Lake Atitlan is a must-visit place when visiting Guatemala. It's where you will surround yourself with beautiful mountains, cute villages surrounding the lake. I got off the shuttle from the GUA airport and arrived in Panajachel, which is a main gateway to explore all the villages around the Lake. I didn't know which villages I should visit until I met other travelers who shared their experiences at each location that they stayed in. Now it's my turn to share my experiences with all of you who are interested in knowing more about the vibes of towns surrounding the lake and what to do if you are stopping by. I didn't get to visit all the cute towns, but I've been to three big villages. This post is about those Panajachel, San Marcos la Laguna and San Juan la Laguna, and things I did while staying in each place.
Panajachel
The very first place I stayed in was when I was in Guatemala. I stayed two nights here, the first night in Selina and the second night in Dreamboat Hostel. While I was in Selina, I decided to explore Panajachel a bit, so I finished my morning yoga (Selina offers morning yoga classes with the lake view) and explored the market. I was also by the ferry dock to see the beautiful mountains. It was hazy due to wildfires, but I still loved the view.
Transportation:
When hopping from one village to another, a public ferry is a great way to get around. The ferry runs from 6:30 am until 6 pm (depending on which village you are departing from, and where you are heading to, so make sure to check with the dock in each village). If you are traveling outside of normal business hours, you will have to hire a private ferry driver (more expensive), ride Tuktuk or stay overnight in one of the closest villages.
The view from the ferry dock.
Panajachel Market has so much to offer! If you don't have time to go to Chichicastenango Market, visit the main market in Panajachel.
San Marcos la Laguna
This place was my favorite out of all three villages I've been to. As a yoga teacher and a practitioner, San Marcos was a great community for me to be part of. San Marcos was all about yoga, wellness, physical/mental well-being and spiritual growth, which I am all passionate about. Below are the list of activities I've done while I was there.
1. Eagle's Nest Atitlan
I heard good things about Eagle's Nest, so I wanted to check out what it is like to practice yoga. Eagle's Nest is a yoga shala with a great lake view, which makes the place unique and popular. People come here for long-term yoga practices and retreats. There are dorms and private rooms that people can book for and practice yoga while they stay in this beautiful shala. It was too expensive for me to stay here while practicing yoga, so I ended up taking a day class instead and stayed in a hostel nearby. I did a walk-in (yes, they take walk-ins, so be prepared to pay in cash) and I did a Friday Venus Day Vinyasa class, which was awesome. I paid Q150 for one class, and it was worth it!
2. Community yoga classes
Del Lago was where I participated in community yoga classes. There was a hostel and a nice cafe. My hostel was only a 4-minute walk to Del Lago so it was a very easy access. Weekly schedules of yoga sessions, sound healing, etc. were available online and also in the WhatsApp group (please reach out if you want to be part of this group). I took one Ashtanga morning class and one vinyasa class and I liked both. The view was amazing and the community was great to be part of.
Settling in for yoga class! The lake view from yoga shala in Del Lago.
3. Cacao Ritual, Meditation, Spritual Dance @ La Paz Hotel
I was very interested in being part of the cacao ritual/cacao ceremony because I wanted to experience what it's like to be in the ritual and see how the ceremony is led. I've had cacao drinks before but never participated in a "ritual" so it was a great opportunity to see how the workshop was organized. We had pure cacao drinks (bitter but so pure) for cleansing, did meditation, danced, and sang. It was an eye-opening experience and it was so nice to connect with like-minded people.
Had the best time!! Check out my IG for the video in my stories!
San Juan la Laguna
Indian Nose hike
If you love hiking, Indian Nose hiking is a must-do hike! I stayed in San Juan la Laguna and did a homestay at Lencho's house. Lencho and his wife Elena were a local Tzutujil family who knew a lot about the area and offered authentic cultural experiences (i.e. learning about local herbs, making tortillas, etc.) to those staying with them. Lencho took me and another girl who stayed in his Airbnb to Indian Nose Mountain at 3 am to catch the sunrise. It was only a 10-minute walk to the entrance from Lencho's which was nice.
The sunrise over Lake Atitlan was stunning and the view from the summit to see the villages surrounding the lake was jaw-dropping. It was worth waking up at 2 am and start hiking at 3 am. The sunrise was around 5:45 am so we arrived on time to see the sunrise. The hike wasn't too difficult, but the trail was pretty steep almost all the way to the top so my left knee wasn't feeling great but I was still happy to see the sun rising over the lake. It was about 3.47 miles round trip and it was one of my favorite hikes in Guatemala.
The sunrise was so breathtaking. I loved the colors!
When I got to the submit, all people who made it to the top were given a cup of hot chocolate. I didn't drink it but I used it as a prop for my photos and videos.
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