11 AWESOME Things To Do In Lake Atitlan, Guatemala (2024)

Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlan) is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world that sits inside a massive volcanic crater!

Apart from the many great things to do in Lake Atitlan, the landscape here is other-worldly. Seeing it with your own eyes is a sight to behold.

Surrounded by several cone-like volcanoes and verdant cliff faces, I guarantee that once you arrive you won’t want to leave.

11 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN LAKE ATITLAN

I have put together this complete guide of 11 Awesome Things To Do In Lake Atitlan to help you plan your trip!

Also, at the bottom of this guide, I have included some useful information on how to get here, the best time to visit, and recommended places to stay.

GO KAYAKING ON LAKE ATITLAN

One of the best things to do in Lake Atitlan when you arrive is to grab a kayak and paddle out into the middle of the lake.

It’s the perfect way to get your bearings and realize just how small you are inside this massive volcanic crater lake.

Kayaks can be rented for as little as 15 Quetzal per hour. Simply head down to the main pier in San Pedro, or the main pier at the other lakeside villages, and you’ll be sure to find a local renting out his kayaks.

Alternatively, you can ask the receptionist at your accommodation to point you in the right direction of where to find a kayak rental.

I personally went kayaking on Lake Atitlan when I was staying in Santa Cruz for the night and the view of Volcán de Atitlan and Volcán San Pedro is absolutely phenomenal from this side of the lake!

HAVE LUNCH AT SABABA RESTAURANT

After burning all those calories kayaking on the lake there is no doubt you’ll need to refuel your engine.

Sababa Restaurant, in my opinion, has the best-tasting food in San Pedro at a very affordable price. 

The cuisine at Sababa Restaurant is Israeli-inspired with a range of different food and drink options to suit everyone’s taste buds.

My favorite dishes that I tried were the hummus with pita bread, a bowl of couscous with vegetables, and the chicken schnitzel burger. Mmm, just talking about it makes my mouth water!

Find All → Accommodations in Lake Atitlan

Besides the delicious cuisine at Sababa Restaurant San Pedro, you’ll have an incredible view of the lake from your table and the perfect opportunity for an Instagram-worthy shot!

For the early risers, Sababa San Pedro offers a breakfast menu and delicious coffee which is locally sourced from the area surrounding Lago Atitlan. 

HIKE TO INDIAN NOSE VIEWPOINT

Another one of the most unmissable things to do in Lake Atitlan is to hike to the Indian Nose viewpoint (La Nariz) for sunrise, boasting panoramic views of the entire crater lake and its surrounding villages.

Indian Nose is the most popular short hike among tourists visiting Lago Atitlan, taking only 30 to 40 minutes to reach the top.

Indian Nose mountain is located in San Juan, the next village across the lake from the more popular town of San Pedro.

The mountain is easily distinguished from a distance when you tilt your head horizontally, revealing a Mayan face with a large pointy nose. 

You can book your hike to Indian Nose with one of the many tour operators dotted along the main street in San Pedro for around 80-100 Quetzal.

It’s not overly expensive to go with a tour guide, even for travelers on a budget and the adventure is 100% worth it.

I recommend doing a sunrise hike to Indian Nose with a tour guide as opposed to DIY for two reasons:

1) When booking a tour to Indian Nose, it includes a hotel pick-up in San Pedro at 4:00 am, a 30-minute drive to the trailhead in San Juan, and an experienced guide leading the correct way up to the viewpoint in the dark.

2) Apparently, there have been some cases of tourists being robbed when they were on their own without a guide which isn’t ideal but it has happened. For a safer and more enjoyable experience, it’s better to have a guide.

I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance, especially when traveling in South America. Safety first!

Climbing to the summit of Indian Nose takes no more than 30 to 40 minutes for the average person and the view from the top is absolutely breathtaking.

Watch the sun as it rises over the rim of the crater and fills the lake with its beaming rays!

TAKE A BOAT TO THE LAKE ATITLAN VILLAGES

There are more than a dozen villages dotted around the edges of Lago de Atitlan and you can spend an entire day boat-hopping from one to the other.

It’s a great way to spend your time when looking for what to do in Lake Atitlan. 

For the majority of travelers staying in San Pedro, you can cruise around the lake with the use of the public boats in a clockwise direction for as little as 10 Quetzal per ride.

Head down to the main pier to catch a ride with boats departing every 15 minutes.

The same goes for those travelers not staying in San Pedro, just head to the main pier in the village where you are residing and jump on board one of the public boats that frequent Lago de Atitlan.

The most popular villages to visit are San Juan, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, and Panajachel, each offering a different vibe and experience from the last. 

My favorite pick of the many villages is San Marcos and Santa Cruz. There is a really good vibe happening at San Marcos with lots of yoga retreats, vegan cafes, colorful street art, and artisanal markets selling handwoven garments.

As for Santa Cruz, there isn’t as much of a happening scene here compared to San Pedro and San Marcos, but it does offer the best views of the lake from this side.

Book Now → Lake Atitlan Boat Tour

RENT A STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD

Another fun-fuelled activity to add to your list of things to do in Lake Atitlan is renting a stand-up paddleboard and cruising out into the middle of the lake.

SUP boards can typically be rented from the same place as you rent kayaks down by the main pier in San Pedro or from the main pier in the other villages. 

The cost of a stand-up paddleboard is around 60 Quetzal per hour and the best time to go is early morning before 11:00 am.

Usually, around lunchtime, it gets very windy on the lake making it choppy and difficult to balance.

SPEND THE DAY AT SABABA RESORT

Sababa Resort is a brand new beach club-style resort located right on the water’s edge in San Pedro la Laguna.

For just 50 Quetzal, outside guests can access the pool, bar, restaurant, and billiards table at Sababa Resort for a full day of relaxing under the sun.

Dor, the owner of Sababa Resort, has created an architectural masterpiece with the pool and surrounding gardens making it a very Instagrammable location!

Be sure to have a fully charged battery on your camera to get some shots!

For lunch and drinks, you are spoiled for options on the menu here, offering a wide range of western-style meals, refreshing cocktails, and ice-cold beers. 

If you wish to spend a night or two at Sababa Resort, they have dorm rooms, family rooms, and deluxe suites available to choose from for an unforgettable stay.

WALK AROUND LAGO DE ATITLAN

If you’re up for a bit of an adventure during your visit to Lago de Atitlan, throw on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and set off to explore the outside edges of the lake at your own pace.

Depending on where you are staying on the lake there are many different walking trails to be found between the villages.

The best part is that if your legs get too tired to make the return journey you can jump on a public boat for 10 Quetzal to zip you across the lake back to where you started.

WATERSPORTS ON LAKE ATITLAN

This one is for the adventure-seekers looking for what to do in Lake Atitlan.

There are so many epic watersports activities available on the lake that will keep you entertained for an entire day!

There is one main tour operator in San Pedro that I can recommend called ‘Get Wet Atitlan’ offering a wide selection of watersports.

Here is a list of the most popular watersports to choose from including prices:

• Banana Boat – 60 Quetzal per hour
• Kayaking – 15 Quetzal
• Stand-up Paddleboard – 6o Quetzal
• Water Skiing – 450 Quetzal
• Paragliding – 650 Quetzal

Find All → Tours In Lake Atitlan

SPEND ONE NIGHT IN SANTA CRUZ

If you have the time, I highly recommend spending a night over on the opposite side of the lake in Santa Cruz.

It’s a more peaceful vibe than San Pedro and you won’t find much more here than a few small restaurants and lakeside resorts.

I personally stayed at Atitlan Sunset Lodge and can’t recommend this place enough! If you want to relax and unwind with stunning views on your doorstep then this is the perfect place to do so!

The rooms available at Atitlan Sunset Lodge are fully furnished apartments with a kitchen, fridge, dining and living area, sun terrace, large comfortable beds, and private bathrooms.

The best part is the million-dollar view of the lake through the window and Volcán San Pedro looms in the background!

Some other features at this epic accommodation are a hot tub, a chair swing on the end of the pier, and kayaks available for all guests to use free of charge.

TAKE SPANISH CLASSES

One of the most popular things to do in Lake Atitlan is to sign up for Spanish classes. Guatemala is, in fact, the best place in Central America to learn Spanish. 

The majority of travelers that I met during my time spent in Lago de Atitlan said they were there just to learn Spanish, and of course, to enjoy the lake.

Some were there for 1 week and some others were there for up to 4 weeks with all intentions of learning another language.

Whether you’re a complete beginner like me or already know some Spanish, there are classes available for all levels.

VISIT THE WOMAN WEAVERS 

Apart from Lago Atitlan being regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, it’s also widely known for its traditional textiles and garments that are handwoven by the local Mayan women.

In every village around the lake, you can find women weavers’ cooperative stores to get a closer look into the Mayan culture and the art of weaving.

You can also take a 2-hour class for around 100 Quetzal and learn how to do back-strap weaving.

The most popular village to visit the women weavers is San Juan, a short 5-minute boat ride across the lake from San Pedro la Laguna. 

Pop your head in, say hello, and take a few keepsake photos if anything.

HOW TO GET TO LAKE ATITLAN

Lgoe Atitlan can only be reached by road and the two most common routes for most tourists traveling Lago de Atitlan are from Antigua City in Guatemala and also from San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico.

ANTIGUA TO LAKE ATITLAN

There are daily buses and shuttles departing from Antigua and the journey time is around 2.5 hours to 3 hours depending on traffic. 

You can jump on a chicken bus (public bus) which is the cheapest way to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan, costing only 30 Quetzal.

Do note that if you take a chicken bus they tend to do a lot of pick-ups and drop-offs along the way which makes the journey a lot longer.

The other option is to book a shuttle bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan which is a more direct route in a minivan and the cost is 60 Quetzal.

I recommend this option as it’s much more comfortable and reliable.

SAN CRISTOBAL TO LAKE ATITLAN

Another common route for travelers heading to the lake is from San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico.

This is a much longer journey taking up to 14 hours on a shuttle bus, including a stop at the border of Mexico and Guatemala to pass through immigration. 

You have the option of doing this journey from San Cristobal to Lake Atitlan overnight or during the day.

Note: When crossing the border from Mexico into Guatemala there is a tourist tax of 558 MXN which must be paid at the immigration office in order to get an exit stamp.

Make sure to have this amount of cash on you to make the transition across the border hassle-free.

Citizens from over 80 countries will receive a FREE 90-day tourist visa when entering Guatemala. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE ATITLAN

Lago Atitlan typically has two seasons, Summer and Winter.

The best time to visit Lago de Atitlan is during the summer season which is from November until May.

There is minimal rainfall in summer and temperatures are generally in the mid-20 °C during the day and 15°C during the night. 

The Winter season is also the rainy season which typically runs from April and ends in October.

When it rains in winter it’s usually only an afternoon downpour and the rest of the day is sunny.

Temperatures are known to be quite cool during the day and night. 

LAKE ATITLAN MAP

WHAT TO PACK FOR LAGO DE ATITLAN

When visiting Lake Atitlan, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – THINGS TO DO IN LAKE ATITLAN

I hope you found this article useful and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically.

Many thanks!