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Each of Lake Atitlan’s waterfront towns has its own character and charm. With varying traditions, including trajes (clothing) and mannerisms, these individual Guatemalan enclaves are unique in their own way. This is why visiting more than one town around Lago de Atitlan is a must!
The rich history and cultural diversity of Lake Atitlan’s villages are what make this Guatemala travel destination so fascinating. The cultures and languages you’ll see and hear are predominantly Tz’utujil Maya, with a smaller population of Kaqchikel and K’iche Maya.
From wandering between the colorfully painted houses of Santa Catarina Palopó and shopping for traditional Maya textiles in Santiago Atitlán to partaking in a backstrap loom weaving workshop and hitting up the backpacker bars in San Pedro La Laguna, there is so much to see and do in these vibrant lakeside villages where tradition intertwines with modern society.
Plus, not only is visiting several of the towns in Lake Atitlán doable on a short or long trip, but it’s also fun since you get to skirt across the lake via boat — the local mode of transport — and take in the mesmerizing views of the three volcanoes of San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán marking the skyline.
Here are the best towns to visit around Lake Atitlán in Guatemala!
Top 10 Incredible Maya Towns Around Lake Atitlán
- San Pedro: Best backpacker town with lots of places to eat and stay.
- San Juan La Laguna: Cute, “artsy” village with epic hikes, dye workshops, and tours.
- Santa Catarina Palopo: Colorful village, decorated with stunning artwork.
- Santiago Atitlan: The largest town on Lake Atitlan with a heritage all its own.
- San Marcos La Laguna: The health and wellbeing epicenter of Lake Atitlan.
- Santa Cruz La Laguna: Incredible views of the three volcanoes and laid back vibes.
- San Antonio Palopo: Known for traditional ceramics and a good swimming spot.
- Jaibalito: Off-the-beaten-path and isolated with plenty of charm to enchant you.
- Tzununa: A sleepy Kaqchikel Maya village.
- Panajachel: The gateway to Lake Atitlan and a hub for expats and travelers.
1. San Pedro La Laguna
We were lucky enough to have lived in San Pedro La Laguna — the popular backpacker town on the lake — for two months, which is why it’s at the top of my list!
There are so many awesome things to do in San Pedro La Laguna, which is another reason that this town is a must-visit.
Lounge in heated thermal pools at sunset? Yep!
Go horseback riding to coffee farms? Why not?
Take a cooking class and visit a women’s weaving workshop? Definitely!
Hike up San Pedro volcano? Maybe!
Of all the towns around Lake Atitlán, San Pedro probably offers the best choice of restaurants and accommodations.
There seems to be food from all corners of the world—Israeli, Japanese, Indian, Mexican, and Italian (to name a few). San Pedro is also home to some of the best hotels and resorts in Lake Atitlan, including budget-friendly hostels, boutique properties, and luxurious resorts.
One thing is for sure: If you come to San Pedro, you’ll be at the heart of the activity in Lake Atitlán! Getting there from Panajachel (the gateway town to the lake) only takes 30 minutes by boat and costs Q25.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN PEDRO LA LAGUNA:
Sababa Resort ($$$) – a popular boutique resort and hostel with one of the coolest pools in Lake Atitlán.
Zoola ($) – party it up in this hip backpacker’s hostel that features a cool restaurant, full bar, outdoor pool, and terrace overlooking the lake.
2. Santa Catarina Palopó
Santa Catarina Palopó should definitely be on your radar if you’re choosing between Lake Atitlan towns!
This is one of the most colorful villages on the lake, thanks to a project called Pintando El Cambio or Painting Change.
This initiative transformed the municipality into a rainbow wonderland. All 850+ houses are now painted in hues of green, blue, and purple and adorned with traditional Maya motifs commonly found embroidered on their traditional clothing (huipiles).
Each family decided on the color and symbols they wanted for their homes! The result is a spectacular scene, and both the town and the people are practically glowing from the facelift. The project’s mission was to use art as a tool for positive change and help bring tourism to the village, thus combating poverty by bringing in a new wave of economic activity.
Santa Catarina Palopó is also one of the few towns on Lake Atitlán with a large Kaqchikel Maya community. Here, you can witness women wearing their traditional rich blue and purple clothing and headdresses while they make textiles using the backstrap loom.
Aside from these colorful adventures there are other activities to uncover like soaking in hot springs, grabbing a day pass to luxurious resorts with lake views, and epic viewpoints.
Need I say more? Now you’ve got yourself quite the itinerary to spend a day exploring Santa Catarina Palopó!
To reach Santa Catarina Palopó from Panajachel, simply take a tuk-tuk or hop in the back of a pickup truck. The drive takes about 10 minutes.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA CATARINA PALOPO:
Hotel Casa Palopó ($$$) – a luxurious hotel with one of the best views of Lake Atitlán plus ecotourism activities, fine dining, and more.
Tzampoc Resort ($$) – a secluded retreat with stunning views of the lake from cozy suites, the pool, and hot tub located between Santa Catarina Palopo and Santa Antonio Palopo.
3. San Juan La Laguna
Next is one of the cutest towns in Lake Atitlán: San Juan La Laguna. This artsy Tz’utujil Maya municipality is a 5-minute boat ride or a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride from neighboring San Pedro.
Of all the things to do in San Juan, one of the most popular activities is hiking up to the Cerro de la Cruz, an epic viewpoint over the lakeside villages and towering volcanoes.
If you’re looking for an extra challenge, you can do the Indian Nose Hike to reach the summit referred to as “El Nariz del Indio” or Indian’s Nose. You’ll have even better views from up here! On a clear day, you can see up to 8 volcanoes stretching across the horizon.
San Juan also has an underrated art scene – from art galleries teeming with talented local artists to natural dye weaving associations where you can observe a free demonstration of how the locals naturally dye and weave textiles.
Coffee tours are offered here as well, and if you’re a coffee aficionado, you can’t miss out on Cafe Las Maria’s, a coffee shop and roastery!
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA:
Eco Hotel Uxalib Atitlán ($+) – a lakeside eco-boutique hotel with a pool, free private kayaks, and breakfast with organic coffee.
Eco Hotel Mayachik ($) – minimalistic and rustic bungalows in nature with unhampered views of the surrounding mountains.
4. Santiago Atitlán
Visiting Santiago Atitlán means getting the opportunity to witness a more traditional town around Lake Atitlan.
Here, many of the men are still wearing traditional slacks with pinstripes, woven belts, and that’s—something you don’t get to see in the other municipalities.
You can also visit Maximón (El Gran Abuelo), a Mayan deity who changes residency in a local family’s home each year on May 8. This is one of the only remaining places in Guatemala where you can observe syncretist religion – a mixing of traditional Maya beliefs with that of modern Catholicism.
The town of Santiago Atitlán receives more national tourists than foreign. It’s also the largest Maya town around Lake Atitlán, with over 70,000 inhabitants. Seeing as it lies at the foot of two volcanoes (Tolimán and Atitlán), going hiking and birding are other activities you can do here.
When we explored Santiago, we took a 2-hour tour of the town via tuk-tuk and were able to visit all its top attractions, including a visit to the Parque de la Paz, which served as a history lesson about the town’s tragic and bloody massacre that took place in December 1990.
If you get the chance to visit, don’t miss out on a mini-day trip to Santiago Atitlán!
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTIAGO ATITLAN:
Casa Josefa Hotel ($) – a modern apartment-style hotel featuring rooms with kitchens and private bathrooms plus a sauna and outdoor pool.
Hotel Tiosh Abaj ($$) – boutique hotel and spacious complex with a large outdoor pool, private beach area, and colorful rooms.
5. San Marcos La Laguna
Ahh… now on to San Marcos La Laguna!
San Marcos is, along with San Pedro, one of the better-known towns around Lake Atitlán. It’s super popular among the meditation and yogi crowd, and it’s hard to ignore the New Age vibe when you stroll through its streets. Many would say that foreign influence has drowned out some of the indigenous Tz’utujil Maya culture.
However, I still believe there are ways to immerse yourself in local initiatives. One place that we enjoyed, in particular, was the Guatemalan restaurant, Comedor Konojel.
Not only do they serve hearty portions of typical Guatemalan and Mayan food, but they also dish out a large portion of the proceeds to the community’s food program!
San Marcos La Laguna’s laid-back vibe can be found by simply strolling around or finding somewhere to meditate. As you walk up from the main boat dock, you’ll find an array of boho cafes, gelato shops, hidden hotels, health and wellbeing centers, and colorful Maya textiles spread out on the floor.
Swimming in San Marcos is popular, too, thanks to the nearby nature reserve Cerro Tzankujil, which features several places to swim and a nearly 12-meter-high jumping dock.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN MARCOS LA LAGUNA:
Lush Atitlan ($$) – Simple yet elegantly designed rooms with a mix of local and Bohemian decor, garden nooks with stunning views to hide away in.
Baraka Atitlan ($$) – A beautiful guesthouse with community living vibes, cozy rooms and apartments, and a private beach located on the outskirts of San Marcos La Laguna.
6. Santa Cruz La Laguna
The town on the hill, Santa Cruz La Laguna, is one of the lesser-known destinations around Lake Atitlán. Nonetheless, this little place deserves a visit!
The town itself is perched high above the lake, so you’ll need to take a tuk-tuk into the town itself if you wish to explore. However, if you want to stay by the lakeshore, there are plenty of things to keep you busy.
Most of all, Santa Cruz La Laguna offers the BEST views of all three volcanoes – Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro. On a clear day, you can see them perfectly in a row.
One of our favorite places to grab lunch with a view is located just left of the Santa Cruz dock. It’s called Arca del Noé (after Noah’s Arc), and it doubles as a sweet little hotel and restaurant.
You can also rent SUP boards and kayaks just down the shore or go on an incredible 2-hour hike around Lake Atitlán, which connects Santa Cruz, Tzununa, and San Marcos!
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA CRUZ LA LAGUNA:
Casa Prana ($$$) – Rest like a goddess in this ultra-luxe hotel and soak in the amazing views of Lago de Atitlán from the pool!
Free Cerveza ($) – Eco-friendly glamping hostel, anyone? As the name suggests, get free beer with your stay – and free SUP, too!
7. San Antonio Palopó
San Antonio Palopó, as you may have guessed already, is a town that’s right beside Santa Catarina Palopó. While Santa Catarina may be the town to visit if you love color, San Antonio is the destination to go to if you enjoy ceramics and pottery.
The story behind how San Antonio Palopó became famous for its pottery art and ceramics is quite fascinating. It began with an expat who immigrated to Lake Atitlán after living in Mexico for years!
The town, built up from the lake into the hills, teems with local life. Its white churches, sat on a lively street, face the lake with an amazing view of the volcanoes in the background. Swimming is possible nearby, as well as taking a stroll on its lakeside boardwalk.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN ANTONIO PALOPO:
Hotel Nuestro Sueño ($) – a waterfront hotel with relaxed vibes and friendly staff!
Hotel Terrazas Del Lago ($) – enjoy panoramic views of Lake Atitlán and the volcanoes from this hotel’s garden and terrace.
8. Jaibalito
Jaibalito is teeny-tiny and one of Lake Atitlán’s more unknown towns. If you’re riding the boat from Panajachel on your way to San Pedro or San Marcos, you’ll no doubt stop briefly at Jaibalito’s small dock.
The town lies between Santa Cruz La Laguna and Tzununa. If you’re hiking the Lower Mayan Trail, you’re going to cross Jaibalito on foot!
Seeing as there are no roads leading to Jaibalito, the only way to get there is by hiking or by taking the boat. Once you’re in Jaibalito, life will slow down. There are hardly any tourists and you’ll only get to see locals going about their daily lives.
That said, there are still a few things to do in this tranquil little town, such as grabbing a dessert and coffee at The Thirsty Baker or floating in the infinity pool at Casa Del Mundo. Jaibalito remains mostly untouched by international influence; there’s no beaten backpacker trail here. All the more reason to visit!
WHERE TO STAY IN JAIBALITO:
Hotel y Café La Casa Del Mundo ($) – one of the prettiest hotels on the lake (in my opinion), perched on the rocky shores of Lake Atitlán facing the three towering volcanoes in the background. Enjoy a dip pool, botanical garden, cute terraces, private swimming area, and a delicious restaurant.
9. Tzununá
Tucked away on the western side of Lake Atitlán, Tzununa is a sleepy Kaqchikel Maya village.
In Mayan, tzunun was Lake Atitlán’s name before the Spanish conquistadors arrived and called it Lake Atitlán. It signifies “hummingbird of the water” (or colibrí in Spanish). Many visitors who make the trip to Tzununá do so in order to learn more about sustainable permaculture with an organization called Atitlán Organics.
Overall, Tzununa is an adorable town around Lake Atitlán! We crossed through here on the incredible Lower Mayan Trail and discovered that most of the town is set back off the lakeshore and nestled at the foot of the surrounding mountains. The atmosphere was tropical and tranquil!
This sweet little village is the perfect place to stay, seeing as it’s easily connected by road to neighboring San Marcos La Laguna. You’ll be in close proximity to all your conveniences without getting thrown into the San Marcos crowds.
WHERE TO STAY IN TZUNUNA:
El Picnic Atitlán ($$) – enjoy sleeping under the stars inside your own eco-luxe tent/tiny house, complete with an on-site restaurant and bar, garden, and more!
Cabañas de Tzununá ($) – budget-friendly homey cabins with lake access and private dock, lush garden, and on-site restaurant.
10. Panajachel
Finally, if you visit Lake Atitlán, it’s likely that your first destination will be the “gateway” town to the lake – Panajachel.
Panajachel, lovingly referred to as Pana, is the place to go if you seek the hustle and bustle of a small city. It’s one of the best places to shop for textiles, handicrafts, and souvenirs. The market scene down Calle Santander is vibrant and busy.
You should also take a stroll down its boardwalk, which is full of life with vendors selling micheladas, trinkets, toys, clothing, and much more.
Pana has some of the best hotels, restaurants, and co-working spaces (like Selina), which make it an ideal destination for digital nomads coming to the lake. There are also interesting museums, artisanal cafes with great coffee, and adventure activities like paragliding.
Whether you decide to stay a few days to kickstart or end your trip in Panajachel while visiting Lake Atitlán, you won’t be disappointed. It’s definitely less charming than the other above-mentioned towns around Lake Atitlán, in my opinion, but that’s also what adds to its unique character.
WHERE TO STAY IN PANAJACHEL:
Selina Atitlán ($+) – a popular boutique hotel set in the heart of Panajachel. Ideal for digital nomads seeking WiFi, community, comfort, and a co-working space.
Hospedaje El Viajero ($) – a no-frills choice for backpackers and travelers with comfortable yet simple rooms and a lush garden.
Other Towns in Lake Atitlan!
Have I convinced you yet to visit at least some of the other towns around Lake Atitlan, if not all of them?
You also have towns like San Pablo La Laguna and Santa Clara La Laguna, where you can start the Indian Nose sunrise hike. Although these aren’t mentioned above, they’re also worth checking out!!
Both of these lakeside towns are more off-the-beaten-path and not as frequented by travelers. You’ll find hiking and outdoor activities, but less infrastructure than some of the other towns like Panajachel.
I passed through both of these towns briefly but haven’t had the chance to explore them in-depth as they’re harder to reach.
Getting Around Lake Atitlan
There are several methods of transportation around Lake Atitlan, but the most common is getting around by boat. Every town has a dock where you’ll be able to catch a lancha, the boats that service towns along Lake Atitlan.
One way tickets cost anywhere from Q10 to Q25 (about $1.30-$3.23), depending on how far you’re traveling. The boats connect most towns and run several times a day, sometimes more depending on which town you’re based in.
Another option is to get from town to town by tuk tuk. This is most common between towns that are close to each other, like from Panajachel to Santa Catarina Palopó.
While it might seem like an easy stroll, it’s not recommended to walk between towns as robberies have been reported.
Sample 3 Day Itinerary in Lake Atitlan
If you only have three days in Lake Atitlan, you’ll need to prioritize which towns you want to visit. Most visitors will want to seek out San Pedro, San Juan, and San Marcos.
You’ll most likely arrive in Panajachel, the perfect jumping off point. You can choose to spend a night here as there are lots of fun things to do in Panajachel, or head straight to one of the smaller towns I mentioned above, all of which are easily accessible from this gateway town.
San Pedro and San Marcos are two of the most developed towns along the lake with plenty of restaurants and things to do. If you didn’t head to either of these spots right away, make your way here on your second day.
One of my favorite activities in Lake Atitlan is hiking the Indian Nose trail! Reserve part of your third day for this epic trek with incredible views.
Sample 5-7 Day Itinerary in Lake Atitlan
For a longer Lake Atitlan itinerary of 5+ days, you’ll have plenty of time to visit the major towns and throw in a few of the more unknown villages too.
Spend your first days mimicking the above 3 day Lake Atitlan itinerary, exploring the larger towns and doing the Indian Nose hike.
With your remaining 2-4 days, seek out some of the smaller towns like Santa Catarina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo. Alternatively you could also hide away at one of the resorts like La Casa del Mundo in the sleepy village of Jaibalito or the luxurious Casa Prana in Santa Cruz for a few days of R&R.
If you have any questions about these municipalities or what it was like to live in San Pedro La Laguna as a digital nomad, feel free to reach out!
For more inspiration and guides to help plan your trip, be sure to go through my Guatemala Travel articles.
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Outstanding stories and pictures from one of the most unique areas in the world. You have both the aestetic and cultural prints from there. I am returning now, and have been there for 3 years. Stayed in San Juan. But also investigating the jungle, Livingstone and a exiting school on the edge of Rio Dulce. But love your great work. Thanks a lot.
Hey Torben! Thank you so very much for your thoughtful comment! Best of luck on your adventures — they sound wonderful and exciting! 🙏