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Exploring the Towns Around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

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On my recent trip to Guatemala with my daughter, we spent 3 nights at a gorgeous Airbnb on the shore of Lake Atitlán (see this post). We had the chance to explore 6 of the 11 small towns that surround the lake by hopping on the public boats.

Panajachel (“Pana”)

Panajachel is the gateway to Lake Atitlán, as most routes from Guatemala City and Antigua stop here. Our shuttle from Antigua dropped us off at the dock (“muelle”) in Pana to catch a public boat to our rental in nearby Santa Cruz.

The image shows a scenic view of a lake with a large volcano in the background. In the foreground, there is a decorative archway with a sign that reads "Bienvenidos a Panajachel." The archway is adorned with colorful streamers, tinsel, and hanging decorations, including stars and small stockings. Trees frame the scene on both sides, and a boat is visible on the water below the sign.
 Photo by Christopher González on Unsplash

A lively street scene in a small town with cobblestone pavement. The street is lined with colorful flags and string lights overhead. On the left, there are shops displaying hats and other items, with people browsing. On the right, there are buildings with signs for a hotel and restaurant. A green tuk-tuk and a red car are parked on the street, and a few people are walking around. The sky is cloudy, adding a soft light to the scene.

The image shows a colorful shop filled with various handcrafted items. The walls are lined with shelves displaying numerous masks, figurines, and pottery. Brightly painted wooden chairs and animal sculptures are arranged on the floor. Red garments hang from the ceiling, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The shop has a tiled floor with a geometric pattern, and wicker chairs are placed at the entrance.

Pana has the Atitlan Nature Reserve, with trails, waterfalls, zip lines and monkeys. I meant to check it out, but we ran out of time.

Pana has the most hostels, hotels, restaurants and shops of all the towns on Lake Atitlán. However, it’s not the prettiest town compared to others. And, I don’t think it captures the essence of Lake Atitlán.

Tip: Most restaurants around the lake only accept cash, and ATMs are not easily found in all of these towns. Stop by an ATM in Pana before catching the boat to other towns.

Santa Cruz La Laguna

Santa Cruz is where we stayed for 3 nights. The lakeshore area has a string of hostels and small rentals, while the town itself is up a steep hill. There is not a lot to see in the town, but the views from Santa Cruz are the best around the entire lake! It’s a great spot to come back to each night.

A scenic view of a lake with a mountain in the background, partially covered by clouds. The foreground features a well-maintained garden with a stone pathway, lush green grass, various plants, and trees. The sky is mostly clear with some scattered clouds, and the overall atmosphere is calm and serene.
View from our rental in Santa Cruz

Note: Santa Cruz has one ATM that only works some of the time.

San Juan La Laguna

My favorite town to explore was San Juan La Laguna. We caught a boat from Santa Cruz to San Juan La Laguna for the 15-20-minute ride.

The image shows a colorful entrance to a building or market area in San Juan La Laguna. The structure has a wooden roof with a sign displaying the name "San Juan La Laguna." The pillars and beams are decorated with vibrant, multicolored patterns. There are people standing and interacting near the entrance, and the ground is made of wooden planks. The sky is clear and blue, suggesting a sunny day.

San Juan La Laguna is so colorful!

A vibrant street scene in a small town, featuring a cobblestone road painted with colorful stripes. Overhead, there are rows of pink, yellow, and purple umbrellas strung across the street. On either side, there are shops with mannequins displaying clothing and various items for sale. Signs for a restaurant named "Lolita" are visible, and there are people walking and sitting along the street. The atmosphere is lively and colorful.

 

The image shows a colorful, intricate mural with Aztec or Mayan-inspired designs. The mural features various geometric patterns and symbols, including a prominent circular motif with a figure in the center. The artwork is vibrant, with shades of blue, green, red, and purple. In the foreground, two children are standing near a black metal railing, and there are large trees providing shade. The mural is located on the side of a building with a staircase leading up to a closed shutter.

A vibrant mural depicting a colorful scene of people engaged in agricultural activities. The artwork features individuals in traditional clothing, surrounded by lush greenery and flowers. They are holding baskets filled with fruit, and one person is pouring from a large jug. The mural is painted on the side of a building, with string lights hanging above and a small tree in a planter nearby.

The image shows a vibrant, colorful street scene. A large, decorative ceramic pot with a plant is placed on a sidewalk. The pot features intricate designs, including a landscape and abstract patterns. The sidewalk is made of blue tiles with colorful diamond patterns. The building wall behind the pot is painted with a mix of yellow, white, and multicolored geometric designs, and has barred windows. The overall scene is lively and artistic.

Murals were everywhere on buildings and streets.

A vibrant street scene features colorful murals and decorations. On the left, a large mural of an elderly woman in traditional clothing is painted on a blue wall. The street is adorned with colorful patterns and overhead decorations, including hanging flowers and multicolored hats. People are walking along the street, and the background shows green mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

We visited a small chocolate factory for a tour and chocolate-making demonstration.

A woman is using a traditional stone tool to grind cocoa beans. She is wearing a colorful, traditional outfit and is focused on her task. Behind her, there are informational posters about cocoa and various items on display, including jars and flowers. The setting appears to be an educational or cultural exhibit related to cocoa production.

My daughter and I also decided to hike the “mirador”, or lookout point. There were lots of stairs, but the view was rewarding.

A group of people is standing on a colorful wooden platform with a vibrant mural, overlooking a scenic view of a large lake surrounded by lush green hills and mountains. The sky is partly cloudy, and the water is a deep blue. Some people are taking photos, while others are enjoying the view.

 

A group of people is standing on a colorful wooden deck with a large mural painted on it. The mural features vibrant, abstract designs and a face. In the background, there is a scenic view of a lake and mountains under a blue sky with clouds. A flag is visible near the group of people.

If you can only visit one town on Lake Atitlán, I recommend San Juan La Laguna. The artwork in the town is just spectacular.

San Pedro

From San Juan, we took a tuk-tuk to the nearby town of San Pedro. This town is well-known among backpackers and has a few Spanish language schools. It’s also the starting point to hike the San Pedro volcano.

The image shows a colorful, striped staircase leading up to a platform with large, decorative butterfly wings. The wings are yellow and green, mounted on a pole. The scene is set in a narrow street lined with shops and buildings, some with balconies and plants. The sky is partly cloudy.

 

The image shows a narrow, cobblestone street in a small town, leading down to a body of water. Overhead, colorful, patterned fabric panels are strung across the street, creating a festive atmosphere. On either side of the street, there are buildings with signs, including a restaurant and a shop. A colorful bench with a small palm tree is in the center of the walkway. In the background, there are mountains and a partly cloudy sky.

We found several restaurants with lake views, and we enjoyed a relaxing lunch in San Pedro.

Two people are sitting at a table with bottled water in front of them, smiling at the camera. They are outdoors with a scenic view of a lake and mountains in the background. There are houses on the hillside and a thatched-roof structure near the water. The sky is partly cloudy.

San Lucas Toliman

San Lucas Toliman is perhaps the least-touristy town on Lake Atitlán. However, since I had volunteered in this town for 6 weeks back in college, I had to visit. It was a bit of a pain to get there because the public boats only run once every 3 hours.

The image shows a scenic lakeside view with a large sign in the foreground that reads "YO ❤️ TOLIMÁN." The sign is colorful, with a red heart symbol in the middle. Behind the sign, there is a calm lake surrounded by lush green hills and a partly cloudy sky. There are trees and some structures near the water, adding to the picturesque setting.

San Lucas Toliman has hardly changed since I was last there 30 years ago. The only real difference I saw was that there are a few tuk-tuks now.

The image shows a paved street with a slight incline, lined with stone walls on both sides. Overhead, there are strings of decorative hanging ornaments, possibly lanterns or baskets, stretching across the street. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are some trees visible in the background.

The image shows a white church with a symmetrical facade, featuring three arched bell towers at the top. The building has red vertical banners on either side and statues in niches. The entrance is a large arched doorway, and there are steps leading up to it. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are mountains in the background. A few people are sitting and standing near the entrance.

Santa Catarina Palopó

Based on some blog reviews, I decided to visit the town of Santa Catarina Palopó . This town is so small that it doesn’t have any public boats. We had to sail to Pana and take a tuk-tuk from there.

In 2016, the villagers created Pintando El Cambio (Painting the Change) to beautify the town and make it more attractive to tourists. See this article for more background. Many buildings are painted in beautiful blue colors. Instagrammers rave about this town.

The image shows a colorful building with vibrant geometric patterns painted on its exterior walls. The left side of the building is decorated with blue and red designs, while the right side features blue and white diagonal stripes. There are potted plants on a balcony, and a mural of an ice cream cone is painted near a pink door. Stone steps and a cobblestone path lead up to the building, and there are red benches in front. In the background, there are green hills under a cloudy sky.

The image shows a vibrant mural painted on the side of a building. The mural features a person in traditional clothing, weaving with a red loom. The person is wearing a colorful, patterned garment and a blue headscarf. Below them is a basket filled with colorful yarn. The background includes abstract shapes and colors, such as purple, blue, and yellow, resembling a landscape. Above, there are two faces painted, and the name "Juan Sajvin" is signed on the mural. The scene is set in an urban environment with visible stairs and railings.

The image shows a colorful building with a vibrant geometric pattern painted on its exterior walls. The design features blue, green, and white diamond shapes and zigzags. The building has a red-tiled roof and a small entrance with a sign above it. The foreground consists of a cobblestone courtyard, and there are trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

A street scene in a small town with colorful buildings. The building on the right is painted blue with geometric patterns and has a shop on the ground floor. There are several vehicles, including a green car and a motorcycle, parked on the street. People are walking and riding a scooter. In the background, there are lush green hills under a cloudy sky. Power lines are visible above the street.

However, I’m going to give my brutally honest, unpopular opinion: I preferred visiting San Juan La Laguna. While I love the concept of the  painting project of Santa Catarina, the paintings have not been kept up and could use some touching up. Also, shops and restaurants were very few and far between. We did stay for lunch to contribute to the town’s economy, but if my time were limited, I’d skip this town.

In Summary

Best town to explore: San Juan La Laguna

Best town to stay in for the views: Santa Cruz La Laguna

Best town for shopping/ATMs/transportation: Panajachel

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

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