Where to Stay on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala

If you’re currently planning your Lake Atitlan itinerary in Guatemala, then you’ve probably noticed that there’s more than one town you could stay in during your visit. They are quite spread out and it can be hard to know which one is most suited to your budget and needs. We actually spent a long time reading about each of the communities dotted around the lake before booking our stay. In this blog post we’ll show you all the potential places you could stay, as well as listing all the pros and cons such as price, transport options and activities.

After spending 2 weeks on Lake Atitlan, and visiting pretty much every town visitors might consider staying in, we were still happy with our initial choice.

If you’d also 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. Once you’ve picked the best one for you, make sure to do some day trips to visit as many as you can.

Best Towns to Stay in around Lake Atitlan

Panajachel (The Biggest Town)

Panajachel, often referred to as ‘Pana’, is the biggest town on Lake Atitlan. This buzzing community is located on the northeast shore of the lake and offers stunning views out to the volcanoes, as well as plenty of amenities for visitors.

Advantages of staying in Panajachel

• You can find both affordable and luxury accommodations;
• Plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants for all types of budget;
• Good nightlife and shopping;
• Plenty of Spanish schools;
• It’s a good base for both first-time visitors and expats;
• Great transport hub (both on land and water);
• Plenty of tour agencies;
• Located close to Atitlan Natural Reserve, Santa Catarina Palopo and connections to Chichicastenango market.

Disadvantages of staying in Panajachel

• Pana is noisy and loud (cars, tuk-tuks, tourists, nightlife etc.). Therefore, it may not be the best option if you’re after a quieter stay;
• It’s also feels less authentic than other towns;
• Vendors can be a bit pushy and tuk-tuk / taxi drivers will try to charge you higher prices, so always ask for the price in advance.

After visiting Pana, we could see why people consider basing themselves there. It really caters to visitors by offering a variety of accommodations, eateries, activities and transport options. However, for us it was just a little too big and noisy. It lacked a certain charm, so overall we were happy that we didn’t stay there.

San Pedro La Laguna (The Backpacker Hub)

This town is located at the foot of Volcan San Pedro, on the west side of Lake Atitlan. San Pedro is often referred to as the backpacker hub of Lake Atitlan. It’s bigger than some of the other towns, so naturally has a better variety of accommodations, eateries, tour and transport options.

Advantages of staying in San Pedro La Laguna

• There are plenty of budget-friendly accommodations, cafes, bars, and restaurants;
• Great nightlife and shopping;
• Plenty of Spanish schools;
• Great transport hub (both on land and water);
• It’s a good base for both first-time visitors and expats;
• Located close to the trailhead to Volcan San Pedro, the weaver town of San Juan la Laguna, and the Indian Nose Viewpoint. It’s also a short boat ride from San Marcos la Laguna and the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve.

Disadvantages of staying in San Pedro La Laguna

• San Pedro also felt quite noisy and busy in our opinion (tuk-tuks, tourists, nightlife). Perhaps it’s not the best option if you’re after a quieter stay like we were.
• It’s definitely more authentic than Pana but still feels a little overrun with tourism.

We initially wanted to book our stay in San Pedro because of the great concentration of affordable accommodation and amenities. It basically had everything we would’ve needed for a longer stay on Lake Atitlan. However, we changed our minds at the very last minute. Whilst we weren’t sure at the time whether it was the right decision or not, after visiting San Pedro a couple of times we were once again pleased that we didn’t end up staying there.

San Juan La Laguna (The Weaving Town)

San Juan is located only a short tuk-tuk ride to the west of San Pedro. It’s also known as the weaving town of Lake Atitlan. San Juan is definitely one of the most colourful towns on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

Advantages of staying in San Juan La Laguna

• Good number of accommodations;
• Great local eateries;
• Less touristy, generally quieter and more authentic than Pana or San Pedro;
• Only a short tuk-tuk drive away from San Pedro;
• You can get both land and water transport to and from the town;
• Close proximity to Kaqasiiwaan Viewpoint and the Indian Nose trailhead. A short tuk-tuk ride from San Pedro town and the Volcan San Pedro trailhead. A short boat-ride from San Marcos and Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve.

Disadvantages of staying in San Juan La Laguna

• Less hotel and hostel options than other towns;
• No nightlife;
• Smaller town;
• Apart from going to San Pedro, your main transport option will be the water-taxis.

Colourful San Juan was definitely one of our favourite towns to visit around Lake Atitlan even though we didn’t end up staying there either. It felt more authentic and definitely less chaotic than San Pedro or Pana. Although there are plenty of tourists wandering its streets during the day, early in the morning and later in the evening it is much quieter, so is perfect for anyone after a relaxing stay on the lake.

San Marcos La Laguna (The Yoga Town)

San Marcos is located on the western shores of the lake. It is known as the ‘hippie town’ of Lake Atitlan thanks to the abundance of yoga and dance studios, cacao ceremonies and other wellness retreats and therapies the small town offers its visitors. If you enjoy any of these activities, or are just generally seeking a more laid-back and relaxing atmosphere, then San Marcos is perfect for you.

Advantages of staying in San Marcos La Laguna

• You can find some affordable and luxury accommodations here;
• Plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants;
• Lots of healthy food options;
• You can get both land and water transport to and from the town;
• Offers a lot of spiritual activities such as yoga classes and ceremonies;
• Great views of all three volcanoes;
• Best place to swim in Lake Atitlan;
• Close to Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve. A short boat ride from San Pedro town and the volcano hike, San Juan and the Indian Nose hiking trail.

Disadvantages of staying in San Marcos La Laguna

• Generally more expensive than the bigger towns;
• Not as authentic as San Juan for example;
• You’ll need to take a boat to get around the lake.

After nearly booking our stay in San Pedro, we decided to stay in San Marcos instead and have no regrets. Although it was definitely pricier and less authentic than some of the other towns, we really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. The town was very quiet in the early mornings and evenings which is exactly what we needed after a day of exploring. Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve (our favorite place on the lake) was only a short walk from the centre, which meant that we could enjoy the scenery and a quick swim first thing in the morning before other tourists arrived.

Santa Catarina Palopo (The Colourful Village)

The small village of Santa Catarina Palopo is located only a short drive to the south of Pana. It’s one of the most colourful places on Lake Atitlan, similar to the weaving town of San Juan on the opposite side of the lake. However, it’s definitely less touristy than San Juan.

Advantages of staying in Santa Catarina Palopo

• Less touristy, generally quieter and much more authentic than Pana or San Pedro;
• Only a short tuk-tuk or colectivo drive away from Pana;

Disadvantages of staying in Santa Catarina Palopo

• Limited hotel options;
• No nightlife;
• Need to take a tuk-tuk or colectivo to get to Pana.

Whilst we enjoyed our visit to Santa Catarina, for us it didn’t have enough budget hotel options or amenities for a longer stay. However, if you’re after a very quiet and more traditional atmosphere but want to stay relatively close to Pana, then Santa Catarina might be a good option for you.

Santa Cruz La Laguna (The Town on the Hill)

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 a tranquil and authentic place to stay if you’re after a more relaxing visit. From the village centre you can enjoy some lovely views of the volcanoes and there are a few hiking trails you could complete in the area.

Advantages of staying in Santa Cruz La Laguna

• There are a few hotels around the centre of town and along the shore of Lake Atitlan, with beautiful views of the volcanoes;
• Hardly any tourists;
• Much quieter and more traditional than bigger towns such as Pana or San Pedro;
• A short boat-ride from Pana or San Marcos.

Disadvantages of staying in Santa Cruz La Laguna

• Limited hotel options;
• Doesn’t cater much to tourists;
• The village centre is located way up at the top of the hill;
• You’ll need to use the water taxi to get around Lake Atitlan.

We actually visited Santa Cruz to eat some delicious vegetarian Pepian at Cafe Sabor Cruceño which is a restaurant run by CECAP, an organisation that provides opportunities to the people of Santa Cruz. After the uphill hike to the village centre we were also blown away by the volcano views and just how traditional and less visited this place is compared to other towns around the lake. Whilst for us it still made more sense to stay in San Marcos for an extended period of time, if we wanted to fully disconnect and relax, Santa Cruz would’ve been a nice spot for a couple of days.

Final Thoughts on Where to Stay on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala

As mentioned above, after changing our minds at the last minute we ended up staying in San Marcos La Laguna for two weeks. We were very pleased with our decision as the town suited our needs for a longer stay. The only downside was that it was definitely more expensive than San Pedro would’ve been, but that was outweighed by being so close to the nature reserve as well as the laid-back atmosphere. As with most towns around the lake, there were still plenty of fireworks and celebrations going on in San Marcos, but that’s something you can’t avoid anywhere on Lake Atitlan.

Have you ever been to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala before? If so, where did you stay and why did you pick that town? If not, which town would you choose from the above list and why? Let us know in the comments below.