Lake Atitlán Villages Half-Day Tour
Lake Atitlán is one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala. The villages that surround the lake are unique and fascinating. This tour takes you to three such villages—San Juan La Laguna, Santiago Atitlán, and San Pedro La Laguna.
- Duration:
- 4 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 9:00 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
This tour offers travelers a good opportunity to experience both the beauty of Lake Atitlán and the cultural diversity in the neighboring towns.
The tour starts in Panajachel, where you'll board a collective or private boat. This boat will take you from one village to another. Each village has its own identity despite the fact that they are so close to each other.
The first village you'll visit is San Juan La Laguna. This is a small, picturesque town famous for its hand-dyed textiles and tranquil atmosphere. Its streets are often lined with handicraft vendors or farmers drying corn in the sun.
Next you'll visit Santiago Atitlán, where you can experience living Maya traditions. Your guide will take you to the Maximón figure, a local saint venerated by Mayans. Santiago Atitlán is a hub for the Tz’utujil-speaking Maya, and you may be able to see people selling handicrafts or produce along the streets.
Finally, this tour visits San Pedro La Laguna. San Pedro is a newly hip town that lies at the base of the San Pedro Volcano. Travelers often come here to hike the volcano, ride horses, or party. It's a good contrast to the other two towns you'll visit on this tour.
At the end of the tour you'll return to Panajachel.
Attraction Visited
Lake Atitlán is heralded as one of the most mystical and memorable lakes on the planet. It is also the deepest lake in Central America. You can get experience the lake by kayaking or swimming at the beaches on the lakeshore. See the lake from above by hiking the San Pedro Volcano or by reaching the summit known locally as Indian’s Nose.
Read more:Lake Atitlan
What to Bring
Sunscreen, camera, comfortable shoes, and money for meals, handicrafts, tips, and personal expenses.
What's included
Professional guide and boat transportation.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Traveler Comments
Leonel Azurdia gave us an excellent tour.
The tour of the Lake Atitlan Villages was excellent. We enjoyed having the opportunity to visit and see some of the local business and industry. We especially enjoyed the tour at the Women's Weaving Co-operative. The textiles they produce are lovely.
Visiting the art galleries and women textiles cooperative in San Juan was a unique experience. The blend between mayan and catholic culture in Santiago is a must see! Leonel was amazing with all the knowledge about these villages and everything went smoothly!
Similar things to do
Experience the colorful Chichicastenango market on this one-day tour. The market is a good place to experience Guatemalan culture and shop for handicrafts and souvenirs.
The San Pedro Volcano was declared a national park in 2006. The volcano is covered with tropical forests and takes about 4–5 hours to reach the summit along a well-maintained trail.
This is a 1-day tour of the Atitlán Volcano and can be extended for a 2-day tour where you'll hike to the summit and camp on the volcano.
