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Guatemala’s magic volcanic crater lake, Lake Atitlan, is often referred to as a singular place, but in reality, it’s a collection of almost a dozen towns scattered around the lake’s shoreline.
Each of the towns of Lake Atitlan has a completely unique personality, and we couldn’t believe how different they all felt.
They are populated by different Maya groups, with different clothing, languages and industries. Some towns are renowned for weaving, others for pottery or painting, some for coffee and agriculture.
The towns are also diverse in their landscapes and attractions, and the type of travellers they attract, from bustling tourist hubs to backpacker party towns or spiritual hippy havens. Certain towns offer excellent volcano views, while others are nestled on the volcano slopes.
Planning a visit here can be overwhelming and confusing, and it takes some time to wrap your head around all the different Lake Atitlan villages. Throw in the fact that most of them have a very similar name ‘San X la Laguna’, and your head will most likely be spinning, I know mine was!
I encourage you to visit multiple towns around Lake Atitlan, and it’s easy to travel between them via lancha boat. But unless you have multiple weeks, you probably won’t be able to see all 11 towns on the lake. So how do you know which towns to choose?!
This post is designed to give you an overview of each of the towns on Lake Atitlan, including what it is best known for and its main attractions, so you can narrow down which ones you’d like to visit most.
Towns around Lake Atitlan
In an anti-clockwise, east-west direction from the main town of Panajachel:
- 🛺 Panajachel: the bustling tourist hub
- 🌋 Santa Cruz la Laguna: the best volcano views and peaceful accommodations
- 🛶 Jaibailito: the secluded village
- 🌿 Tzununa: the permaculture hub
- 🧘🏼♀️ San Marcos la Laguna: the spiritual hippy haven
- 🌈 San Juan la Laguna: the prettiest town on the lake
- 🎒 San Pedro la Laguna: the backpacker hub
- 🛍️ Santiago Atitlan: the biggest local town
- ☕️ San Lucas Toliman: the forgotten town
- 🏺 San Antonio Palopo: the pottery town
- 🌀 Santa Catarina Palopo: the blue town
The post is designed to help you choose which Lake Atitlan towns you’d like to visit during your time at the lake, not which town is best to base yourself in. That decision raises a whole host of other questions and different factors to consider, so if you’re trying to choose which village is the best to stay in, check out my other article: Where to Stay in Lake Atitlan: Best Towns + Hotels
Planning a trip to Lake Atitlan
STOP! Before you keep reading this summary of the Lake Atitlan towns, I’d recommend reading our Lake Atitlan travel guide first. It covers important info you need to know about the lake, like getting there, getting around via the lancha boats or by land, and handy tips about the area.
OUR LAKE ATITLAN TRAVEL GUIDES 💙🌋
11 Villages around Lake Atitlan
Panajachel
Affectionally known as ‘Pana’, Panajachel is the most popular and well-known town on the lake. Considered the gateway to Lake Atitlan, most tourists will pass through this bustling town at least once.
It’s got the best road connections to the rest of the country, so the majority of tourist shuttles and chicken buses arrive via Pana. Boats connect from here to all the towns around Lake Atitlan, and some of the nearby villages are accessible by road.
Pana is hectic. It’s busy, bustling and noisy at all times of the day and night. The main street, Calle Santander, is lined with travel agencies touting shuttles and tours, market stalls and souvenir shops spilling out into the street and tuk-tuks flying by.
The plus side of this is that there are a lot of affordable accommodations, an array of international restaurants and excellent cafes, and all the amenities you won’t find in more remote villages, like solid wifi, ATMs, supermarkets etc.
It’s also the jump-off point for most of the tours around the lake, like ATV tours, guided village tours, paragliding etc., so if you’re a tour kind of person vs independent explorer, Pana is a good place to be.
You’d be forgiven for questioning the supposed ‘magic’ of the lake when you arrive in Pana, but stroll towards the lakeshore for your first glimpse of the looming volcanoes and your faith will be restored. Despite its frantic energy, Pana enjoys one of the best vantage points on the lake for volcano gazing and its waterfront promenade area is a lovely place to be.
Top things to do in Panajachel
- 🌋 Stroll the waterfront promenade: Pana has a lovely boardwalk area on the lakefront, with lots of lookouts, photo props and fantastic views of the volcanoes.
- 🛍️ Shop till you drop: the streets of Pana are lined with market stalls and tourist shops, and if you want to buy souvenirs, this is the place to do it. Start on Calle Santander and work your way out from there.
- 🌿 Visit Reserva Natural Atitlan, a private nature reserve with suspension bridges and zip lines. Atitlan Nature Reserve is also a great place to spot wildlife like coatis, monkeys, and butterflies.
- 🪂 Go paragliding over the lake: get some incredible views of Lake Atitlan and its volcanoes from the sky on a tandem paraglide. They launch from the hillside above Pana. Realworld Paragliding is a reputable operator.
- 🧶 Visit Chichicastenango Market: Pana is the best jump-off point to visit Guatemala’s largest market. It’s the closest road connection and tourist shuttles and public transport depart frequently from Pana on market days (Thursday and Sunday).
Best places to eat in Panajachel
- ☕️ Crossroads Cafe
- 🧇 The Little Spoon
- 🥪 Deli Jasmin
- 🍕 Circus Bar Pizza
- 🍛 Delhi 6 Curry
Where to stay in Panajachel
- 💰 Sociatel
- 💰💰 Jardines del Lago
- 💰💰💰 Hotel Atitlan
⭐️ Panajachel is one of the four towns I recommend staying in, read more about where to stay in Lake Atitlan
Santa Cruz la Laguna
Santa Cruz has hands down the best views on the lake. Sitting on its northwestern corner, you get a perfect vista of Volcan Toliman and Volcan Atitlan clustered together and Volcan San Pedro standing solitary.
The town of Santa Cruz la Laguna sits above the lake, up a very steep hill best tackled via tuk-tuk. It’s a primarily Kaqchiquel Maya town, with a handful of tasty restaurants, some nice street art to explore and spectacular elevated views of the lake. There isn’t much to do and there are few amenities, but that’s the beauty of it.
The appeal of Santa Cruz is the handful of lakeside accommodations, some of the best and most popular on the lake. Ranging from hostels like Free Cerveza to luxury lodges like Casa Prana, this is the place to be for a few days of complete peace and tranquillity. It’s the perfect place to launch a kayak or SUP and paddle under the shadow of the volcanoes.
We spent a few days staying in Santa Cruz and I think it was my favourite part of the lake. It’s best complimented with a few days in another, more bustling town as it is quite remote, and once you get there, it’s hard to drag yourself away from those special views so you won’t really get much sightseeing done!
Top things to do in Santa Cruz
- 🛶 Watersports: this is the best place on the lake to kayak or paddleboard, with epic views of the volcanoes. Most lakeside accommodations offer kayaks or SUPs, otherwise, Los Elementos at the main dock in town is a great place to rent.
- 🎨 Stroll the town: perched on the top of a steep hill, Santa Cruz has stunning lake and volcano views, with some colourful street art to explore.
- 🥾 Hike the Lower Mayan Trail: this popular hiking trail starts in Santa Cruz and passes through Jaibailto and Tzununa, before ending at San Marcos. Hike independently following the route on AllTrails, or go with a local guide.
Best places to eat in Santa Cruz
- 🌋 Cafe Sabor Cruceño
- 🌮 Holy Tortillas
- 🌱 Okaniko
Where to stay in Santa Cruz
- 💰 Free Cerveza
- 💰💰 Atitlan Sunset Lodge
- 💰💰💰 Casa Prana
⭐️ Santa Cruz is one of the four towns I recommend staying in, read more about where to stay in Lake Atitlan
Jaibailito
Right next door to Santa Cruz and offering a very similar vibe and views, Jaibalito is even smaller. Inaccessible by car, you can only reach Jaibalito by boat or walking.
It’s not a place to come to do anything, but if you’re looking for a few days of total relaxation, enjoying the volcano views, swimming and paddling in the lake and unwinding, Jaibalito is a great spot.
It’s probably not a town you’d visit if you weren’t staying here, as it doesn’t really offer any attractions as such, although you pass through if you hike the Lower Mayan Trail from Santa Cruz to San Marcos.
Top things to do in Jaibalito
- 🌴 Have a meal at La Casa del Mundo: even if you’re not staying in Jaibalito, visiting La Casa del Mundo is a very popular thing to do in Lake Atitlan. The hotel grounds are stunning, and this part of the lake is one of the cleanest and nicest for swimming. They no longer offer whole day passes, but you can book to have breakfast or lunch there and spend 3 hours. You must pre-book via WhatsApp at +502 5204 5558.
- 🥾 Hike: access to Jaibalito is by boat or foot only, no roads, no cars. You can connect with Santa Cruz or San Marcos on the Lower Mayan Trail.
- ☀️ Chill: enjoy the view, lay in a hammock, read a book, gaze at the volcanoes. You don’t come to Jaibalito to do stuff! You come here to relax.
Best places to eat in Jaibalito
- 🍛 Posada Jaibalito (aka Han’s Place)
- 🌯 Bistro Indigo
- ☕️ Cafe El Escondido
Where to stay in Jaibalito
Tzununa
Tzununa is the smaller, more laidback alternative to neighbouring San Marcos. Where San Marcos has been completely overrun by New Age foreigners, Tzununa is a better example of how tourists/expats and locals can coexist, whilst maintaining their cultural heritage and societal norms.
Tzununa has a similar type of natural and spiritual appeal to San Marcos, but it manifests as permaculture farming, natural building and herbalism. The town is popular for longer stays to do courses in these fields.
There are a handful of yoga studios and a small collection of beautiful, natural accommodation options. There’s no hustle in Tzununa.
Top things to do in Tzununa
- 🥾 Hike: Tzununa is primarily explored on foot, so everywhere you go will be a bit of a hike! You can walk to neighbouring San Marcos, or connect with the Lower Mayan Trail to Santa Cruz. There is a waterfall in the wet season you can hike to as well, Tzununa Waterfall.
- 🧘🏼♀️ Do yoga: Tzununa shares the same spiritual vibe as San Marcos, just without the extra gringoes. Doron Yoga and The Seed Habitat are beautiful spaces to practice yoga with volcano views.
Best places to eat in Tzununa
- 🌯 Restaurante Balam
- 🥨 La Pretzeleria
- ☕️ Tres Cielos Cafeteria
Where to stay in Tzununa
San Marcos la Laguna
Universally known as the ‘hippy town’, San Marcos is a magnet for New Age and spiritual types. Personally, we hated this town and felt so ashamed to be white tourists here. Any shred of the Indigenous identity and culture has been stripped from the town, in favour of gringo-fied woo-woo crap that supposedly spreads ‘love and peace’ to the world, but has no consideration for the local community and culture.
I think San Marcos is worth visiting for a day and there are a few redeeming qualities to the town. It does have excellent volcano views, and the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve is a beautiful natural area on the shores of the lake with some leafy jungle and clear blue waters. It’s the best place to swim, and if you’re brave, there’s an 8-metre diving platform!
We took a yoga class at Eagle’s Nest, with it so frequently being advertised as one of the best things to do in Lake Atitlan. I’m glad we did, as there is no denying the yoga deck has one of the best views in all of the lake, but we still left the town with a bad taste in our mouths.
Top things to do in San Marcos
- 🧘🏼♀️ Take a yoga class: being the spiritual haven of Lake Atitlan, San Marcos is a popular place to take a yoga class. There are dozens of studios, but Eagle’s Nest is a very popular choice. The views from their yoga deck speak for themselves and we felt it lived up to the hype. Kawoq Forest is a popular alternative.
- 💦 Cerro Tzankujil: this nature reserve is one of the best places to swim on the lake. The water is clean and clear, and there is an 8-metre diving platform if you’re brave. Find a cosy spot on the rocky cliffside and spend an afternoon swimming and sunning.
- 💆🏼♀️ Join a wellness retreat: yoga, meditation, sound bathing, cacao ceremonies, reiki, chakra alignment, massage, full moon dances – the list is endless. If you need some spiritual nurturing, San Marcos is your place. Whether it’s a one-off session or a multi-day retreat, the options are endless.
Best places to eat in San Marcos
- 🥘 Samsara’s Garden
- ☕️ Circles Cafe + Bakery
- 🌮 Comedor Atitlan
- 🌯 Burrito House y Tio Lio Kaphe
- 🍝 Vida
Where to stay in San Marcos
- 💰 ATI Hostel & Beach Club (formerly Hostel del Lago)
- 💰💰 Lush Atitlan
- 💰💰💰 Kula Maya Boutique Hotel & Spa
⭐️ San Marcos is one of the four towns a lot of travellers stay in, read more about where to stay in Lake Atitlan
San Juan la Laguna
San Juan is GORGEOUS! The rainbow town of the lake, it blew all my expectations out of the water. The Tz’utujil Maya of San Juan are creative dynamites, with a history of weaving and painting, and man have they put their skills on display!
It’s only in recent years that the town has come up with creative ways to showcase its skills and traditions to attract more tourists. It’s worked – San Juan is now a mainstay town on any Lake Atitlan itinerary and you must carve out at least half a day to wander its colourful streets.
The most popular attraction is the Mirador Kaqasiiwaan, a vibrantly painted observation deck with spectacular views of the lake. It’s a steep climb up, but it is so worth it. You can easily while away a few hours exploring the rainbow streets around town, taking countless photos, and, if you’re anything like me, squealing in delight as you turn the corner into yet another picturesque street!
Browse art galleries, visit a weaving cooperative or take a coffee tour to get a deeper understanding of life in San Juan, and be sure to enjoy a meal or coffee at one of the many great restaurants.
Top things to do in San Juan
- 🌈 Mirador Kaqasiiwaan: also known as Cerro de la Cruz, this gorgeous lookout is covered in colourful murals depicting the Maya culture of San Juan. The walk uphill will have you puffing, but the views of the lake are all worth it, I promise!
- ☂️ Explore the town: San Juan is painfully gorgeous. I couldn’t contain my excitement as we discovered street after street full of rainbow murals, hanging decorations, painted pavement – it is so, so beautiful and you can easily spend a couple of hours getting lost here. Check out Calle de las Sombrillas (Umbrella Street) and Calle de los Sombreros (Hat Street).
- ☕️ Coffee tour: coffee is an important part of life all over Lake Atitlan (and Guatemala for that matter) and many of the Maya communities farm coffee. San Juan is a great place to learn more about this delicious drink, and you can tour of a nearby plantation. El Tata Cafe runs an excellent tour.
- 🧶 Weaving demonstration: San Juan is a great place to learn more about textiles and weaving, with the traditional backstrap loom technique. Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Cooperative is a good spot to visit for demonstrations and locally made pieces.
- 🎨 Shop for art: if the stunning murals around town didn’t give it away, San Juan has a great artist community. In addition to the street art, you can purchase paintings here. There are lots of galleries to browse and we were very tempted by a few pieces.
Best places to eat in San Juan
- 🍊 Caffe la Cabaña
- 🧀 El Artesano Queso y Vino
- 🍤 Utz Food
- 🍛 Alma de Colores
- ☕️ Cafe las Marias
Where to stay in San Juan
San Pedro la Laguna
San Pedro is traditionally known as the backpacker, party town on the lake. It’s not quite as big or busy as Panajachel, but it offers a plethora of cheap accommodations, international restaurants and cafes, all the necessary tourist amenities and enough activities to keep travellers busy.
A limited number of tourist shuttles and buses do arrive and depart here, so it’s possible to land directly in San Pedro and bypass Pana.
We’re not partiers, and we were hesitant to stay in San Pedro but it is one of the more common towns to stay in Lake Atitlan. We decided to give it a go for a few days, and we really think the reputation is overhyped. It may have been more wild back in the day, but we actually really enjoyed San Pedro and didn’t find it overwhelmingly party-centric. We chose an accommodation on the outskirts of town and slept like babies!
These days it’s a popular place for long-term travellers to slow down for a few weeks and take Spanish classes. Not quite as colourful as San Juan, but we loved exploring the street art and you can’t take more than a few steps without glimpsing a view of the lake, with spacious terraces perched above the water.
One thing it lacks is volcano views, and it (randomly?) has a big Israeli expat community that owns many of the businesses, which locals have mixed feelings about.
The backpackers are typically confined to the area directly around the lake and main dock. If you take a walk up a steep hill, you’ll find a completely different town, where traditional Tz’utujil Maya life unfolds around the market and Parque La Puerta Hermosa.
Top things to do in San Pedro
- 🌅 Indian Nose Hike: Indian Nose is a popular sunrise hike that can be started from a number of towns around Lake Atitlan but San Pedro is a good option as it’s relatively close by road to the trailhead and there are lots of tour companies offering the experience.
- 🌋 Hike San Pedro Volcano: a decent stretch of the legs, it takes around 2 – 3 hours to summit the volcano. The trailhead is a short tuk-tuk ride from town, and pending confirmation from the staff about the safety situation, you can hike it solo. This is the trail details on AllTrails.
- ♨️ Soak in hot springs: for resting weary muscles post-volcano hikes, there is a hot spring ‘spa’ in San Pedro, Los Termales. You can book massages and a soak in a hot pool overlooking the lake. Visit around sunset for some gorgeous views and golden lighting.
- 🌈 Stroll San Pedro town: San Pedro has a rep as the party backpacker town, and whilst this is true, we were surprised at how charming and pretty the town was. It doesn’t have the volcano views, but there are plenty of amazing murals, decorated streets and balconies overlooking the lake.
- ⛱️ Hang out at Sababa Resort: if you want to spend a day lazing by a pool, Sababa is a fancy resort with a restaurant and day pass option. Overlooking the lake it’s nice to feel bougie for a day.
Best places to eat in San Pedro
- 🥙 Pita Sabij
- 🥘 The Fifth Dimension
- 🍳 Sababa
- 🍛 Jakuu
- 🍝 Idea Connection
Where to stay in San Pedro
- 💰 Amigos
- 💰💰 Hotel Villa del Lago
- 💰💰💰 Sababa Resort
⭐️ San Pedro is one of the four towns I recommend staying in, read more about where to stay in Lake Atitlan
Santiago Atitlan
Santiago Atitlan is the largest town on the lake, with a population of over 70,000. It’s a local Tz’utujil Maya town, rarely visited by international tourists, but a great place to get an authentic glimpse of everyday life on the lake.
You’ll see the women dressed in their traditional attire, with colourful embroidered huipiles and skirts. A small number of the men in Santiago also don their traditional wear, which is not common in any other town.
The locals practice a syncretist religion, blending Maya beliefs with Catholicism. One of the most prominent displays of this is a life-sized effigy of the deity Maximon, who moves house each year and receives offerings from the villagers.
Although Santiago doesn’t receive a lot of international visitors, the locals are certainly ready and waiting to offer a friendly, if not pushy, hand to new arrivals. Be prepared to be bombarded when you step off the boats and just kindly ignore and push past anyone hassling you.
Top things to do in Santiago
- 🛍️ Check out the market: Santiago is the biggest town on the lake, meaning market days (Friday and Sunday) are quite the spectacle. Spreading outwards from the main market building, the Mercado Municipal, this is a great glimpse into everyday life for the locals on the lake.
- 🕯️ See Maximon the Mayan deity: the town practices a syncretist religion, a combination of traditional Maya religion and Catholicism. One of their practices is to care for a life-sized effigy, known as Maximon. He moves house each year in May, any of the locals can point you in the right direction.
- 🥾 Go hiking: Santiago Atitlan is in a privileged position near two of the lake’s volcanoes, Atitlan and Toliman, as well as some shorter options like Cerro de Oro and Mirador de Tepepul, both offering great views, cloud forest and bird spotting opportunities. It’s best to go with a guide but you can browse all the trails on AllTrails.
Best places to eat in Santiago
- 🍗 Restaurante Cafe Arte
- ☕️ Cetcafe
- 🌮 Taco Mar
Where to stay in Santiago
- 💰 Casa Gonzalez
- 💰💰 Hotel Tiosh Abaj
- 💰💰💰 Hotel Bambu
San Lucas Toliman
San Lucas Toliman is almost entirely forgotten about in any mention of the towns in Lake Atitlan. Tucked in a bay in the southeastern corner of the lake, San Lucas is a very local town that receives few visitors.
Unless you’ve got weeks on the lake you probably won’t have time to visit, we didn’t, but if you really want to peel back another layer of authenticity and relaxation, San Lucas looks like a nice place to do.
A coffee town through and through, and you can visit the social collective Cafe Juan Ana to learn about all things coffee, from growing, processing, drying, roasting and of course – tasting.
Top things to do in San Lucas Toliman
- 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Visit the San Lucas Mission: aka Friends of San Lucas, this local social collective has a range of community programs, like a school, medical facility, women’s centre and more to improve the lives of the locals and raise the community out of poverty.
- ☕️ Coffee tour at Cafe Juan Ana: learn about all things coffee on a tour of the Cafe Juan Ana facility where local coffee is grown and processed.
- 🌋 Hike Volcan Toliman: the name is a giveaway that San Lucas Toliman is one of the best launching points to hike Volcan Toliman. Go with a local guide.
Best places to eat in San Lucas Toliman
- 🌮 Food stalls in Parque Central
- 🐟 El Bodegon del Lago
- 🍛 Restaurant Hotel Toliman
Where to stay in San Lucas Toliman
San Antonio Palopo
San Antonio Palopo is often overshadowed by its more colourful neighbour, Santa Catarina Palopo, but this town is worth a visit too.
Known as the pottery town, the residents of San Antonio Palopo produce some of the country’s finest pottery and ceramics, most decorated in the town’s traditional blue and green colourings.
It’s a very small town, populated by the Cakchiquel Maya, most in traditional dress going about their daily business. There isn’t a lot to offer in the way of attractions, but strolling the streets of this hillside town, checking out the beautiful Iglesia de San Antonio Palopo and enjoying the views of the lake can easily while away a few hours.
Top things to do in San Antonio Palopo
- 🏺 Shop for pottery: there are a handful of ceramic shops around town with gorgeous pieces for sale. You will usually be lucky enough to see the locals at work, and they give short demonstrations. Ceramica Palopo Multicolor is a good place to start.
- 🌀 Stroll the town: it’s not quite as brightly painted as Santa Catarina Palopo, but the winding and narrow streets are fun to explore. Be warned – it’s steep!
- ⛪️ Iglesia de San Antonio Palopo: this gorgeous white church is the heart of town, and there are some beautiful views of the lake and volcano from its elevated vantage point.
Best places to eat in San Antonio Palopo
- 🍛 Paulina’s Restaurant
- 🥟 Restaurant Hotel Terrazas del Lago
- 🍗 Rene’s Pizza & Pollo Campestre
Where to stay in San Antonio Palopo
Santa Catarina Palopo
Santa Catarina Palopo has become a very popular town to visit, thanks to a local initiative Pintando el Cambio (Painting the Change) to paint the town in vibrant colours and patterns to encourage tourism.
The project painted all 850 houses and buildings in the town, and the local families chose the colours and traditional Maya symbols they wanted on their houses. Most are shades of blue, green and purple which gives a beautiful cohesive look.
Your first port of call in town should be the Pintando el Cambio museum where you can get some background on the project and the symbols before you start exploring the town! You only need a few hours here, but it’s a gorgeous place to stroll and we happily got lost in the colourful streets and alleyways.
Santa Catarina has a privileged location on the lake with some epic views of the volcano. Their lakeshore has a nice grassy lawn that was the perfect place to sit and read for a few hours. There’s also a section of thermal waters on the lake here.
Top things to do in Santa Catarina Palopo
- 🌈 Explore the colourful town: this little Maya town is a rainbow of colours and patterns as a result of a local initiative Pintando el Cambio (Painting the Change) to encourage more tourism. We loved exploring the narrow alleyways and colourful buildings. Visit the museum first to understand the symbols painted all over town.
- ම Centro Cultura: this informal but interesting cultural centre is staffed by members of the community, where they give a brief intro to the town, its history and the culture of the local Maya.
- ♨️ Hot springs: not a spa-style spring, but rather a section of warm thermal waters on the shore of the lake near town. The waterfront area is nice and grassy with spectacular volcano views.
- 👀 Mirador Santa Catarina: a steep walk or short tuk-tuk ride to this mirador above the town, overlooking the lake, Panajachel and the volcanoes.
Best places to eat in Santa Catarina Palopo
- ☕️ Cafe TUK
- 🍕 Chelo’s Pizza
- 🍛 Casa Museo
Where to stay in Santa Catarina Palopo
How to travel between the Lake Atitlan villages
- 🚤 Boat: this is the easiest, quickest and most scenic way to travel between the towns on Lake Atitlan. Water taxis or lanchas zoom across the lake in daylight hours, stopping at docks in the villages and major hotels and hostels. Prices vary depending on your route, but most trips are between 10 – 30Q. It can be a little intimidating working out the system, knowing how much to pay, when to pay etc. so be sure to read my lancha survival tips in my Lake Atitlan travel guide.
- 👣 Walk: you can walk between a few towns, such as San Pedro – San Juan, or along the Lower Mayan Trail which runs from Santa Cruz – Jaibalito – Tzununa – San Marcos. Be aware when walking between towns as robberies have occurred in the past.
- 🛺 Tuk-tuk: you can also use tuk-tuks to travel between towns, most commonly San Pedro – San Juan or Tzununa – San Marcos.
- 🚛 Camioneta (pickup truck): these colectivo 4×4 vehicles (sometimes called ‘carros’ or ‘colectivos’) are the most common way to travel between Panajachel – Santa Catarina Palopo – San Antonio Palopo. They depart from around the Despensa Familiar supermarket.
- 🚌 Chicken bus: there are some local chicken buses that run routes between certain towns around the lake. It’s unlikely you’d use them as the more common routes are between local towns like Santiago – San Lucas Toliman, or from Panajachel to inland destinations like Solola or Chichicastenango.
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Towns of Lake Atitlan: Final thoughts
Lake Atitlan is such a multi-faceted and diverse destination, which we didn’t really understand until we visited. We loved exploring a handful of the towns around Lake Atitlan and only wish we had time to see them all.
I hope this post has clarified the towns of Lake Atitlan, helped you visualise the layout of the lake, understand how you can get around and narrowed down your list of towns to visit.
We’ve got a more in-depth post about choosing which town to stay in (an even tougher decision!), including information about the best hotels and hostels. We’ve also got a post about the best things to do in Lake Atitlan, that sums up the top experiences across the entire lake.
MORE LAKE ATITLAN POSTS
- Lake Atitlan Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
- Lake Atitlan Itinerary: How to Spend 7, 5 or 3 Nights
- Where to Stay in Lake Atitlan: Best Towns and Hotels
- 21 Best Things to Do in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
- Indian Nose Hike: The Best Sunrise in Lake Atitlan
