Picturesque Lake Atitlán, Guatemala offers a diverse array of sights, attractions and recreational activities — from trekking and boat trips to archaeological sites, diving sunken Mayan villages, kayaking and fishing.

The nearby San Buenaventura Nature Reserve is perfect for wildlife hikes. For divers, mystical Mayan archaeological sites and the underwater city of Chiutinamit Samaj are located below the surface of Lake Atitlán.

​In just one day, you can summit a lakeside volcano, set off on a horseback riding adventure and tour a working coffee plantation. Below, you’ll find more information about attractions and fun things to do just moments from the Hotel Atitlán Hotel & Gardens.

Below, you’ll find more information about attractions and fun things to do just moments from the Hotel Atitlán Hotel & Gardens.

Santiago Atitlán

​Just across from Panajachel, a quick 30 minutes by boat, is the capital of Santiago Atitlán Tzutujiles, one of the largest indigenous communities in Guatemala. Built on the slopes of Atitlán Volcano Toliman, it is surrounded by water on three sides and the Volcán San Pedro on the fourth.

​You can see dozens of women in the lakes, with water up to their knees, washing clothes against the rocks, with babies on their backs laden with colourful blankets. The locals, or Atitecos, believe that wearing these beautiful clothes maintains a connection with their ancestors.

San Pedro

Off the beaten path but a favourite destination of young backpackers, San Pedro La Laguna features plenty of inexpensive hotels and restaurants. If you visit, be sure to hike the San Pedro Volcano in the morning.

San Juan

The village of San Juan Tz'utujil La Laguna is a great place to escape the crowds and experience a more authentic version of Indian life by the lake. There are several groups of artisans in the city centre, including a village fabric cooperative run by women that produces high-quality woven fabrics. Horseback riding tours can be arranged in the village.

San Marcos

Surrounded by fruit trees, San Marcos La Laguna is known for its relaxed atmosphere and has long been a favourite of travellers seeking a quiet place to rest and find peace. San Marcos is most famous for the Pyramid Centre, which is a magnet for meditation, yoga and alternative medicine enthusiasts.

Santa Cruz

The tranquil village of Santa Cruz La Laguna is known for the only diving school on the lake. It is much smaller and quieter than San Pedro or San Marcos and the surrounding steep hills are filled with tin-roofed huts and brightly coloured evangelical churches.

Santa Catarina

The traditional village of Santa Catarina Palopó Kaqchikel, located 4 km from Pana, is a picturesque town with narrow cobblestone streets, mud houses with thatched or zinc roofs. Perhaps the most easily recognizable features of Santa Catarina Palopó are the blue blouses worn by local women.

San Antonio

San Antonio Palopó is known for its lively weekend markets and the coloured stripes on the traditional Mayan clothing worn by locals in one of the few regions in Latin America where men still dress in these cultural costumes. The tunecos, as they call themselves, grow onion and anise in lakeside terraces that provide a sculptural appearance. Up on the hill, the gleaming white church is one of the town’s centrepiece sights.

Daily Trips

Markets in the Guatemalan highlands are a must see. Here, everyday life is as it has existed for generations, offering markets full of activity and colour with beautiful flowers, fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs contrasting with the vibrant costumes of the vendors selling products, goods and textiles. You’ll see everything from women carrying baskets full of chickens on their heads and children on their backs to smaller children and men laden with loads of firewood.

Solola

Solola is located 2,000 feet above the lake. Market days on Tuesdays and Fridays draw Mayans from around the region to the town. Garbed in their traditional costumes, they sell and purchase a wide variety of goods, while “Intermediaries" – traders who come here to buy and then resell nationwide –   make their way through the crowds. It is colourful, interesting and a good place to observe the social and economic role that markets play in indigenous communities.

Chichicastenango

Located 45 minutes away by car, "Chichi" is famous around the world. Thousands of people gather for the native market on Thursday and Sunday in the main square, between the St. Thomas Church and Calvary Chapel. Impressive, it has changed little over the centuries, with native Maya traveling from many regions to buy and sell an amazing variety of handicrafts, cattle and all things necessary for daily life. Do not forget to visit the Church of St. Thomas, an example of colonial architecture built in 1541 on the grounds of a prehistoric archaeological site. On eighteen steps, the Mayan descendants perform their rituals of worship to pagan gods with prayers and incense, and Catholics kneel and pray in front of altars filled with offerings of flowers and candles.

Totonicapán

90 minutes away lies another very active market held on Tuesday and Saturday, less visited by tourists. The trip there is dramatically beautiful, with mountaintops, plateaus and valleys planted with corn and wheat occasionally interrupted by white houses with red tile roofs. Totonicapán is best known for the fabric used by indigenous women to develop their skirts or "cuts." 

San Francisco El Alto

Located 1 hour and 45 minutes away by car, San Francisco El Alto is Guatemala's largest indigenous market. Held on Friday, this market is located on a small plateau 8,560 feet above sea level and has an excellent view of the valley of Quetzaltenango. Commercial activity here is related to work and daily life, so that it is easy to buy everything available in the Guatemalan highlands, including Momostenango wool blankets and traditional cuts (skirt fabric for women), along with an abundance of tourist items.

Quetzaltenango

Two hours away, Xelajú is the second largest city of Guatemala. Featuring the oldest colonial buildings in the country, located in the place where the conquerors settled originally, the daily market is located in a modern three-story building. The surrounding towns are also worth visiting: Salaam is known for its Jasper fabrics (market day is Tuesday). Colourful and picturesque Hu piles Almolonga has a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Cantel has a glass blowing factory. Zunil is known for bright purple shawls (Sundays is market day). San Martin Green Chile, named for the peppers it grows, has a Friday market day.

Antigua Guatemala

Town two hours away best expresses the Colonial era through its architecture and cobblestone streets. Splendour is found in the restored ruins of this decadent period, where time stopped for 300 years after a devastating earthquake. Three volcanoes surround the city: Fire, Water and Acatenango. In the markets, local artisans make works of pottery, wrought iron, wood, candles and sweets. The weeks before Easter are a time of great tradition and religious splendour when the passion of Christ is commemorated with rituals that begin during Lent and end during Easter processions and vigils.

Panajachel

Panajachel, the main town in the Lake Atitlán region, is teeming with dining and nightlife possibilities, as well as souvenir shops, beautifully restored 16th century churches and charming Spanish-style architecture. It is one of the most popular villages around Lake Atitlán.