An Epic Lake Atitlán Itinerary — How to Spend Your Days Lakeside in 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 almost a dozen charming villages belonging to the Tzu’utujil, Kiche, and Kaqchikel Maya, three towering 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 and collapsed, leaving a massive caldera 11 miles wide that eventually filled with rainwater and sediment.

Today, Lake Atitlan is renowned for being both the deepest and highest-altitude lake in Central America.

As you can imagine, Lake Atitlan is a sacred and popular Guatemala destination for both nationals and foreigners who come 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 Itinerary

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 — rushing through it will take away from the experience.

Best Activities to Do With 3-7 Days in Lake Atitlan

Whether you’re here for just a few days or several weeks, here are some ideas for things to do around Lake Atitlan! 

• ☀️ Do a sunrise hike up to Indian Nose, one of the best hikes around Lake Atitlan
• 🥾 Hike the scenic Lower Mayan Trail 
• 🧘‍♀️ 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

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. This is especially true if you want to be in one of the more popular towns with plenty of restaurants and hotels.

From the coolest hotels in San Pedro to some of the best places to eat in San Pedro, this is one of the most developed towns along the lake. Otherwise, the hotel near the town of Jaibalito, called La Casa Del Mundo, is beautiful, unique, and offers impressive views of all three volcanoes and Lake Atitlán.

 Quick Itinerary Breakdown

3-Day Lake Atitlan Itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrive in Panajachel and stay one night in the bustling gateway town to Lake Atitlan!

• Day 2: Head to your second village in Lake Atitlan. With only three days, choose between San Marcos La Laguna for a trip focused on well-being or San Pedro La Laguna if you’re looking for more of a backpacker vibe.

• Day 3: End your three days in Lake Atitlan by hiking El Rostro Maya (Indian Nose) and checking out the village of San Juan La Laguna.

5-Day Lake Atitlan Itinerary:

• Day 4: Spend your fourth day in Lake Atitlan, wandering the colorful streets of Santa Catarina Palopo and learning more about the region’s Mayan heritage.

• Day 5: Add on another hike as your grand finale, trekking up one of the three volcanoes that surround the lake. Choose from Toliman, San Pedro, and Atitlan. The most popular option is San Pedro, but the tallest is Atitlan if you’re up to the challenge.

7-Day Lake Atitlan Itinerary:

• Day 6: With a full week in Lake Atitlan, spend day six in Santiago Atitlan. This isn’t just the largest community along the lake but also has a compelling history and culture all its own.

Day 7: End your trip however you’d like, from birdwatching for quetzals to experiencing a Mayan fire ceremony or paragliding. Your final day should be tailored to whatever piques your interest!

Three Days in Lake Atitlan

Day 1: Arrive in Lake Atitlan

The majority of people coming to Lake Atitlán will arrive by shuttle, chicken bus, or car in Panajachel. Guatemala City is 2 hours and 45 minutes from Panajachel, while Antigua is about a 2-hour drive away.

Main boat dock in Panajachel

You can also take private transport to Panajachel from Chiapas, Mexico! That’s how we traveled over the border from San Cristobal de Las Casas into Guatemala.

Panajachel, also affectionately referred to as “Pana,” is the gateway town of Lake Atitlán, and most travelers transit through it.

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.

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 (renowned for its pottery and ceramic artisans) — both are about a 10 to 15-minute tuk-tuk ride away.

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

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

Day 2: Explore the Maya Towns Around the Lake

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. Most travelers visiting Lake Atitlán arrive in Panajachel, wanting to take the ferry the same day. 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.

Depending on your origin and destination, taking the boat across Lake Atitlan costs between Q10 and Q25 per one-way trip.

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

Indian Nose mountain (view from San Pedro)

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

One of the most popular activities on a short trip to Lake Atitlán is 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 near 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.

Five Days in Lake Atitlan

Day 4: Explore the colorful village of Santa Catarina Palopo

Spend your fourth day in Lake Atitlan exploring the rainbow hued village of Santa Catarina Palopo. 

This kaleidoscope colored town is a Kaqchikel Maya village that was recently painted an array of beautiful colors by Pintando El Cambio (Painting for Change). The association’s aim was to boost economic growth in the community and draw in visitors, while having the added effect of beautifying the town as well!

Aside from pretty street art and prismatic homes, you’ll plenty of other things to do in Santa Catarina Palopo. Soak in hot springs, hike to Mirador Santa Catarina, search for handmade textiles, or learn more about the Kaqchikel Maya.

If you really want to be engrained in the community — and have extra time for pictures — there are several wonderful places to spend the night in Santa Catarina Palopo. Choose between the swanky Hotel Casa Palopo or opt for hot tub soaks at Tzampoc Resort.

Day 5: Hike up a volcano

You’ve no doubt seen three towering volcanoes, looming over the lake the last few days. Your muscles have had some time to recover from your climb up El Rostro Maya so it’s time to conquer another incredible hike in Lake Atitlan!

Toliman, Atitlan, and San Pedro are the lakes smoldering volcanoes, all hikable. Choosing between them simply comes down to difficulty and how much time you want to spend on your volcano trek. 

San Pedro Volcano is the most popular option for hiking and you can hire guides at the base of the volcano or hop on a tour. 

Atitlan is the tallest volcano and the most difficult to climb with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain! You can find Atitlan volcano tours that leave from Santiago Atitlan.

Seven Days in Lake Atitlan

Day 6: Visit a Mayan deity in Santiago Atitlan

Keep uncovering Lake Atitlan’s history, both recent and centuries old, in the largest city on the lake, Santiago Atitlan. 

Santiago Atitlan is a Tz’utujil Maya community on the southern shores of the lake. Here you’ll learn more about the city’s past through history that’s both heartbreaking and intriguing.

This is the only town in Lake Atitlan that combines both Mayan and Catholic beliefs through the worship of the local deity, Maximón. Travelers can visit Maximón, who moves to a different home each year, for a small donation.

You’ll also discover a more grisly side of Lake Atitlan’s history here and the reason behind why the federal militia aren’t allowed within town limits. Both an assassination and massacre took place here, both at the hands of the Guatemalan military.

Day 7: Choose your own adventure!

Day seven should be spent honing in on your personal interests. Choose from a variety of activities like…

• Take a weaving workshop.
• Go kayaking or SUPing.
• Paraglide with stunning views of the lake.
• Go horseback riding to a coffee farm.
• Seek out the elusive quetzal on a birdwatching tour.
• Experience a Mayan fire ceremony.

Having a more flexible schedule on your last day also allows you to be more spontaneous if something piques your interest during your trip! 

If there’s something in particular that you don’t want to miss out on though, make sure you book in advance just to ensure you have a spot.

FAQs About Visiting Lake Atitlan

How much time do you need in Lake Atitlan?

Three days is just enough time to see the best of Lake Atitlan, but with five days you’ll be able to squeeze in epic adventures like hiking up a volcano.

Should I spend more time in Lake Atitlan or Antigua?

Whether you should spend more time in Lake Atitlan or Antigua will depend on your preferences! 

Enjoy stunning views and a more laid back vibe with plenty of outdoor activities? Plan for more time in Lake Atitlan. If you’re more interested in history, beautiful architecture, and hopping between delicious restaurants and cafes, you might want to spend more time in Antigua.

What is the best month to visit Lake Atitlan?

The best months to visit Lake Atitlan are November and March, during the dry season. You’ll avoid holiday crowds and have nice weather!

Is Lake Atitlan expensive?

You can visit Lake Atitlan both on a backpacker and luxury budget. You’ll find that prices are a bit lower than Antigua, but Guatemala in general is inexpensive.

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!

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