Must Visit Towns Around Lake Atitlan in Guatemala

If you’re planning a trip to Lake Atitlan, you’ve probably realised that there isn’t just one particular town to visit there. There are actually many small and large towns dotted along the shores of this stunning lake, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. So, in this blog post we’ll provide you with a list of some of the best towns to add to your Lake Atitlan itinerary, including lots of things to do in each one.

We spent 2 weeks on the lake and during that time tried to visit as many towns as possible. There were of course a few we didn’t make it to but we’re still happy with our time spent in the ones we visited.

If you’d like to see what we got up to around Lake Atitlan, then make sure to watch our dedicated Lake Atitlan video on our YouTube channel. For more Guatemala videos, you can also check out our Guatemala series.

About Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlán)

Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlán) is located in the highlands of Guatemala at 1,562 m / 5,125 ft above sea level. The lake is surrounded by three huge volcanoes: San Pedro, Toliman, and Atitlan.

Thousands of years ago, Lake Atitlan was actually a super volcano called Los Chocoyos. After its last eruption the volcano’s chamber collapsed and formed a caldera. The rivers then filled the caldera with water and turned it into the stunning lake people come from all over the world to see.

Each of the towns surrounding the lake have something unique to offer, from volcano hikes to cultural or spiritual experiences. For this reason, make sure to visit as many as you can during your stay.

Best Towns to Visit Around Lake Atitlan

1. San Pedro La Laguna

San Pedro is located at the foot of Volcan San Pedro, on the southwestern shore of Lake Atitlan. It is home to the Tz’utujil indigenous people, one of Guatemala’s 22 different Maya communities. Over the years San Pedro has become a major tourist hotspot, with plenty of accommodation options available as well as cafes, restaurants and bars. Nowadays it’s referred to as the backpacker hub of Lake Atitlan.

How to Get to San Pedro La Laguna. San Pedro can be reached by water-taxi from places such as Panajachel or San Marcos La Laguna. A one-way ride is about Q25. However, if you’re based in San Juan La Laguna, then you can just take a tuk-tuk there which should cost you around Q10.

Things to Do in San Pedro La Laguna

1. Visit Tzunun’ Ya’ Museum. This small museum provides insights into the history of San Pedro, reveals how Lake Atitlan was formed and showcases the culture and traditions of the local Maya people. We enjoyed the short film about life in the town back in the 1940’s. The entrance fee is Q35 per person. Be aware that it’s closed on Saturday and Sunday.
2. Check Out the Street Art. Whilst San Pedro is nowhere near as colourful as its neighbour, San Juan, we still managed to spot some beautiful street art as we wandered through the streets.
3. Go Shopping at the Local Market. A short distance up the hill from the boat dock is where you’ll find the local market. The streets around the main area are filled with vendors selling everything from handicrafts to fresh produce.
4. Relax at Parque Puerta Hermosa. Of course you can’t miss walking through San Pedro’s main square. It was nice to enjoy a few minutes of peace away from all the hustle and bustle of the town. This leafy plaza is also where the lovely white Iglesia Catolica de San Pedro La Laguna stands.
5. Hike Volcan San Pedro. If you’d like to do something a little more challenging during your stay around Lake Atitlan, then consider hiking Volcan San Pedro, one of the 37 volcanoes dotted across the country. This particular volcano is probably one of the riskier ones we’ve attempted due to the safety issues associated with it. We made sure to do thorough research before we left and made the judgement call that it would be okay to summit by ourselves. We wrote a detailed guide where you’ll find details about how we came to that decision as well as the usual information on trail length, level of difficulty, when the best time to do it is and what to wear and bring with you for your adventure. 

2. San Juan La Laguna

San Juan is located only a short tuk-tuk ride to the west of San Pedro. This small town is also home to the Tz’utujil Maya communities and is known as the weaving town of Lake Atitlan. Although it’s tiny, San Juan is definitely one of the most colourful towns on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

How to Get to San Juan La Laguna. San Juan can be reached by water-taxi from places such as Panajachel or San Marcos La Laguna. A one-way ride is about Q25. However, if you’re based in San Pedro, then you can just take a tuk-tuk there which should cost around Q10.

Things to Do in San Juan La Laguna

1. Stroll through Calle de las Artes. If you arrive by boat, then you’ll have no choice but to walk through this colourful street leading up to the main square of San Juan. There were tons of stalls selling everything from beautiful handicrafts to typical souvenirs. The walls here were painted and many of them had beautiful murals on too.
2. Walk through the main plaza (Parque San Juan de la Laguna). Although the main square itself wasn’t as leafy as in San Pedro, the backdrop of the Indian Nose mountain and the small stone Catholic church (Iglesia Catolica San Juan La Laguna) were what made this square stand out.
3. Stroll down La Calle de los Sombreros (Avenida 5ta). One of the most colourful streets in San Juan is Avenida 5ta. You’ll see stunning murals adorning the walls, the pavement, and even on the banners hanging above you. We recommend taking your time walking through here because everything is a work of art, even the flowerpots and the benches.
4. Enjoy the views from Mirador Kaqasiiwaan. One of our favourite viewpoints on Lake Atitlan was from Cerro Kaqasiiwaan. After walking along Calle de los Sombreros we followed the main road to the park entrance. The entry fee is Q30 per person. From there we climbed a set of painted stairs all the way up to the viewpoint. Once at the top we could enjoy panoramic views of Lake Atitlan, San Juan and San Pedro, as well as a little bit of San Pedro Volcano because the top half was hidden in the clouds. Plus, the colourful viewing deck was just as impressive as the views.

3. San Marcos La Laguna

San Marcos is located on the western shores of the lake. It is also known as the ‘hippie town’ of Lake Atitlan thanks to the abundance of yoga and wellness retreats you’ll find there. You can take part in cacao ceremonies and other herbal therapies on offer. We actually chose to base ourselves here for our two week stay.

How to Get to San Marcos La Laguna. San Marcos can be reached by water-taxi from places such as Panajachel or San Pedro La Laguna. A one-way ride is about Q25.

Things to Do in San Marcos La Laguna

1. Take a yoga class. There are plenty of places to join a yoga class if you’re interested. You can even book a yoga retreat at the popular Eagle’s Nest, which has some unbeatable views of the three volcanos of Lake Atitlan.
2. Swim in Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve. Although Lake Atitlan is stunning, you should avoid swimming in the lake for the most part as the water is unfortunately quite polluted. Possibly the best place for a refreshing dip is Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve. The water here is beautiful and the views you get of the volcanoes are incredible. We came here multiple times in the morning during our stay. The entry fee is Q20 per person. Keep your ticket if you want to re-enter later in the day.
3. Enjoy the Views from Cerro Tzankujil. Make sure not to leave the nature reserve without climbing up the hill for some lovely views of San Marcos and the surrounding area. There are also viewing platforms overlooking Volcan San Pedro along the short hike.
4. Browse the Artisan Market. The main street leading up from the dock in San Marcos is lined with vendors selling their handicrafts, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants. We loved walking up and down this street and browsing through the eclectic mix of items.
5. Join a Cacao Ceremony. At Lava Love Cacao you can join a cacao ceremony every Friday from 10AM for Q200 per person. On Mondays they also offer a cacao and fire ceremony from 1 PM. Even if you’re not interested in these activities, it’s worth popping in for a cacao drink regardless.
6. Eat Pupusas at Restaurante Konojel. We came here multiple times during our stay because this restaurant served some of the best traditional Guatemalan pupusas. A big portion of the profits also go towards the local community’s initiatives.

4. Panajachel (Pana)

Panajachel, often referred to as ‘Pana’, is one of the biggest towns on Lake Atitlan. This buzzing community is located on the northeast shore of the lake and provides stunning views out to the volcanoes, as well as a few other cool things to do. Whilst it wasn’t our favourite place to visit along the lake, it’s definitely worth checking out.

How to get to Panajachel. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can reach Pana via a tourist shuttle, chicken bus or boat. If you’re coming from further afield, read our more detailed guide on how to get to Panajachel from places like Xela or Antigua.

Things to Do in Panajachel (Pana)

1. Go Shopping. If you enjoy shopping, definitely walk down Calle Santander in Pana. This is where we saw the most stalls selling a huge variety of things, from clothes to colourful textiles and art pieces to your typical souvenirs.
2. Visit Atitlan Nature Reserve. The nature reserve has a few hiking trails leading to a massive waterfall over multiple hanging bridges. You can even visit a butterfly garden or go ziplining there. We really enjoyed being away from the hustle and bustle of Pana. The entry fee is Q80 per person.
3. Have a cup of coffee at Crossroads Cafe. If you fancy some nice homemade coffee and a slice of cake, definitely drop by this cute cafe located between Calle de los Arboles and Calle Principal.
4. Take a day trip to Chichicastenango Market. We wrote a detailed guide on how to get to Chichi Market from Panajachel and what else there is to do in the town apart from the market.

5. Santa Catarina Palopo

The small village of Santa Catarina Palopo is located only a short drive to the south of Pana. The majority of residents are indigenous Kaqchikel Maya. Today, the small town is also one of the most colourful places on Lake Atitlan thanks to an organization called Pintando el Cambio (Painting the Change), who have painted the buildings in different shades of blue in an attempt to boost tourism.

How to get to Santa Catarina Palopo. The quickest way to get there is either with a tuk-tuk from Pana or by hopping onto a pick-up truck, which are Lake Atitlan’s version of the colectivo.

Things to Do in Santa Catarina Palopo

1. Enjoy the views from Mirador De Santa Catarina. If you’re arriving in a tuk-tuk, ask your driver to make a quick stop at the viewpoint. Whilst it’s not the best view of the lake, it’s definitely worth a quick pit-stop.
2. Check out Santa Catarina Palopo Church. This colonial Catholic church is located in the main plaza surrounded by colourful buildings.
3. Visit Pintando Santa Catarina Palopo Museum. Right in the main square you can also learn more about the community project that made the town so colorful, including information about all the different patterns and symbols that adorn the walls.
4. See women weaving on backstrap looms. As you walk up and down the street leading to the boat docks you’ll see women doing traditional backstrap weaving. They sell some of their completed handmade items, so definitely take it slow and enjoy the colourful mix of handicrafts.

6. Santa Cruz La Laguna

Santa Cruz La Laguna is located on the north shore of Lake Atitlan, to the west of Panajachel and east of San Marcos. It’s probably one of the most tranquil and authentic places to visit on Lake Atitlan. Similarly to Santa Catarina Palopo, the town isn’t packed with things to do. Therefore, the influx of tourists visiting the town is not as high. Which is probably why we enjoyed our short but sweet visit to Santa Cruz.

How to Get to Santa Cruz La Laguna. Santa Cruz can be reached by water-taxi from places such as Panajachel or San Pedro La Laguna. A one-way ride is about Q25. Note that the town centre is located on top of a rather steep hill but there will be plenty of tuk tuks waiting at the boat dock.

Things to Do in Santa Cruz La Laguna

1. Enjoy the volcano views. Since the town centre is located at the top of the hill, it’s a great place to enjoy views of the three magnificent volcanos.
2. Eat at Cafe Sabor Cruceño. Our main reason for visiting Santa Cruz was to eat some delicious vegetarian Pepian at Cafe Sabor Cruceño. It’s a restaurant run by CECAP, an organisation that provides opportunities for the people of Santa Cruz.
3. Go for a stroll along Lake Atitlan. There is a walking trail along the lake between Santa Cruz and San Marcos if you fancy getting some steps in.

Final Thoughts on Must Visit Towns Around Lake Atitlan

We spent 2 weeks around Lake Atitlan and tried to visit as many towns as possible during that time. Of course, there were a few smaller ones that we didn’t stop at such as Jaibalito, San Antonio Palopo and Tzununa, mainly because we didn’t have the time. The only big town (actually the biggest town on Lake Atitlan) we didn’t visit was Santiago Atitlan because the main thing we would’ve loved to do there was to go on a birdwatching tour to see Quetzal’s, which wasn’t possible at the time of our visit.

Probably our two favourite towns of those we did visit were San Juan, thanks to its stunning murals, colourful streets and panoramic viewpoint, and San Marcos because of the incredible nature reserve we spent many lazy mornings in and the amazing volcano views we got to wake up to every day.

Have you ever been to Lake Atitlan before? If so, how many of these towns did you manage to visit? If not, which of these towns would you add to your itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.