Lake Atitlan is magical and a little mysterious. The lake is surrounded by volcanoes and somehow the view seems different every time you look at it. The sunrise gave me goosebumps, while later in the day I was just as happy sitting with a cocktail and watching the sunset. If you are looking for the best things to do in Lake Atitlan, do not try to squeeze everything into one night.
I stayed for five nights and that was not a day too long. I could easily have stayed longer. San Marcos was my base and from there I visited Panajachel, San Juan and San Pedro. Each town has a completely different vibe. Stay in one place, use the boats during the day and see which town suits you best.
How to get to Lake Atitlan
I arrived at Lake Atitlan from San Cristóbal de Las Casas in Mexico. It was a long and exhausting travel day. My shuttle picked me up early in the morning, we reached the border around midday and after crossing into Guatemala we changed vans. The second shuttle was delayed and I finally arrived in Panajachel around sunset. After traveling all day, I was very happy that I had booked a room there instead of trying to cross the lake as well.
A shared shuttle from San Cristóbal de Las Casas to Panajachel costs roughly USD 50–75 per person. Count on around 10 to 12 hours for the complete journey, including the border crossing. Border days do not always go according to plan, so do not make a tight schedule for your arrival. Panajachel is also connected by tourist shuttle with Antigua and Guatemala City. I mainly traveled by shuttle during this part of my trip. It costs more than local buses, but traveling alone I found it easy and convenient.
Check 12Go before your travel day to compare transport to Panajachel. When traveling overland from Mexico, also check the latest border requirements and possible fees before you leave.
How to get around Lake Atitlan by lancha
From Panajachel, lanchas, small motorboats used as public transport, take you to many of the towns around Lake Atitlan. Panajachel has more than one pier, so check which one you need. I used the public boats to San Marcos, San Juan and San Pedro. Some accommodations also have their own dock. Tell the boatman where you want to get off and have some cash ready. For most of the routes I used, expect roughly Q15–25 per person depending on the distance. The public lanchas run regularly during the day, but not late into the evening. That was another reason why sleeping in Panajachel after my journey from Mexico worked so well.
Take the lancha earlier in the day when possible. The wind can pick up later and the lake can become much rougher. Also check the last boat before settling in somewhere for a sunset drink.
Where to stay in Lake Atitlan
San Marcos was the best base for me at Lake Atitlan. I stayed in and just outside town and would choose the same area again. From there, you can easily take a lancha when you want to visit another town. I slept at Lush in San Marcos and at Anzan just outside town. Lush is convenient when you want to walk to cafés and restaurants. Rooms are roughly USD 80–180 per night depending on the room and season. Anzan is in a different price range, roughly USD 220–300+ per night depending on your dates, but for me the stay itself was part of the Lake Atitlan experience.
Panajachel is practical when you arrive late or leave early. Socialtel Atitlan has dorm beds and private rooms, generally from around USD 20 to USD 80+ per night. If you prefer nightlife, have a look at San Pedro. I only visited during the day, so I cannot recommend a hotel from my own experience.
Check Booking.com for your dates, but look carefully at the location before booking. Some accommodations are outside the main town or have their own boat dock, which matters when you arrive with luggage.
My favorite Lake Atitlan towns
I visited four towns during my stay and San Marcos was my favorite. But do take the lancha to some of the other towns too. They are close to each other, but feel very different.
Panajachel: the gateway to Lake Atitlan
Panajachel, or Pana as everyone seems to call it, is the gateway to Lake Atitlan for many travelers. It was the busiest town I saw around the lake, but for me also the least charming. I arrived just before sunset after the long shuttle ride from Mexico, slept in Panajachel and continued across the lake the following day. Before getting on the lancha, have breakfast at Deli Jasmin. I had a típico desayuno with juice and fruit in its green and colorful garden. It was busy, which is always a good sign for me. They even sell homemade jams and cookies.
San Marcos La Laguna: my favorite town at Lake Atitlan
San Marcos was much more my place. I feel like a modern hippie now and then, so this vibe suited me very well. You will see yoga, meditation and massages everywhere in San Marcos. I met travelers who had come especially for a yoga retreat. There are also fewer standard souvenir shops and more small boutique-style places. I slept at Lush for part of my stay. It is quiet, has a green garden and is close to the lake, although you do not have a lake view. I particularly liked breakfast on the rooftop.
Then there was Anzan. If your budget allows it, this is one of those accommodations where I would spend the extra money. The view was stunning and in the morning I could walk from my room straight down for a swim from my private entrance. The water certainly woke me up! Afterwards breakfast was served next to the lake. Sitting there by myself with that view felt pretty romantic, even when traveling solo. Dita, the owner and host, made the stay even more personal. Dinner at Anzan Kitchen was another highlight. The food was fresh and original, with lots of vegetables. If you arrive by lancha, ask for Casa Rosada, the Pink House. That is the local name I used with the boat skipper for the stop just before the center of San Marcos.
Circles Café became a favorite for good coffee and fresh food. Across the street I bought banana bread from a lady selling it there. For sunset I went to Tul y Sol. Order a drink, sit down and watch the volcanoes across the lake, sometimes with live music in the background.
San Juan La Laguna: textiles, art and my favorite local lunch
From San Marcos you can take the lancha to San Juan, a smaller town before San Pedro. San Juan is known for its indigenous culture, art and textiles made by women from the village. I visited one of the women’s cooperatives where they showed how much work goes into the textiles. You see the process from raw cotton to making the threads, dyeing them with natural plants and minerals and finally weaving the finished product.
Seeing the complete process changed the way I looked at the textiles in the shops. I bought a bag there too. From there I continued uphill towards Iglesia Católica and the main plaza. By then I was getting hungry. Outside Mercado Municipal it was busy and that is always a good sign! I walked over to see what the women were serving and decided to eat there. Nothing fancy: plastic chairs, a wobbly table and different pots and pans. But the food was amazing; fresh, healthy and very local. Me gusta mucho! After lunch I took a tuk-tuk from the main road towards San Pedro instead of returning to the boat first.
San Pedro La Laguna: backpacker vibe and very good coffee
San Pedro felt immediately busier. It is known as the backpacker town around Lake Atitlan and has more of a party vibe, but there is more to do than bars. You can study Spanish, take drum lessons, kayak or arrange hiking trips. One of the first things I noticed was something much simpler: cars and buses. I had hardly seen them since Panajachel because the smaller towns mainly use tuk-tuks. Coffee was waiting at Café Las Cristalinas. They have their own coffee roaster in the back and I can still remember the smell. Add a piece of carrot cake and I was happy.
At the lakefront I also liked Sababa for a drink or something to eat while looking out over the water. After that it was time to catch my lancha back to San Marcos. San Pedro is worth seeing, but I was quite happy returning to my quieter hippie base afterwards.
How many days do you need at Lake Atitlan?
I stayed five nights at Lake Atitlan and honestly, that was not too long. After my long journey from Mexico I needed some time to chill as well, so I did not want to turn every day into a sightseeing schedule. Three nights would be my minimum. With four or five nights you can use one town as your base, make day trips and still have time to do nothing for an afternoon.
Is Lake Atitlan safe for solo travelers?
I traveled around Lake Atitlan alone and felt comfortable using the lanchas and tuk-tuks. Hiking was the one thing I treated differently. During my stay I heard both positive and negative stories about hiking some trails alone. I normally play it safe, so I decided not to go hiking by myself. Good excuse not to climb another mountain… Ask locally about the situation before you start a hike and take a guide when recommended. Conditions can change, so recent local advice is more useful than something you read months before your trip.
For more of my own experience traveling alone, read my solo travel safety tips before you go.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Lake Atitlan
Can you visit several Lake Atitlan towns in one day?
Yes. I visited San Juan and San Pedro on the same day and returned to San Marcos afterwards. Keep it to one or two towns so you still have time to walk around and sit down for lunch.
What is the best time to visit Lake Atitlan?
The dry season is roughly from November through April, when there is generally less rain. Mornings are also a good time for boat trips because the lake can become windier and rougher later in the day. Whatever month you visit, do not fill every hour. Some of my favorite memories are simply looking over the lake.
Let Me Inspire You Takeaways
What I loved most about Lake Atitlan was that every town had its own vibe. San Marcos had the hippie atmosphere that suited me, San Pedro was much more social and busy, while San Juan gave me a different look at local life around the lake. Panajachel was mainly my practical gateway in and out. And wherever I went, those volcanoes were there in the background. Take one town as your base, use the lanchas to explore and give yourself at least three nights. If you can stay four or five, even better.
Continue your Guatemala trip to Antigua
After Lake Atitlan I continued to Antigua. From Panajachel I took a tourist shuttle and the journey took around three hours. Antigua feels completely different after several days beside the lake, which is why I liked combining the two. Continue with my Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala guide for my favorite places, practical tips and volcano trips from Antigua.
