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Bucketlist Bri

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An Epic Lake Atitlán Itinerary — How to Spend Your Days Lakeside in Guatemala

Last Updated: October 20, 2021 · Guatemala

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Planning a trip to the famous Lake Atitlán (Lago de Atitlán) in Guatemala and not sure how to spend your days? No worries! In this Lake Atitlán itinerary, I’ll be sharing my best tips and recommendations for what to do with 1-3 days (or more!).

Lake Atitlán is home to about a dozen charming villages belonging to the Tzu’utujil, Kiche, and Kaqchikel Maya, three peaky volcanoes (Tolimán, Atitlán, and San Pedro), and an immense amount of colorful flora and fauna.

But did you know?

This giant crater lake formed tens of thousands of years ago after the then-existing mega volcanoes erupted (spreading ash from Ecuador to Florida) and collapsed, leaving a massive caldera 11 miles wide that eventually filled up with rainwater and sediment. Today, Lake Atitlan is renowned for being both the deepest and highest-altitude lake in Central America.

So as you can imagine, Lake Atitlan is a sacred and popular Guatemala destination for both nationals and foreigners coming to explore its lakeside towns, trek on its volcano slopes, birdwatch in its tropical forests, or go scuba diving in its high-altitude, temperate waters.

Here is the ultimate Lake Atitlan itinerary!

The Complete Lake Atitlán Guatemala Itinerary

drone aerial view of mirador cerro de la cruz in san juan la laguna guatemala

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

How Many Days Do You Need in Lake Atitlan?

I would recommend at least one week in Lake Atitlan, if not more. I understand most people visit the lake on a weekend trip or even a full-day trip from Antigua, but I would encourage you to slow it down even more.

I had the opportunity to live in Lake Atitlán as a digital nomad for two full months before moving on and spending another month in Antigua. Even with all that time, I didn’t get to fully check off my Lake Atitlan bucket list — but I got close!

That said, if you are coming to the lake for only one, two, or three days, know that you won’t get to see and do everything you may want to. Slow travel is the best way to discover the lake as well — rushing through it will take away from the experience.

Best Activities to Do With 2-3 Days in Lake Atitlan

demonstration with pot and organic cotton inside casa flor ixcaco in san juan la laguna, guatemala
  • aerial view of San Pedro La Laguna, a Tz'utujil Maya town around Lake Atitlan Guatemala
  • woman sitting at restaurant in san pedro la laguna in lake atitlan

In any case, whether you’re here for just a few days or several weeks, here are activity ideas for what to do! You can read all 20 things to do around Lake Atitlan here.

  • ☀️ Do a sunrise hike up to Indian Nose
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic Lower Mayan Trail (here are the best hikes around Lake Atitlan)
  • 🧘‍♀️ Meditate in the hippie town of San Marcos La Laguna
  • 👛 Shop on Calle Santander in the gateway town of Panajachel
  • 🛁 Sit in hot thermal bathtubs
  • 🎒 Explore the backpacker town of San Pedro La Laguna
  • ⛰ Climb up to the panoramic viewpoint of Cerro de la Cruz in San Juan La Laguna
  • ☁️ Paraglide over Lake Atitlan
  • 🎨 Visit the painted village of Santa Catarina Palopó
  • 🤿 Scuba dive at altitude (recommend only if you have one week or more here)
  • 🛶 Kayak or stand-up paddleboard in Santa Cruz La Laguna
  • 🚕 Take a tuk-tuk tour around the traditional town of Santiago Atitlán
  • digital nomad girl standing on wooden pier overlooking volcanoes and lake atitlan guatemala
  • woman walking down Avenida 5ta in San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala
  • red tuk-tuks parked nearby the main dock in San Pedro La Laguna Guatemala
  • maya woman backstrap weaving guatemala

Looking for the best places to stay around the lake? I would highly suggest basing yourself out of either San Pedro or San Marcos during your time here (if you are wanting to be in the more popular/developed towns with plenty of restaurants and hotels). Here are the coolest hotels in San Pedro and a fun San Pedro foodie guide. Otherwise, the super unique hotel near the town of Jaibalito called La Casa Del Mundo offers extremely impressive views of all three volcanoes and Lake Atitlán.

 

 

Day 1: Arriving in Lake Atitlan

Now let’s put all (or at least a few) of these fun things to do on a trip to Lake Atitlan together to create an adventure-packed itinerary!

boats at dock in panajachel lake atitlan

Main boat dock in Panajachel

The majority of people arriving in Lake Atitlán will arrive by shuttle, chicken bus, or car in Panajachel. Guatemala City is 2h 45m away and Antigua is 2 hours. You can even take private transport to Pana from Chiapas, Mexico! That’s how we traveled over the border into Guatemala — you can read all about that in this guide: San Cristobal de Las Casas to Panajachel.

Pana is the gateway town of Lake Atitlán — most travelers come through here. While this town isn’t the biggest around the lake (Santiago Atitlán is), there are plenty of things to do. Amenities — i.e. restaurants, hotels, cafes, etc — are aplenty, so there’s little you’ll be longing for.

  • handmade guatemala bag hanging in market on calle santander in panajachel
  • colorful blue buildings painted in santa catarina palopo town in lake atitlan

Once you’re in Pana, you can go paragliding (reserve ahead), sunrise kayaking, shopping for textiles on Calle Santander, and more. The butterfly reserve nearby is a beautiful place to visit. You should also try to squeeze in a day trip to Santa Catarina Palopó (exceptional for its painted houses) and San Antonio Palopó (renown for its pottery and ceramic artisans) — both are but a 10-15 minute tuk-tuk ride away.

I would recommend staying overnight and spending one full day in Panajachel exploring its environs.

Best Hotels by Budget:

  • Backpacker ($) — Hospedaje El Viajero (where we stayed!)
  • Boutique ($$) — Selina Atitlán, Regis Hotel Spa
  • Luxe ($$$) — Posada de Don Rodrigo, Porta Hotel del Lago
  • Unique ($-$$$) — Reserva Natural Atitlan, Villas Balam Ya

Day 2: Exploring the Maya Towns Around the Lake

mirador (viewpoint) overlooking San Pedro volcano and Santiago Atitlán in Guatemala
santiago atitlan boat dock

Arriving in Santiago Atitlán

In some cases, you may want to arrive and immediately head to the destination you came here for — bets are it’s either San Marcos or San Pedro La Laguna. At least 9/10 travelers visiting Lake Atitlán arrive in Panajachel wanting to take the boat ferry the same day to get there. We get it! We did the same thing when we moved here.

In any case, I highly recommend including more than one town in your Lake Atitlán itinerary — several, if possible! Here are the 10 best towns to visit around Lake Atitlan.

To take the boat across Lake Atitlan costs between Q5 and Q25 per one-way trip, depending on your origin and destination. The price goes up Q5 about every additional stop you make. For example, from San Pedro to San Juan it costs Q10 (Q5 for locals) because it’s right next door. From San Pedro to San Marcos (after San Juan) it costs around Q15.

Day 3: Sunrise Hike Over Lake Atitlan

sunset lake atitlan with view of indian nose summit from san pedro la laguna

Indian Nose mountain (view from San Pedro)

woman looking at san pedro volcano from atop indian nose mountain summit

Atop Indian Nose overlooking Volcán San Pedro and the towns of San Juan and San Pedro

One of the most popular activities to do on a short trip to Lake Atitlán is to do a sunrise hike up to Indian Nose summit, where you can watch the sunrise come up over Lake Atitlan and its wild volcanoes and cute lakeside towns.

Tours include transport from San Pedro La Laguna to Santa Clara La Laguna, where you’ll begin your hike early in the morning. The hike itself is only 30-45 minutes from the base of Santa Clara La Laguna. If you opt to do the long hike (like we did), you’ll begin your hike from the bottom of San Juan La Laguna.

Save time & the hassle of booking when you arrive — reserve your sunrise hike tour here!

 

Whether you do the sunrise tour and head back to San Pedro or cross San Juan, you’ll be nearby the artsy town of San Juan La Laguna at some point during your trip (it’s just a 5-10 minute tuk-tuk ride from San Pedro), and it’s worth exploring around. Grab lunch inside the cozy terrace at El Gato Negro and coffee at Maria’s. Don’t miss out on the panoramic views from Cerro de la Cruz and the natural-dye weaving cooperative at Casa Flor Ixcaco.

If You Have More Time in Lake Atitlán…

With more time in Lake Atitlán beyond a couple of days, you’ll have the opportunity to knock off quite a few of those bucket list items — plus more!

For those with their PADI certification, why not explore what lies below the lake surface with a scuba diving tour? Apparently, you can dive down to see submerged balconies at La Casa Del Mundo and cook a raw egg over the heat from thermal vents.

Cooking classes (try Mayan Kitchen in San Pedro), sacred fire ceremonies, and 8-hour weaving workshops learning how to make your own scarf using the traditional backstrap loom, are also unique and memorable experiences to include in your Lake Atitlan itinerary.

So tell me, how long are you planning to be in Lake Atitlán? Drop your thoughts below and feel free to reach out with questions or suggestions!

LIKE IT? PIN THIS LAKE ATITLAN GUATEMALA ITINERARY!

  • views of san pedro la laguna town in lake atitlan guatemala with text overlay
  • collage photos of san pedro volcano and san pedro la laguna town in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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By: Bri · In: Guatemala

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National Park Week has got me feelin’ a serious National Park Week has got me feelin’ a serious case of nostalgia for our 2-week Southwest USA road trip! 🏜

The NP’s we visited on this trip:

📍Arches National Park
📍Canyonlands National Park
📍Zion National Park
📍Bryce Canyon National Park
📍Grand Canyon National Park (North & South Rims)
📍Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

+ Valley of Fire State Park, Red Rock State Park, & Monument Valley Navajo Park!

Head to my blog bucketlistbri.com for the full 2-week itinerary plus detailed guides & itineraries to each NP!*

*except for BCotG

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#nationalparkweek #utahrocks #zion #bryce #southwestusa #roadtripusa #desertvibes #archesnationalpark #moab #canyonlands #roadtripamerica #grandcanyonnationalpark
"From Santa Catarina Palopó" 💜 I saw her gigg "From Santa Catarina Palopó" 💜

I saw her giggling and chatting with a friend from across the street and, despite my shyness, waltzed over to ask if I could take her photo. 

She was simply radiating sitting there; an amateur portrait photographer's dream. Except I don't even own a portrait lens and this was only the second time ever in my life that I whisked up the courage to ask for something that feels so... intimate. 

But without hesitation, she gazed into my lens and pierced my heart. It was like being drawn to a joyous light that I just couldn't resist. So I dared to ask. 

As soon as she said yes, I hurriedly clicked a few shots; rushing so as to not waste her time. After showing her portraits to her, she gave me a big nod and said softly, "de Santa Catarina Palopó" with immense pride.

I think her sweet smile & kind eyes speak for themselves... ✨ 

You can read more about the indigenous Kaqchikel Maya and the colorfully painted town of Santa Catarina Palopó, Guatemala on my blog @bucketlistbri 💜
10 years together 💛😱 It’s not our annive 10 years together 💛😱 

It’s not our anniversary (it was technically last month, depending on who you ask) and we're not even celebrating Valentine's Day today, but...

I just wanted to remind the internet that I have a pretty badass partner (& not to mention the best cat dad) who puts up with both my silly madness and my need to live around the world in pursuit of adventure. 

If I have any advice for love and long-term relationships, it's this:

Keep choosing each other;
again, and again, and again,
over everything else, no matter what you go through. 

❤️❤️❤️

Can you guess which one of us first "friend-requested" the other all those years ago? 😉

#internationalcouple #ourlove #travelcouplegoals #10yearstogether #digitalnomadcouple #adventuretogether
On every adventure, I’ve thought of you. I am On every adventure, I’ve thought of you. 

I am the granddaughter of a guiding light, a woman so lovely and gentle and spiritual and strong that she attracted to her all walks of life. 

I was the butterfly enamored by her glow. The ship lost at sea that found safety at her shores. 

On every adventure, I’ll think of you. On every adventure, you’ll be with me. 

🦋 ✨
Add this hike to your Caribbean bucket list! ☀️ 

Guadeloupe is rich in breathtaking, diverse landscapes — La Pointe des Châteaux is no exception! Magnificent rocky pillars jut out of the ocean & create a magnificent view that’s best experienced at sunrise from atop Morne Pavillon, the hill marked by the large cross on its summit.

TIPS FOR VISITING:

🚗 Like everywhere in Gwada, you'll need a rental! Parking is free.
☀️ Sunrise and sunset are around 6am and 6pm
🥾 The hike itself only takes 15-20 minutes and is easy!
🦀 Watch for wildlife and other critters (this is a protected heritage site!)
🌊 Plenty of beaches are nearby, including a nude beach and a private beach with cool wave splashing action called "La Douche" (meaning shower 🚿) 

Read more about this epic spot + other must-see places in Guadeloupe on the blog @bucketlistbri 🌴

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#guadeloupeislands #caribbeanisland #pointedeschateaux #wanderlusttravel #caribbeanlife #caribbeanvibes #gwada #hikingtheworld #islandphotography #travelaesthetic
I'M READY FOR YA, 2022 ✌️ HERE'S WHY: ✍️ I'M READY FOR YA, 2022 ✌️ HERE'S WHY:

✍️ 2022 is going to be the year I become a published author. 

💛  It's the year I celebrate 10 years of love & adventure with my best friend. 

💻  It's the year I register my LLC and level up my business. 

🌎  It's the year I hit my bucket list of "slow living in 10 countries" as a nomad and the year I travel and discover even more destinations. 

And some folks will think (do think), "overnight success." But the reality is (as my sweet friend @redwhiteadventures reminded me), it's been about putting one foot in front of the other -- just like on a hike up a mountain (or in this case, to the cliffsides overlooking the Caribbean and Atlantic!). 

2022 is going to be the view from the top!! (Sure, I may get there, and see another summit I want to climb. But I'm so ready for the challenge(s), the journey, & the adventure!) ⛰ 

What are you excited about in 2022?! 

📍Hell's Gate / Porte d'Enfer, Guadeloupe (click the link in my bio to read about this hike!)
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