Lake Atitlan Itinerary: How to plan an amazing 5 days in Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan kept on popping up as one of the must-do things while we were planning our trip to Guatemala. It was consistently advertised as one of the most beautiful lakes you will ever see. We looked up photos and thought to ourselves “It’s pretty, but is it really as magical as they describe?”

Well, after spending 5 days in Lake Atitlan, I can confidently say that it is a truly magical place to visit. 

The lake was formed as a part of a volcano crater 85,000 years ago, which later filled up with water, and was then surrounded by 3 other volcanoes. This is the first time we’ve ever been to a lake surrounded by multiple volcanoes and the view was mesmerizing. We never got tired of waking up in the morning and seeing the impressive silhouette of the volcano behind the calm waters of the lake.

And not to mention we got to stay at one of the most phenomenal hotels, perched on the remote cliffside, surrounded by lush botanical gardens. I can say that it was one of the most memorable hotel experiences we’ve ever had. But more on that later.

If you are excited to go there, you may be wondering what an ideal Lake Atitlan itinerary would be if you have 5 days.

So we have created an itinerary based on some of our favourite activities, at a comfortable pace, and we will provide alternative options as well.

Quick 5 days in Lake Atitlan itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival at Panajachel, explore the town and sunset, discover your Nawal, relax at Selina Atitlan
• Day 2: Check in Casa Del Mundo, explore hotel grounds, go for a swim, hot tub sunset
• Day 3: Visit San Juan artistic town, see the murals, enjoy local food, buy souvenirs, and optional hike to Mirador Cerra de la Cruz
• Day 4: Hike along the coastal trail to Santa Cruz, CECAP weaving workshop
• Day 5: Morning kayaking/SUP on Lake Atitlan, departure
  
• 🏛️ Optional Experiences:
  • Half-Day ATV Cultural Tour
  • Indian Nose Volcano Summit Hike
  • Local Jewelry-making and cooking workshop led by local community of women
  • Yoga class at Eagle’s Nest located in the Yoga town of San Marcos
  • Hiking + Kayaking from Panajachel
    
• 🏨 Where to stay:
  • We highly recommend trying to book Hotel Casa Del Mundo. It was one of our favourite hotels EVER in all the countries we’ve traveled to.
    
• 🚌 Recommended Transportation/buses:
  • GuateGo (we have used them all throughout Guatemala and Belize and always had a positive experience!)

Is Lake Atitlan worth it?

Lake Atitlan is definitely worth visiting! As expressed in our introduction, the beauty of this lake cannot be properly reflected in the photos. Maybe it is the aura of the volcanos, or the lush vegetation and flowers, or the tranquil vibe and diverse villages, but there is something truly magical there. We were worried that we would not have enough things to do during our 5 day stay but we ended up wanting to stay even longer!

Lake Atitlan is the perfect place to unwind and is ideal after visiting Antigua, especially if you did the Acatenango Volcano hike. Our legs were pretty sore after the hike so we were more than happy to relax in the hot tub with views of Lake Atitlan.

Lake Atitlan Itinerary for 5 days

Here is how we would break down a 5 day visit to Lake Atitlan where we include nature, relaxation, culture, scenery, and food.

Day 1: Arrival at Panajachel, explore the town and sunset, discover your Nawal, relax at Selina Atitlan

On your first day in Lake Atitlan, you can visit the main gateway town of Panajachel. All transportation from Antigua and Guatemala City will stop here before you transfer to a boat that brings you to your respective towns. We recommend staying here for one night to explore the town, take out your required cash from the ATMs, and get your first glimpse of the beautiful lake and volcanoes.

Spend the remainder of the day strolling through Calle Santander, their main shopping boulevard, and browse the numerous roadside stalls. Here you can find hand-crafted textiles, jewelry, bracelets, and leather goods. The price here is very affordable and the shopkeepers are very friendly.

Finding your Nawal Sign

If you have the chance, stop by one of the shops that have the Nawal readings and jewelry to learn more about your zodiac sign.

The Nawal is based on the Mayan calendar, and depending on the day you were born, you are designated a number and a sign. In total, there are 260 unique number/sign combinations which are comprised of a number from 1-13, and one of 20 animals (nawal). At my reading, they determined that I am a 9 Q’Anil (Rabbit). 

They then described the type of personality that embodies that Nawal sign and it was scary how accurate it was! We also did the same with my wife and it described her interests, personalities, and unique traits to a T. If you want, you can then purchase a pendant or bracelet that has your Nawal sign. There are never any obligations to purchase but it does make for a very personalized and unique souvenir.

Beach Boardwalk

Then head down towards the beach boardwalk where you can get your first glimpse of the lake and the volcanoes. Make sure to head west along the boardwalk since the further away from Calle Santander you get, the more local and quiet it becomes. 

The boardwalk is lined with affordable restaurants and then after heading down the stairs, you reach the beach. There you will find many locals enjoying the evening and kids playing around. There are multiple docks that you can walk out onto to get a better view of the lake.

Most docks are publicly owned here so you should be okay to go on them. Take a moment to sit at the end of the dock and really soak in the majestic view of the volcanoes. It also makes for a perfect sunset photo spot!

Alternative: Kayak/Sup Rental

If shopping is not your thing, then head down towards the water where you can do kayak and SUP rentals. Depending on the time of day, the lake can get pretty choppy so make sure to check the weather before going.  This activity can also be done from the other towns or from some hotels, so your options are abundant! Or if you are looking for adrenaline activities, they do offer paragliding over Lake Atitlan.

Evening at Hotel Selina Lake Atitlan

Spend the evening relaxing at Selina Hotel Lake Atitlan, which is equipped with a nice outdoor pool and lounge area, and hosts several activities and events. When we went, upon check-in, we were provided with a voucher to get a free drink at their beach-front bar with live music.

They are also a great base as they offer their own tours including yoga classes, a visit to Atitlan Nature Reserve, Kayak rental, ATV tour, paragliding, and many mingling parties. If you prefer joining a Kayak tour, you can check out this hiking + kayaking adventure.

It is also a perfect spot for digital nomads who need to get in some work. We spent the evening lounging by the pool, and then after dinner, watched a movie on the projector screen inside our suite! How cool is that! 

To get the room that has the projector, make sure to book their Suite called “Unique Room”. It is spacious, beautifully decorated, and priced at only around 90$ per day!     

Day 2: Check in Casa Del Mundo, explore hotel grounds, go for a swim, hot tub sunset

On your second day, you will check in to your hotel at Casa Del Mundo and spend the afternoon exploring the grounds, the botanical garden, enjoying a meal, and soaking in the hot tub. We don’t normally specify a hotel as a day activity but Casa Del Mundo is so magical and unique that it really deserves its place as one of the best ‘things to do’ in Lake Atitlan. 

Casa Del Mundo Hotel

You will have the opportunity to stay overnight at the hotel or there is also a day pass to visit the grounds (costs around 7$). If you would like to stay at the hotel, make sure to reserve far in advance since the rooms do book up!

So you might be wondering, how am I supposed to spend an entire afternoon/evening just at a hotel?

Casa Del Mundo, perched on the cliffside of Jaibalito, can only be accessed by boat, which makes it an oasis of tranquillity. They have 19 hotel ‘houses’ spread across the whole property which is covered in lush and diverse flowers and plants. Walking through the grounds really felt like exploring a botanical garden, all the while having an unobstructed view of the volcano and lake. 

Each hotel house is in its own secluded area which provides you with countless terraces and alcoves to explore. As you wind through the hundreds of stairs, each point of view offers something unique.

Each terrace has its own hammock or chair where you can gaze out at the beautiful lake. Descending down closer to the water you have many more balconies right on the lake where you can go for a quick swim. Then kick back, read a book, or order one of their delicious coffees or smoothies.

Words cannot fully describe the magical feeling of being there so I will let the photos speak for themselves.

Restaurant at Casa Del Mundo

When you get hungry, climb up to their restaurant balcony overlooking the entire lake. Here too they have many levels, each offering a different view. The food at Casa Del Mundo is delicious and made from hand-picked fresh ingredients from the local indigenous markets at Panajachel. We ended up eating 4 meals there and each dinner was unique and memorable!

If you have more energy, then the hotel provides kayak and SUP rentals right from their dock. If you are staying at the hotel, they can also help to organize group and private tours right from their hotel.

Hot Tub with an epic view

While at Casa Del Mundo, make sure to reserve their wood-heated hot tub. It is perched on a cliff, in a quiet corner of the hotel, where you can admire the entire lake and enjoy the sunset. We spent a good 2-3 hours in there and it did wonders to relax our sore bodies after the hike up to Acatenango Volcano in Antigua.

The hot tub costs Q300 (about 39$) to reserve and can be shared by up to 10 people. Make sure to email or call them in advance as it takes several hours to heat up the water. We only reserved on the day that we arrived and almost missed out on getting to experience it.

Important information

• The breakfast menu is available from 8:00-11:00, then the lunch and dinner menu is available from 12:00-20:00.
• The price of the lunch and dinner menu varies between 70-130Q.
• You cannot bring your own food onto the hotel property
• Day trip pass costs around 7$
• Public boat hours are from 6:30-17:30. Make sure to consider those times when planning.
• To get there, take a public boat from Muelle Tzanjuyú dock in Panajachel. It should cost Q20 per person.

Day 3: Visit San Juan artistic town, see the murals, enjoy local food, buy souvenirs, Optional visit to Mirador Cerra de la Cruz

The next day, you can spend the entire afternoon discovering one of Lake Atitlan’s towns. Each town has its own unique specialty and vibe and where you go will depend on your interests. To see the breakdown of each town and what they include, check out the section below called “Which city to stay in Lake Atitlan”.

Among all the towns, we would consider San Juan one of the most unique and deserving of a visit. San Juan centres around the arts and presents it through beautiful art galleries and painted murals. 

Art Galleries and Wall art

Right from the moment that you step into town, you will notice the main boulevard is covered in floor drawings and above you are lined with hundreds of coloured umbrellas. Then on both sides are cute galleries displaying their unique painting styles. 

Although we didn’t need any paintings to bring home, we stepped into several galleries and enjoyed chatting with the shopkeepers. They shared with us their stories and explained the ideas behind each of their masterpieces.

Also, make sure to pop into their artisanal coffee shops and dyed textile stores. There are coffee-tasting workshops as well as textile scarf-making workshops. 

Once you reach the top of the hill, you will enter the more local district of San Juan. Spend some time strolling through their streets to find the countless wall murals. Most have a historical significance or a strong personal message. 

We stumbled upon a large indoor basketball stadium where kids were playing, and we noticed some of the most incredible paintings there. They told stories of the Mayan people and showcased their national bird the Quetzal, the significance of corn in their culture, as well as the Cacao Ceremony. 

Through art, we sensed the local pride and their love for Guatemala.

Optional: Mirador Cerra de la Cruz

If you have more energy left, then make sure to climb up to Mirador Cerra de la Cruz. You can take a Tuktuk from town for Q5 or walk around 15-20 minutes uphill to the Parque Kiaq’Aiswaan entrance. The entrance fee is Q10 per person. 

Once through the gates, you will climb up countless stairs which are beautifully painted with motifs of the Mayan culture. After around 15 minutes of hiking, you will reach the famous lookout to see an epic panoramic view of San Juan, San Pedro, and the volcano. The wooden deck at the summit is also painted to further depict the Guatemalan culture. In all, this whole journey provides you with an incredible view and a travel in time through their art.

Enjoy the local food

Finally, before leaving, make sure to enjoy one of their local meals. We found the restaurant called Comedor Elenita which ended up being one of our favourite meals in Lake Atitlan.

It is not a fancy place at all, and you will likely be the only tourist there. When we arrived, the first floor was filled with a group of 20 locals watching a soccer match. For us, this only adds to the authenticity and ambiance of the place. The food at Elenita is simple, but so delicious!

Since the last public boats are around 17:30, make sure to catch the boat on time to return to your hotel.

Day 4: Hike along the coastal trail to Santa Cruz, CECAP weaving workshop

On your fourth day in Lake Atitlan, you can experience something very local and unique in the region. Although weaving workshops are available in most towns in Lake Atitlan, we decided to do one in Santa Cruz in order to support their local town as well as the CECAP foundation.

CECAP is a community training centre with the goal of helping the indigenous community of Santa Cruz create better future job opportunities by developing their culinary, crafting, language, and business skills.

Having visited many countries where the locals are stuck in poverty due to a lack of education and opportunities, we wanted to help support this incredible initiative. CECAP created the Amigos Santa Cruz Foundation through which they provide cooking, artisanal beading, and weaving classes with the locals.

Coastal walk

Departing from Casa Del Mundo, you can walk the coastal trail to reach the neighbouring village of Santa Cruz. This trail is high up in the mountains and provides you with amazing scenery of the lake. The hike should take you around 40 minutes from Casa Del Mundo. 

If you are coming from a different hotel/village, then you can take one of the public boats to reach Santa Cruz. However, by boat, they will drop you off by the water, and the village of Santa Cruz is quite a ways uphill. Try to catch one of the tuk-tuks to bring you up to the top so you can save your energy for the workshop!

Café Sabor Cruceno

To regain some energy, enjoy a smoothie or meal at the CECAP’s restaurant called Café Sabor Cruceno. Not only is the food delicious and you are supporting their community initiative, but you will get one of the most dazzling panoramic view of the lake and volcano.

Weaving workshop

In the afternoon, you have the choice of doing the cooking, artisan beading, or weaving workshop. We did the weaving workshop and got a hands-on insight into the intricacy of their weaving technique.

The process is done by arranging hundreds of coloured threads on a horizontal line and then placing 2-3 wooden sticks that will help you interweave them. A strap ties the end of those hundred threads to your waist so you can use your whole body to pull and weave.

The teacher will guide you in the steps and although complicated, after 20 minutes you’ll get the hang of it. All the while we had the chance to practice our Spanish and converse with the local family to learn more about their life.

After about 3 hours of workshop, you will have completed your custom scarf that you can bring home with you! This workshop was an amazing experience and really provided us with an insight into the local culture, tradition, and lifestyle.

Important information

• Where: Amigos Santa Cruz
• Classes available: Cooking, artisan beading, weaving workshop
• Duration: All 2.5 hours
• Cost: Q110 to Q250 (20-34$/pp)
• Make sure to reserve ahead of time

Explore Santa Cruz

After the class, spend around an hour exploring Santa Cruz. It is a very quiet village so there isn’t much in terms of tourist attractions but it was beautiful to see the locals out and about their errands. 

We also found a group of the cutest puppies sleeping on the road and we had to save them when a truck was going to drive by.

Day 5: Morning kayaking on Lake Atitlan, departure

On your final morning, you can wake up early to do some kayaking or paddleboarding on Lake Atitlan. This can be arranged directly from the hotel Casa Del Mundo or from your local town. Make sure to go early as by late morning, the wind picks up and the waters can get quite choppy.

The waiter at our hotel told us a story where the guest rented the kayak despite the warnings of bad weather by the hotel and he ended up being pushed out into the middle of the Lake. In the end, he couldn’t paddle back and floated across the lake to San Pedro! So make sure to listen to the recommendations of your hotel.

Check-out is usually around 11 am or noon which will give you enough time to take the public boat back to Panajachel where you can catch your shuttle to your next stop! There are many shuttle companies available including this highly rated shuttle service or it can also be arranged by contacting Selina Atitlan, where we stayed on our first night in Panajachel.

Alternative Activities/Tours that you can include in your itinerary

If you are not interested in the weaving workshop, then you can spend the day visiting one of the many other towns such as San Pedro or San Marco, or joining one of the experiences below:

Indian Nose summit Hike

One of the other popular activities to do here is the Indian Nose Summit hike for sunrise. This can be arranged at Casa Del Mundo or at your local town. We ended up not doing that hike though since we had just completed the Acatenango hike during our stay in Antigua and wanted to experience something different.

⛰️ Check out this private Indian nose summit hike tour for sunrise!

ATV Tour

If you want a more adrenaline activity, then you can also check out this half-day ATV Tour through the villages of Lake Atitlan. While cruising through the off-the-beaten track town of San Antonio Palopo, you will get to experience the local coffee and food, see their cultural weaving process, as well as witness the ceramic production process.

🏍 Check out this Half-day ATV Cultural Tour

Jewelry-Making workshop

If you want a cultural experience, then you can join and support the local community of women in Santa Cruz to participate in a cooking and jewelry-making workshop. This tour is similar to what we did with CECAP in Santa Cruz and will really help support the advancement of their community.

💎 Check out this Cooking and Jewlery-making workshop led by local women

This post is part of our series about Guatemala. If you want to learn more about Guatemala, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

Is Tikal Worth It? Complete Tikal Experience Guide (2024)

How to get to Lake Atitlan from Antigua or Guatemala City (2024)

Antigua Guatemala Itinerary: Best things to do in 3, 4, 5 days (2024)

Flores Guatemala Itinerary For a 3, 4, 5 Days Visit (2024)

Is Guatemala Expensive to Visit: Detailed Cost Breakdown (2023)

Main activities in our Lake Atitlan Itinerary

Lake Atitlan is filled with many amazing activities. Above we have provided you with an ideal itinerary and also some alternative options to cater to your tastes. Below we highlight and summarize some of the best activities in the region, most of which are included already in our Lake Atitlan itinerary:

• Visiting Casa Del Mundo (you can go with a day-pass)
• Hot tub on the cliffs at Casa Del Mundo
• Exploring Panajachel and discovering your Nawal
• Panajachel docks and sunset
• Exploring the towns of San Pedro, San Juan, or San Marco
• Artisinal workshops such as cooking, weaving, or beading at Santa Cruz
• Kayaking or paddleboarding in Lake Atitlan
• Indian Nose Sunrise Hike
• Coastal walk between towns of Lake Atitlan
• Discovering the local foods (such as at Comedor Elenita)
• Go exploring art galleries and Murals at San Juan
• Do some Yoga or meditation at San Marco
• Simply admiring the beauty of the nature and lake
• Spanish lessons

How many days to spend in Lake Atitlan?

We would recommend staying at least 4 days in Lake Atitlan.

There are countless little villages to explore and each has its own unique vibe. For example, San Pedro is perfect for the backpacker who wants to mingle with others and go to parties. San Juan on the other hand, is the artistic center filled with street art and galleries. Meanwhile, San Marco is the hippie town, where their focus is on meditation and yoga.

Your Lake Atitlan itinerary can also be the perfect occasion to just relax, enjoy the surroundings, and soak in the nature.

We spent 5 days in Lake Atitlan and were very sad to leave at the end. Many people stay an entire week or even months if they are taking local Spanish lessons.

How to get to Lake Atitlan?

We covered all the transportation options for how to get to Lake Atitlan in this post. Among the choices, we would recommend taking a shared shuttle from Guatemala City or Antigua.

🚌 To book your shuttle, check out this highly-rated shared shuttle! GuateGo provides several shared shuttle bus options at very affordable prices! We used them several times and always had an excellent experience. If you prefer a private transport, I highly recommend using WelcomePickups. They have English-speaking drivers, are very punctual and professional, and we have always had positive experiences with them.

Should you base yourself in one or two cities in Lake Atitlan?

The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to base yourself for the entire trip in one city, or split it between two cities.

During our 5 days in Lake Atitlan, we based ourselves at only one hotel and really enjoyed it that way. The reason why we did not split between the two cities is that you end up losing an entire afternoon doing the hotel switch. Repacking your clothes, taking the boat across the lake, then coordinating check-in times at the second hotel can be time-consuming.

Also, if you are traveling with checked luggage, going up and down those stairs/hills in each city and then boarding a boat is not the easiest.

Instead, it is very convenient to visit the different towns on a day trip. So our recommendation would be to base yourself in one city during your Lake Atitlan itinerary and take day trips to visit the other cities.

Which city to stay in Lake Atitlan?

Now the next big question is which city to stay in. Each city has its own unique vibe and caters to specific activities. Check out below for a general overview of each city:

Panajachel

This is the first city that you are going to arrive at when taking transportation from Antigua or Guatemala City.

Panajachel serves as the gateway to Lake Atitlan and is the most commercial town. It includes a high concentration of hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and street shops. It is also the busiest town, and not the prettiest, so we would not recommend staying there for too long.

We ended up spending one night at Selina hotel in Panajachel before heading out to Casa Del Mundo in Jaibalito. If your visit to Lake Atitlan is short, then Panajachel can be a good base as many tours do depart from there.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz la Laguna is a traditional Mayan town located only a few minutes by boat from Panajachel. It is also one of the steepest towns in Lake Atitlan.

We spent a day there and literally everything was uphill! There are mostly locals there and other than at the tourist offices, we did not see any other tourists. Hotel and restaurant options are also not abundant. For that reason, we would not recommend basing yourself at Santa Cruz, but it does make for a lovely day trip!

We ended up doing a traditional weaving class there with a local family organized by CECAP which we really enjoyed. This gave us a real insight into how the locals work and live.

Jaibalito

Jaibalito is the next town after Santa Cruz and is one of the smallest and least developed towns in Lake Atitlan. It can only be accessed by boat which really adds to the off-the-beaten-path atmosphere of the town. Although there isn’t much to do there, Jaibalito is one of the most authentic villages in Lake Atitlan. It is also home to some very beautiful and unique hotel accommodations which can serve as the perfect base if you are after tranquillity and nature. 

It is also at Jaibalito where they have one of our favourite hotels, Casa Del Mundo. We decided to base ourselves there and did day trips to the other towns.

Although Jaibalito’s town itself didn’t have much in activities, the hotel itself has an abundance of areas to explore. They have a wood-heated hot tub perched on the cliffs, an entire botanical garden throughout the property, countless terraces overlooking the lake, and multiple alcoves where you can go swimming in the lake.

San Marco

San Marcos is known as the hippie town of Lake Atitlan. Located on the Western side of the lake, most tourists go there to practice meditation, yoga, and energy healing. The town itself is quite small but is filled with retreats and accommodations that cater to practicing wellness. 

Some of the unique experiences there include crystal healing, cacao ceremony, herbal medicine, and even growing magic mushrooms! If the focus of your trip to Lake Atitlan is to do some of those activities, then San Marco would be an ideal base. Otherwise, it makes for a great day trip to join in on one of their classes!

Since San Marco is on the Western side of Lake Atitlan, it is also in close proximity to the towns of San Juan and San Pedro which are very popular for day trips!

San Juan

San Juan is the artistic town of Lake Atitlan. As you stroll through the streets, you will notice many of the buildings are filled with colourful art galleries as well as beautifully painted murals.

This was one of our favourite towns in Lake Atitlan since it really showcased the artistic side of the Mayan community. It also had the perfect balance between tourism and seeing the local life, located just up the hill.

We also had one of the best meals during our stay in Lake Atitlan at the restaurant Comedor Elenita. The restaurant is very basic in terms of decor but the food was absolutely delicious! we were also surrounded completely by locals who were watching a soccer match which added to the authentic ambiance. 

San Juan, like San Pedro, serves as an ideal base for activities including the Indian Nose summit hike as well as the Mirador Cerro de la Cruz.

For these reasons, San Juan and San Pedro are commonly the top choices as a base for exploring Lake Atitlan.

San Pedro

San Pedro is the backpacker town of Lake Atitlan. With low-budget accommodations, an abundance of restaurants and bars, and an active nightlife, it is one of the most tourist-filled towns on the Lake. It is also the ideal town to base yourself if you are planning to do the Indian Nose summit hike, located not far from the town, or if you want to do Spanish lessons. 

San Pedro is home to some of the top-quality Spanish language schools and we had actually met several travelers who ended up taking lessons there. In fact, San Pedro is one of the towns with the most activity options including textile weaving, coffee plantation tours, painting classes, paddleboarding, and much more!

For all these reasons, San Pedro is one of the top choices as a base for exploring Lake Atitlan. The one drawback is that since it is a backpacker town, it can get quite noisy, crowded, and is less authentic culturally.

Other towns

There are other towns such as Santiago Atitlan, San Lucas, and Santa Catarina Palopó but they are not ideal bases due to their more remote location and distance from the main activities.

Best Hotel in Lake Atitlan?

As you can probably tell, we absolutely loved Casa Del Mundo and would 100% recommend staying there. Make sure to reserve far in advance as the rooms do book up quickly. Also, if you get the chance, try to stay in room #17. It has the best views of the lake and volcano directly from your bed as well as on your private balcony.

When we tried to reserve, they did not have room #17 for our entire stay so we ended up booking another room for one day, and room #17 for the other three days. Fortunately, in the end, they must’ve had a cancellation because they contacted us a month in advance to say we could remain in room #17 for our entire stay. Yay!

Here are a couple of other hotels that we would highly recommend and have heard great feedback on:

For more highly recommended hotels in Lake Atitlan, click below:

Best time to go to Lake Atitlan?

The dry season of Guatemala lasts from early November until late May, and is generally considered the best time to visit. During these months, there is minimal rain, abundant and long hours of sunshine, and the temperatures are ideal at around 27 degrees Celsius. We went in late November and the weather was perfect!

How to get around Lake Atitlan?

The primary means of transportation around the different towns of Lake Atitlan is by public or private boats. The public boat shuttle operates from 6:30-17:30 and will pick up passengers at any dock along the way. 

To hail a boat, just simply stand by the dock and wave at the boat when it is coming by to signal that you need transportation. As they approach, they will ask where you are going. If the town you are going to is in the same direction they are heading, then they will come pick you up. Otherwise, they will let you know when the next boat is coming in the opposite direction.

 We’ve never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a boat. The rates vary according to distance but usually are around 20-25Q per person.

Where to go after Lake Atitlan?

After Lake Atitlan, most travelers will continue on to see the beautiful city of Antigua where Volcano Acatenango is or head to the capital of Guatemala City.

Make sure to also go to northern Guatemala to see the incredible Mayan city of Tikal and Yaxha. Flores serves as an amazing base for exploring that area and here we highlight an ideal itinerary in Flores.

If you have additional time while heading north, you can also make a stop at the beautiful rivers of Semuc Champey.

In either case, make sure to check out our post about whether Guatemala is expensive to visit so you can get an idea of how much all the main activities and hotels cost.

Summary: 5 days in Lake Atitlan Itinerary

This completes our guide on how to spend 5 wonderful days in Lake Atitlan.

This is truly a magical place and we were really sad to have to leave after 5 days there. Make sure to check out some of the other incredible places we got to visit in Guatemala including the Mayan city of Tikal, Flores, and Antigua.

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