Quetzaltenango: 5 tips for Guatemala's least known city
September 25, 2023
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One of the highlights of a trip to Guatemala is without a doubt Lake Atitlan. The lake feels magical, perhaps because it is so vast. But also because it is surrounded by imposing volcanoes and at the same time by cozy, colorful villages. A visit to Lake Atitlan should therefore not be missed during a trip to Guatemala. But what are the best things to do around Lake Atitlan? And where is the best place to stay? Based on our personal tips, we will help you get started. These are the most beautiful villages around Lake Atitlan!
Lake Atitlan and the 12 surrounding villages
Lake Atitlan is surrounded by several volcanoes and villages. As such, it is a crater lake and lies at an altitude of 1,500 meters. You will find around Lake Atitlan no less than 3 volcanoes and 12 villages, all with their own unique character. While traveling through Guatemala it might be a bit much to visit all 12 villages, but we definitely recommend adding San Juan, San Pedro, San Marcos and Panajachel to your itinerary through Guatemala.
How to get to the villages around Lake Atitlan?
Most people travel from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. The bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan takes 2.5 to 3 hours. You always travel first to the village of Panajachel. Water cabs operate between the villages. You can buy return tickets in the villages of San Juan, San Pedro and Panajachel. We recommend doing this, as it is cheaper than a one-way ticket.
1. San Juan
Our favorite was definitely the colorful village of San Juan La Laguna. There is a lovely relaxed backpacker atmosphere here. On every street corner you see lively street art and cheerful decorations, such as umbrellas and hats in all colors of the rainbow. The nicest streets are Calle de las Artes and Calle de los Sombreros.
You can also explore Guatemala's centuries-old textile traditions and coffee-growing industry in San Juan. For example, shop hand-woven works at one of the textile shops and enjoy a cup of coffee made from coffee beans straight from the plantations.
Another tip we definitely recommend is the Mirador Kakasiwan viewpoint in San Juan. When the sun is shining it is quite a challenge to make the climb up, but the view is well worth it. Extra nice about the viewpoint is the colorful decking.
Where to stay in San Juan La Laguna
San Juan is a nice village to stay in around Lake Atitlan. We really liked the atmosphere and it is a bit quieter here than San Pedro. Keep in mind that in the evening most of the shops here are closed. In the evening there are many tuk tuk's, so you can still find the hustle and bustle in San Pedro.
One hotel we recommend is the sustainable hotel Uxlabil Atitlan.
Eco Hotel Uxlabil Atitlan
The eco hotel Uxlabil Atitlan is beautifully located on Lake Atitlan in the village of San Juan La Laguna. All rooms have balconies overlooking the lake. You can use kayaks here for free. For a double room, you pay an average of between €70.00 and €90.00 per night. Breakfast is included in the price.
2. San Pedro
Like San Juan La Laguna, San Pedro is also popular among backpackers. It is the place with the most affordable accommodations and lively cafes and bars. Of course, you have to love the hustle and bustle, but at least we found San Pedro an incredibly pleasant village for a nice day trip.
Near San Pedro is the famous San Pedro volcano. You can climb this volcano for a magnificent view of the lake.
Are you staying longer in Guatemala and want to brush up on your Spanish? Then go to the San Pedro Spanish School. This Spanish school has been in San Pedro for 25 years and you can take classes here for longer periods of time as well as for short periods. We spoke with several students who were very excited to learn Spanish here. They also work with home stays, which makes your trip to Guatemala extra unique and authentic. But the views here are also insane.
Where to stay in San Pedro
San Pedro is generally the most inexpensive place to stay around Lake Atitlan. First of all, you will find many hostels here, but in terms of double rooms there are also many cheap options. For example, a nice and affordable hotel is the Mikaso Hotel.
Mikaso Hotel
A good and affordable hotel in San Pedro is Mikaso Hotel. The hotel is located right on the shore of Lake Atitlan in San Pedro La Laguna. You can easily take a dip in the refreshing lake from the jetty at Mikaso Hotel. There are also nice places to sit by the water. You pay an average of about €30.00 to €50.00 per night for a double room here.
3. San Marcos
San Marcos is known as the hippie village of Lake Atitlan. It is a quiet village where you come mainly for wellness and holistic activities, such as yoga retreats and cacao ceremonies. We volgden a yoga class and sound healing from the incredibly dedicated yogi Jadeli Percolla at Atitlan Wellness in San Marcos. This was incredibly special!
In San Marcos you will also find many nice stores where you can buy jewelry and gemstones. In addition, the village is known for its many good vega(n) restaurants.
Where to stay in San Marcos
San Marcos is the village around Lake Atitlan for the conscious traveler. In fact, you will find not only lots of vega(n) restaurants here, but also a large number of ecological hotels and resorts. One of these resorts is the popular all-inclusive resort Eagle's Nest Atitlán.
Eagle's Nest Atitlán
Eagle's Nest Atitlán is a popular accommodation among digital nomads, adventure travelers and creatives. They offer an incredibly fun all-inclusive concept, which means that during your stay you can enjoy 3 meals a day, yoga classes, sauna and access to events for free. You sleep in a dorm, with a choice of mixed dorms and women-only dorms. You pay average between €80.00 and €200.00 per night for a dorm.
4. Panajachel
Panajachel is the largest village and the place where you arrive by bus if this is your mode of transportation. It is considered the gateway to Lake Atitlan. Consequently, in Panajachel you will find most of the hotels, restaurants and stores. It is a beautiful village, but it is not as cozy and pleasant as the other villages.
It is, however, the place for those who want to shop and stock up on traditional Guatemalan products, such as handicrafts and ceramics. Thus, you will find the Artisan Market and the long shopping street Calle Santander. A fun hot spot to remember in Panajachel is Lena's Atlantis. This restaurant is known for its pasta carbonara. Maybe not very authentic Guatemalan, but very tasty!
Where to stay in Panajachel
Panajachel has the largest selection of hotels and other accommodations of the villages surrounding Lake Atitlan. It is therefore an easy base from which to explore the lake and the other surrounding villages. One hotel we recommend is Selina Atitlan, a fine accommodation with both dorms and private rooms.
Selina Atitlan
A hotel chain we are always fans of in Central and South America is Selina. And you'll find one in Panajachel as well. The hotel offers cozy, colorful rooms and many facilities, such as co-working spaces. It also organizes daily activities. There are different room types, such as dorms and double rooms. Prices range from €15.00 (dorm) to €200.00 (deluxe room) per night.
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