9 Incredible Hikes Around Lake Atitlán

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From crossing through maize fields and coffee plantations to trekking up steep slopes to reach the summit of sleeping, ancient volcanoes, there are plenty of Lake Atitlán hiking trails to explore. 

While this coveted lake in the Central Highlands of Guatemala—said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world—is best known for its laid back, lakeside Mayan towns, it is often overlooked as a hiking destination.

But this place, with its breathtaking, towering volcanoes flanking quaint and colorful Mayan villages, affords the curious hiker unparalleled trail views.

That said, I believe hiking is one of the best things to do around Lake Atitlan. 

Not only can you get in a good sweat, but you’ll also learn about the lake’s native flora, fauna, and the delicate ecosystems of the region.

There are a few things to note, however, before you lace up your hiking boots. 

Safety on the trails outside of the lakeside villages is a big one, as armed threats and robberies have been known to happen to tourists. 

In this guide, I’ll share details for the top hikes around Lake Atitlan, plus what you need to know to consider to stay safe on the trails.

The Best Hiking Trails Around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Ruta La Finca Hike

• Difficulty: Easy
• Time: 1 hour, out-and-back

Starting with one of the easiest and most pleasant hikes to do around Lake Atitlán, the Ruta La Finca is a popular trail in San Pedro La Laguna that leads to an abandoned coffee farm and a semi-private black sand beach.

Many of the Tz’utujil Maya of San Pedro frequent this trail on weekends, usually loaded up with coolers, snacks, and floaties to enjoy a swim outside of town.

You can get here by hopping in a tuk-tuk and asking for “La Finca.” The trailhead begins just behind the outdoor basketball court and meanders through an overgrown path skirting the base of the San Pedro volcano. 

If you want to hike all the way down to the beach, it will take around 45 minutes on foot. There is no sign indicating where to go, but you can easily guess which path to take because there is an obvious fork that leads down to the left toward the shore.

From there, it takes about 20-25 minutes until you reach the beach. You will pass an open-air abandoned coffee farm before walking past a local’s home. Keep going. Right after that point, a dirt path leads down to the shore.

Lower Mayan Trail (Santa Cruz – San Marcos)

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Time: 2.5 hrs, one-way

For a moderate hike with perhaps the best views of the lake and the three volcanoes, you can head out on the hike from Santa Cruz-San Marcos La Laguna which crosses several Mayan towns (also known as the Lower Mayan Trail). You can either do this trail in sections or in its entirety.

Some people start in San Marcos, but I would recommend starting from Santa Cruz La Laguna because there’s only one trail path leading out of the town, which greatly reduces the chance you’ll get lost.

To get to the trailhead, take a lancha boat to Santa Cruz (from San Pedro La Laguna, it costs Q20 per person).

Once you exit the dock, take an immediate left onto the path that passes by the restaurant and hotel El Arca de Noé. 

This path will take you to San Marcos La Laguna and crosses the towns of Jaibalito and Tzununa.

Alternatively, you can start in Jaibalito and do a shorter trip to Tzununa and vice versa. Or, if you are based in Panajachel, you can book a guided day trip.

The Santa Cruz-San Marcos hike takes about 2.5 hours and consists of frequent ups and downs.

There are steep sections with stairs in some parts, which can be tiresome on the knees. The overall elevation gain is around 500m or 1640ft.

Something to be aware of is that there have been reports of robberies on this hike on weekends. For this reason, it’s recommended to go with a group (rather than alone).

Paul and I went together on a Saturday morning and I carried my camera gear visibly around my neck almost the whole time and didn’t have a problem. Whether it was an off-day for the petty thieves or a lot of luck, I’m not sure. In either case, we are so glad we did this hike. You will be saying “Wow!” virtually the whole way.

Pro Tip: The hiking trail between Santa Cruz and Tzununa is the most scenic. Once you reach Tzununa, you can hop in a tuk-tuk to San Marcos since this last section of the hike follows the gravel road between the two towns and is fairly plain and dusty.

El Rostro Maya Hike

• Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
• Time: 2.5 hrs up, 1.5 down (long) // 45 mins up, 25 down (short)

Now, on to perhaps the most well-known hike around Lake Atitlan – El Rostro Maya, also known as the Indian Nose hike! You have two options for this trek.

You can either hike the longer version from the base of San Juan La Laguna (it takes 2.5 hours up, 1.5 down) or take a chicken bus to the town of Santa Clara La Laguna and then hike up the trail from the backside of the Mayan face via a shorter 35-45-minute path.

The El Rostro Maya hike is touted as being one of the best short hikes around the lake. Most people book the guided short hike for sunrise, but if you want an extra challenge and a sense of reward, go for the long hike. The elevation gain from San Juan La Laguna up to El Rostro Maya is around 750m or 2460ft.

We did this hike with a geologist, who really added to the experience as we learned about how Lake Atitlan, the caldera, and the volcanoes formed long ago.

San Pedro Volcano Hike

• Difficulty: Very Hard
• Time: 5-7 hours round-trip

If you felt that the hike up to Indian Nose was a piece of cake, then you might want to try the strenuous hike up to the San Pedro volcano. There is an elevation gain of about 1400m or 4000 ft, which makes this hike fairly strenuous! You should only set out to do it if you are in great shape physically.

You can hike up Volcán San Pedro on your own, but it is recommended that you go with a guide whom you can hire at the park’s entrance, Parque Ecológico Xe’ch’imaay. The cost to enter the park and hire a guide is Q100. Note: You will pay that whether you choose to have a guide or not.

Getting to the trailhead is easy from San Pedro. All you need to do is hop in a tuk-tuk and ask for the San Pedro volcano trailhead (here are the directions). 

To beat the weather and get a head start, arrive at the park no later than 8 AM. If you arrive too late, chances are a guide will not be as willing to accompany you on your ambitious trek.

It takes about 3-4 hours to hike up San Pedro’s steep slopes and 2-3 hours to descend. But for some, it may take a bit longer. Overall, you can expect this hike to take all day, even if you start early!

Atitlán Volcano Hike

• Difficulty: Very Strenuous
• Time: 7-9 hours round-trip

Want an even bigger challenge? To reach the highest viewpoint around Lake Atitlan, you can do a guided Volcán Atitlán hike. This hike truly spans all day and is one of the most grueling yet rewarding of the hikes around the lake.

With an elevation gain of around 1600m (5249 ft), you won’t need to worry about getting your exercise in for the week, as this hike will take care of that.

As such, the Volcán Atitlan hike is not for the faint of heart. You will need to pack wisely, bringing and wearing adequate clothing for both mild and cold temps as you reach the summit.

To do this hike, you will depart from the Mayan town of Santiago Atitlan, tucked cozily between the San Pedro volcano and Toliman volcano.

Tolimán Volcano Hike

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Time: 7-8 hours round-trip

With its two peaks and crater, the Volcán Toliman is yet another incredible volcano hike to do while in Lake Atitlan. Although it’s not as popular as neighboring volcano hikes, you’ll still be rewarded with expansive views from the top, as well as rainforest and cloud forest views on your way up.

If you hike Volcán Toliman with a guide, which again is highly recommended, then you will also have the chance to learn about the birds and flora of the region, as many guides are professional birding guides. You may even get to spot a stunning quetzal — the national bird of Guatemala!

In addition to guided day trips, you can also book overnight camping trips where you’ll stay overnight on the El Chanán plain that connects Toliman with Atitlan. Similar to the Volcan Atitlan hike, you will begin your ascent from the town of Santiago Atitlan.

Lago Atitlan – Xela (Quetzaltenango)

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Time: 2-3 days overnight hiking trip

Finally, if you are craving a through-hike (thru-hike), then you can actually hike all the way from Lake Atítlan to Quetzaltenango (Xela), a bustling city located a 2-3 day hike away.

Should you do the other hikes around Lake Atitlan on this list, then you will no doubt be adequately prepared to do the thru-hike from Lago Atitlan to Xela. You can also do it the other way around – from Xela to Lago Atitlan.

Other Hiking Trails Around Lake Atitlan

There are many hikes to do in Lake Atitlan. The ones mentioned above are simply the most popular!

One hike that I’d love to do departs from Santiago Atitlan and involves hiking along the lower ridges of Volcán Atitlán to a nearby hidden waterfall. You can also set out on a hike to the Sacred Caves, where you’ll partake in a traditional Mayan ceremony with a local shaman.

Want to do even more hiking? AllTrails offers plenty more trails around Lake Atitlan and the Sololá region.

FAQs About Hikes in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

What is the best volcano hike in Lake Atitlan?

There are three peaks that you’ll see from different vantage points around Lake Atitlan, the San Pedro, Toliman, and Atitlan volcanoes—and all of them can be climbed! 

All of these volcanoes are great for hiking if you’re in good shape physically. The San Pedro Volcano hike is the easiest of the three in terms of length and elevation gain, without minimizing incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes and lake below. 

Still, Volcan Atitlan and Volcan Toliman offer unique treks, including the chance to spend the night on the El Chanan plain. 

Can you walk around Lake Atitlan?

While it’s possible to walk between some of the towns in Lake Atitlan, the roads often quickly become remote and robberies have been reported. The safest bet is to travel by public boats, also known as lanchas, and tuk tuks. 

If you do decide to make the journey between villages on foot, it’s recommended to go in a group and to only travel short distances. That being said, walking between towns at night should be strictly avoided!

What Lake Atitlan hike has the best views?

The El Rostro Maya hike, also known as the Indian Nose hike, offers some of the best views of Lake Atitlan and the volcanoes in the distance. For those who don’t have the time or physical fitness to complete this hike, the Lower Mayan Trail is a great alternative. 

What is the best month for hiking around Lake Atitlan?

The best months for hiking in Lake Atitlan are October and November. This is the very beginning of the dry season meaning that foliage will still be lush. 

In general, any time from October to April is ideal!

Is it Safe to Hike Around Lake Atitlan?

Hiking is one of the best things to do in Lake Atitlan! That being said, there are some precautions to take when heading out on the trails that surround the lake.

Robberies have been known to occur, even on some of the popular hikes around Lake Atitlan like El Rostro Maya. This is one reason why it’s recommended to hike with a guide. Some hikes, like the Ruta La Finca, don’t require a guide, but it’s a good idea to hike in a group. 

What to Pack for Hiking Around Lake Atitlan

Here are a few things to remember/pack when you set out on a hike around Lake Atitlan:

• Follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles 
• Pack out what you pack in
• Wear proper hiking boots
• 2x large reusable water bottles
• Snacks/fruit
• Lightweight rain jacket
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Day hiking backpack
• Biodegradable insect/mosquito repellent
• Map, emergency phone #’s

Don’t forget to tell someone where you’re going! In any case, hiring a guide for all the volcano hikes would be wise. 

For the Lower Mayan Trail and Ruta La Finca hike, you can easily go on your own (but not alone) and be mindful of your whereabouts.

If you have any questions about hiking in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, feel free to reach out!

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