We’ve been blessed to spend three amazing weeks at Lake Atitlan, with one week to go. The weather has been cool. The views have been amazing. Exploring the lake and all it’s nuances has been truly remarkable. Every village on the lake is unique, each with it’s own vibe and culture. Some are more rustic and untouched, others have been influenced by modern amenities we’ve become used to in the states. Regardless of the village, the people are kind and friendly. It’s almost a race as you pass someone on the street to greet them first with a friendly “Hola!” or “buenos dias or buenas tardes” depending on the time of day. The women very often still wearing traditional clothing, beautifully woven by themself or someone in their family. Some of our days are filled with activities with lancha rides to and from our homebase in Pasajcap.

Below were some our favorites:

1. Local market in Panachajel

Visit the big local market at the top of the hill. It’s the largest in the area. Filled with vibrant colors of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Local vendors selling smoothies and hand crushed snow cones. Meat hangs on hooks. There are textiles, shoes and clothes all for sale. If we lived closer I could see this becoming part of our daily routine.

2. Casa Flor Ixcaco in San Juan

This town is just beautiful. It’s easy to be content just meandering the streets and embracing the beautiful murals on the walls or friendly faces as you walk by, however if you’re looking to learn a little I highly encourage a visit to Casa Flor Ixcaco. It is one of the original San Juan women cooperatives weaving the most beautiful textiles. They follow the traditional way of making cotton, thread, dying and weaving. They offer a short session to learn about the process from start to finish for just $20Q per adult. Even if you don’t do the session, stop for a browse through the shop. Their work is incredible and every piece is labeled with the women responsible for the craftsmanship and how long it took her to create it. The majority of your purchase goes directly back to the cooperative, which we learned isn’t the case as often as it should be. And if you’re up for it, stop at Mas Marias for a coffee. You won’t be disappointed by the charming atmosphere and delicious coffee, roasted in her home.

3. Kayaking & hiking in Santa Cruz.

This is a small village only accessible by boat. It has a unique charm about it from the waterfront but you get a very different from the hike up to the top. Getting on the lake in some form or fashion either by kayak or SUP gives you a whole new appreciation for the beauty of Lake Atitlan. You can slow down, enjoy the peace and solitude while also gaining a deeper understanding of the detail of the lakefront, different from flying by on a lancha. You feel small drifting by the base of these massive volcanos. We rented kayaks from Kayak Guatemala for an hour and all took turns. 

We worked up an appetite, so we made the decision to hike of the hill to find lunch. This hike is not for the faint of heart, there may have been a fair amount of complaining from my child, as we worked our way up.  On a whim we made the decision to stop at Cafe Sabor Cruceño. Much to our surprise they have an upstairs dining room, our jaws dropped when we stepped out onto the balcony. The views are breathtaking and the food is equally as delicious. All made from scratch by students fine-tuning their cooking experience, preparing for a career in culinary arts.

4. German style pretzels in Tuzuna

I know this sounds crazy and slightly out of place, but go! The pretzels are unreal, served with butter, honey and spicy cheese. The gardens are beautiful equipped with games and beautiful covered sitting areas. There is even mini-golf depending on the season. Ohhh and don’t forget to pee, it’s quite the view! El Picnic is worth the walk and visit to Tuzuna.

5. Strolling San Marcos

This has been our homebase during our stay at the lake, so we have gotten to know it quite well, simply by strolling the town. Dip down little alley ways to find a beautiful cafe at theEco Hotel La Paz or the local soccer stadium to have our young boys get some extra energy out. Stroll the lakeside to uncover the entryway to the San Marcos reserve. Stop and get a Coco Banana from the local muejer. Enjoy authentic European pasties and bread at Circles Cafe, they also have great wifi for working. You can feel the energy just by walking.

Cheers!