Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is a place you never knew you needed to visit. From it’s relaxing beaches to its rejuvenating retreats to adventureful hikes, there are plenty of things to do at Lake Atitlan for any type of traveler. Lake Atitlan is in the southwestern highlands of Guatemala. Surrounded by volcanos, coffee plantations and small towns, a visit to Lake Atitlan can easily be extended to take in everything the area has to offer. But for those with limited time, here is a 5 day guide on seeing the best of Lake Atitlan.
Table of Contents
- How to get to Lake Atitlan?
- Where to stay on Lake Atitlan?
- 5 Day Lake Atitlan Itinerary
How to get to Lake Atitlan?
Lake Atitlan is easy to get to from most cities in Guatemala, especially with a shared shuttle. With the chicken buses, it may be a bit more difficult but definitely doable. To get to Lake Atitlan, you will most likely be traveling to Panajachel or San Pedro la Laguna. These are the two bigger towns on the lake that offer transportation to and from cities around Guatemala.
Antigua to Lake Atitlan by shared shuttle
Most backpackers and travelers go from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. It is easiest to travel by shared shuttle to Panajachel and then take a lancha to wherever you are staying on Lake Atitlan. There are several shared shuttle companies that drive this route. I booked this trip with RoadRunners for 115 GTQ or about $15 USD. You can book online on their website or through Whatsapp. If booking online, select Embarcadero Tzanjuyu as your destination if you are not staying in a Panajachel. This is the where the lanchas go from to take you to the other towns on the lake.
RoadRunners was the cheapest shuttle I found. Here are a few other shuttle companies that travel this route:
Antigua to Lake Atitlan by chicken bus
Antigua to Lake Atitlan by chicken bus is a little more involved and will require you to change buses 4 times. You catch the chicken bus at the bus station in Antigua which is right next to the market. Ask around to find the bus that goes to Chimaltenango. This should take 35 minutes. Then switch buses and go to Los Encuentros, this should take about an hour. Switch again and take a bus to Solalà, 25 minutes. Finally, from Solalà take your last chicken bus to Panajachel, another 25 minutes. All in all, it should cost around $6.
Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan
If you’re coming from Guatemala City or the airport, the same shuttle companies also have shuttles traveling from Guatemala City to Panajachel, which is right on Lake Atitlan. The shuttles may stop at Antigua to pick up more passengers, lengthening your trip. This route can be done by chicken bus, but I wouldn’t recommend taking any chicken buses in or around Guatemala City.
El Paredon to Lake Atitlan
The shuttle companies listed above also provide transport from the beach town of El Paredon, to Panajachel. The road between these two towns is quite adventurous so it may not be the most comfortable ride if you are hungover. You can also take chicken buses but it is far too involved and requires a combination of buses, boats, and tuktuks. Highly recommend taking the shared shuttle over public transportation if you plan to take this route to Lake Atitlan.
Xela to Lake Atitlan
Xela to Lake Atitlan is not a common route many backpackers take. However, some companies such as GuateGo and Monte Verde Tours do travel this route. Alternatively, there is a 3 day hike from Xela to San Pedro la Laguna that will take you through the Western Highlands of Guatemala. For more information and too book your tour, check out the Quetzaltrekkers page or the Monte Verde Tours page.
Where to stay on Lake Atitlan?
Lake Atitlan has several small towns around the lake, each with several hotels and hostels. I spent a few nights in Santa Cruz la Laguna and a few nights in San Pedro la Laguna. Both towns offered a different vibe and it was interesting to explore both locations.
Hotels in Santa Cruz la Laguna
Just a quick 20 minute boat ride away from Panajachel, Santa Cruz la Laguna is a quaint town right on Lake Atitlan. Not too party and not too hippie, it’s a great spot for something in between. Not to mention, this is one of the few areas around Lake Atitlan that is clean to swim in. La Iguana Perdida and Free Cerveza are two of the popular places to stay in Lake Atitlan and they are both in Santa Cruz. Located right by the lake, both hostels are in great locations and are a vibe on their own.
I spent 3 nights in La Iguana Perdida and I absolutely loved my time there. The hostel is right by the lancha dock on Lake Atitlan and it’s a jungle paradise of its own. The rooms are very comfortable and the outdoor bathrooms are clean. There is also a yoga studio that is free to use and a spacious lounge area overlooking the lake. The hostel holds family dinners where you can meet other travelers, which may have been my favorite thing about this hostel. There is no kitchen, but there is a bar and restaurant that may be a bit out of the budget backpacker price range.
Hotels in San Pedro la Laguna
San Pedro la Laguna is the party city around Lake Atitlan. This is where the nightlife is thriving and where you will likely see crowds of backpackers in their early 20s hopping from bar to bar. The party hostel is Mr. Mullet’s. This is where most people go for the bar crawl, even if you are not staying here. The hostel itself is fairly decent with clean rooms but it does get loud and rowdy with the partiers.
I stayed in Hostel Sublime. There is a Bar Sublime right across the street where hostel guests can get a discount. Bar Sublime is the last spot for the bar crawl and can be a fun spot for the weekend. The Hostel, however, is not as nice but it is a good budget option in San Pedro la Laguna. The rooms are very basic with bunkbeds and lockers. There is a nice balcony area for lounging and the bathrooms are ok. The showers were not the best showers but they did have hot water.
A better option for a nice private room is Hotel Mikaso. There is a nice shared kitchen, an inviting lounge area, and kayaks available for rent. Corazon de San Pedro is another nice hostel with amazing views of the town from some of the shared rooms.
5 Day Lake Atitlan Itinerary
This 5 day itinerary will take you through the main and most popular parts of Lake Atitlan. However, if you do have more time, I highly recommend spending a few days more here to truly relax, unwind and take in everything this magnificent lake has to offer. Here are some of the best things to do at Lake Atitlan:
Day 1: Arrive in Santa Cruz la Laguna
Santa Cruz la Laguna can only be reached by lancha (small boat) from Panajachel or San Pedro la Laguna. Once at Panajachel or San Pedro, ask the men working on the boats to point you to the direction of the boat going Santa Cruz. From Panajachel it cost me 25 Quetzal to get to Santa Cruz. The boat ride across Lake Atitlan can be choppy depending on the weather but for the most part it should be painless and quick.
Once in Santa Cruz, make your way to your hostel. If you are staying in the main town of Santa Cruz away from the lake, you can take a tuk tuk up to the town. The rest of the day is to relax and explore the hostel and surrounding areas.
If you are staying in Iguana Perdida, I highly recommend doing their family dinner. It’s a great way to meet new people and socialize in the hostel.
Day 2: Explore San Marcos la Laguna
San Marcos la Laguna is another town on Lake Atitlan best known for its spiritual retreats and hippie vibe. There are two ways to get here from Santa Cruz: by lancha or by hiking. Catch the lancha on the main Santa Cruz dock and let the boat attendants know you plan to go to San Marcos. The lancha ride should cost 10 Quetzales.
Hike to San Marcos
If you plan to hike to San Marcos la Laguna, start your day early. The hike is long but not so strenuous. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection as the hike does get very hot and exhausting. Start the hike along the lake in Santa Cruz going west. You’ll be walking along the shores of Lake Atitlan passing hotels and houses. After a bit, the trail will turn into the woods away from Lake Atitlan.
The trail is at a slight incline taking you up the cliffs along Lake Atitlan. Continue following the trail along the cliffs and eventually you’ll reach Casa del Mundo, the social media famous hotel located right on Lake Atitlan.
The hike will then continue along the cliffside until you reach the small town of Tzununa. From here the hike will continue along the roadside until you reach the town of San Marcos.
Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve
One thing you must do if you make it to San Marcos is to visit the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve. This nature reserve is a great spot for swimming, hiking and relaxing along Lake Atitlan. Entry to the nature reserve is 20 Quetzales and you are free to re-enter as many times as you want. The nature reserve itself is relatively small but it does have some nice hiking trails and an awesome cliff jumping spot.
San Marcos main strip
San Marcos is a small alternative and spiritual town around Lake Atitlan. It’s the perfect place for a yoga retreat, or self reflection, but also a great place to simply explore for the day. The main town has one main street filled with cool shops and restaurants. I highly recommend checking out Samsara’s Garden, a vegan Asian fusion spot. Comedor Susy is another good spot for a typical Guatemalan meal. And Circles Cafe & Bakery is a great place to grab some coffee.
Day 3: Enjoy a day on Lake Atitlan
One of the greatest things to do at Lake Atitlan is to just relax on the lake. Rent kayaks or paddle boards from your hostel to explore the lake. Or even better, go diving in Lake Atitlan. Yes, diving! Scuba diving is possible in Lake Atitlan and is a great way to practice high altitude diving. La Iguana Perdida is the best place to stay for diving since there is a dive shop located right on the property. ATI Divers may also be the only dive shop on Lake Atitlan. Be sure to book your dives in advance!
In the early evening, take the lancha over to San Pedro la Laguna to spend the next 2 nights. San Pedro la Laguna will be busier with plenty of bars and restaurants. But save the night out for tomorrow night because you’ll be doing an early morning hike tomorrow morning!
Day 4: Hike to the Indian Nose viewpoint and pub crawl
Indian Nose Hike
Prepare for an epic hike with stunning views of Lake Atitlan. The sunrise hike to Indian Nose Viewpoint will leave you speechless with its vistas on the summit and along the climb. Several hotels and hostels offer this hike as a tour with a guide for around 200 Quetzales or $25 USD. The hike itself is not very long and should take roughly 3 hours roundtrip to complete if you start from San Juan La Laguna. The hike is shorter and much easier from Santa Clara La Laguna, which is where most tour operators will start the trek from.
Although a guide is not required for the hike up to Indian Nose viewpoint, it is recommended for safety reasons and to provide transportation especially for the sunrise hike if you are not staying in San Juan or Santa Clara. There are a few fees you may have to pay to pass through private property to reach the summit, and having a guide will prevent them from overcharging you. If you do plan on hiking on your own, follow this AllTrails map to hike to the Indian Nose viewpoint.
You will need a much needed rest after this hike. Take a nap, grab some food, and recharge. Because tonight you are going for a pub crawl around San Pedro la Laguna!
Mr. Mullet’s Pub Crawl
This may be the most popular bar crawl on Lake Atitlan. Mr. Mullet’s Pub Crawl is every Tuesday and Satruday in San Pedro la Laguna. The bar crawl starts at Mr. Mullet’s hostel and costs 150 Quetzales if you are staying at the hostel, and 200 Quetzales if you are not. You’ll get a free T-shirt if they don’t run out, and you’ll get a total of 5 free drinks from the various bars you visit. The first stop is at Mr. Mullet’s own bar before heading out to some other local bars, ending the night at Bar Sublime.
The pub crawl is good fun and a great way to meet people. The crowd tends to be much younger in their early 20s, atleast when I went. Nonetheless, it was loads of fun and I was still able to socialize and meet some interesting people. You’re night will likely go late, which is the best way to spend your last night at Lake Atitlan.
Day 5: Leave Lake Atitlan
After having done the main things to do at Lake Atitlan, Day 5 brings your departure from Lake Atitlan to wherever your next destination may be. Whether your next destination is in Guatemala, Central America, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll need to either take a lancha back to Panajachel or a bus out of San Pedro La Laguna. The best way to get back to Antigua or to Guatemala City is to take a lancha back to Panajachel and a bus from Panajachel to Antigua or Guatemala City. In addition, there are also buses from San Pedro La Laguna to Xela or from Panajachel to Flores, Lanquin, or even to San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico.
This post contains affiliate links where I may earn a commission on any purchases made using these links.
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala looks and sounds lovely! A perfect getaway with lots to do! My son volunteered in Guatemala for two summers so would love to visit.
Very informative post. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so eager to go back to Central America and explore beyond Costa Rica — hearing about your Guatemala experience (and seeing these gorgeous photos) is so inspirational.
This trip looks so wholesome! Definitely saving this for the future. thanks for the very informative post!
This trip looks so wholesome! Definitely saving this for the future. thanks for the very informative post!
The trip looks amazing! Intrigues by the Indian Nose Hike as well.