8/4/2019 Lake Atitlan Guatemala

1/2

Lake Atitlan Guatemala

Lake Atitlan is the jewel of Guatemala and only a few hour's ride from Antigua Guatemala.Yolkobsens spent six months at the most beautiful lake in the world, but even a day trip to thisspectacular force of nature will cause you to revisit your idea of what a lake is. Actually, it might getyou to re-examine your notion about the character of water altogether. It's that powerful an experience.Eerie and, at the same time, softly mystical is Lake Atitlan.

Mr. and Mrs. Yolkobsen understand that not all travelers are so blessed that they can spend manymonths staring at views that defy description. For example, the colours of the lake change by theminute or the hour, aqua to azure blue and back again, often with reflections of the three majestic, butmercifully extinct, volcanoes that dominate the "lakescape." But a one-day excursion or overnightstay will at least give you an experience of a unique lake you will not soon forget.

From Antigua Guatemala, the trip takes about 2 1/2 hours via private shuttle or touring bus.Chicken bus rides, with their own spirited schedules, are slightly longer. Once you get to Lake Atitlan,you'll get around by water taxi. A regular and organized service operates around the clock til nighttimetaking travelers to points around the lake. Cost for a boat ride is around $2. If you go with a tourism

company, you can opt for a package which includes transportation to Lake Atitlan and several of themany Mayan villages that ring the lake.

Lake Atitln [Lago de Atitln] is by far the most spectacluar lake in the world to visit. Its greenmountain ranges, blue waters and three perfectly shaped volcanoes provide a wonderful view from anyof the 12 villages that surround it. Another prime feature to enjoy is the lakes culture.

A short description of the villages surrounding the lake:

Panajachel is the centered tourist town. From here you can take a boat to any of the other villages, shopor enjoy the biggest variety of hotels and restaurants around Lake Atitlan.

Santa Catarina can be reached by car or pickup truck from Panajachel by road. It has a plaza that holdsthe towns main activities, painting galleries and tipica for sale, on the way down to the lake. Here youalso find Hotel Casa Palop and a few restaurants.

San Antonio is a village with many of its people still wearing traditional clothing. While Panajachel'sshoreline is filled with hotels and restaurants, San Antonio still offers onion fields and other naturalviews. Many tourists visit this village for its ceramics factories and stores.

Santa Cruz la Laguna, only accessible by boat, is a small laid-back village. It hosts famous and unique

8/4/2019 Lake Atitlan Guatemala

2/2

hotels like La Iguana Perdida and La Casa Rosa." Many foreign artists reside there. Its the bestplace to start shoreline hikes with amazing views of Lake Atitlan.

El Jaibalito and Tzunun belong to the smaller villages at the lake. Over 99% of its population areindigenous Kaqchikel. The two villages are very quiet places to visit but do have tourist infrastructurewith Hotel Restaurant Lomas de Tzununa and club Ven Aca, a restaurant bar on the waterfront inJaibalito.

San Marcos la Laguna offers reiki, yoga, massages, aromatherapies, Chinese health therapies,reflexology, meditation, holistic treatments and other new age therapies. The famous Las PirmidesMeditation Centre offers a month long Moon-course, which addresses spiritual topics and ends in aweek of silence and fasting.

San Pedro la Laguna, like Panajachel, is a true backpacker destination. Many tourists study Spanishhere, enjoy horseback riding or climb the San Pedro volcano. The town offers a wide variety of hotelsand restaurants, for a low budget.

Santiago Atitlan is the largest community around the lake. It was also the capital of the Tz'utujil cultureand many still practice its old traditions. The main street up from the dock offers many stores andstands where the local artisans sell wooden and other handcrafted products. The town offers a smallvariety of quality hotel-restaurants like Posada Santiago.