns that dot the lake. The section below will go into more detail.
Combine your trip to Lake Atitlan, with a visit to Guatemala City!
Best Small Towns in Lake Atitlan
San Juan La Laguna
San Juan La Laguna is a predominantly Tz’utujil Mayan community filled with artists, gorgeous galleries, murals, and great coffee. I loved this small town. It was charming, cute, and colorful. (How do you like that alliteration?) It was my favorite town to visit while at Lake Atitlan. I just loved it. Take your time wandering the streets and popping into small shops.
We had the pleasure of doing a tour of the different women’s collaboratives in town. A local female guide took us through the town and we visited artisan boutiques and small factories that are owned and operated only by women. It was excellent and insightful! We learned not only about the strives women have made in the community but about their industries. This was arranged by our Airbnb Hosts/Boat Tour Guide. Here are my favorite stops:
- Apoyo a la Mujer “Aj To´ooneel Ixoq: This is a female weaving collaborative. They provided a demonstration on how they dye the fabric and how they weave to make clothes and other textiles.
- Licor Marran Chocolate: A group of women who farm and produce a variety of chocolate. They will provide a demonstration of how they take the cocoa beans and turn them into chocolate with plenty of samples. The cardamom chocolate bars are a wonderful treat.
- Café Esencia: Another female owned business with great coffee.
San Pedro La Laguna
San Pedro La Laguna is larger then San Juan and much more of a international backpacker scene. Like San Juan, it is also a Tz’utujil Mayan community. We didn’t spend a ton of time in San Pedro. We simply grabbed snacks from local vendors and explored the town. It wasn’t as charming as San Juan but still a pleasure to experience with colorful buildings and small shops to visit.
This top things to do in San Pedro is a great place to start when planning your trip.
Panajachel
This was my home base while in Lake Atitlan. It is the gateway village to the lake and is buzzing with energy. It is one of the more developed towns on the lake where we met plenty of locals and international expats. My favorite activity was to go shopping on Calle Santander. Colorful stalls filled with textiles and souvenirs with street food vendors to visit. It is a pedestrian area so perfect for shopping. Haggling is common but don’t be a jerk. Be a responsible tourist.
The Problem with San Marco
I didn’t enjoy San Marco. It has nothing to do with the indigenous people. It has everything to do with the people who have taken over the town.
When you get off the boat, you will think these narrow streets are kinda adorable until you see who is running the stalls. Expats who came here on their yoga retreats, spiritual journeys, etc., and realized how far their currency can get them in Guatemala. They have gentrified this small town and what’s worst is many bloggers don’t seem to notice. They just continue to promote this town as an “authentic experience.” I was deeply uncomfortable visiting and didn’t understand how other travelers were not. My friends who were born and raised in Guatemala were shocked by this small town. They still talk about the vendor who was selling expensive chocolate chip cookies. If you do visit San Marco just avoid the expat stalls and shop at the locals’ stores.
Your thoughts…
I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on Lake Atitlan. How do you like to spend 3 days in Lake Atitlan? What do you think are essential things to do in Lake Atitlan? If you haven’t visited before, what are you excited to do? Comment below. We love to hear from you.
