By air
La Aurora International (GUA), ~3 h by road
North America · Guatemala
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
A highland lake ringed by volcanoes and villages
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to April — dry with clear mornings
Don't miss
Panajachel
San Juan La Laguna
Santiago Atitlán
Indian Nose
Things to do
Boat rides between villages
Kayaking
Hiking
Weaving and coffee cooperative visits
Where to eat
What to pack
Warm layers, walking shoes, sunscreen
A quieter corner
Santa Cruz La Laguna, a hillside village reached by boat
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lake Atitlán?
November to April — dry with clear mornings. What to pack: Warm layers, walking shoes, sunscreen.
How do I get to Lake Atitlán?
Fly into La Aurora International (GUA), ~3 h by road.
What is there to do in Lake Atitlán?
Boat rides between villages, kayaking, hiking, weaving and coffee cooperative visits. A quieter find: Santa Cruz La Laguna, a hillside village reached by boat.
What should I eat in Lake Atitlán?
Fresh lake fish, pepián, tamales, coffee grown on the volcano slopes.
About Lake Atitlán
- Lakeside
- Mountains
Where it is
Lake Atitlán is a large lake in the western highlands of Guatemala, filling a volcanic crater and ringed by three volcanoes and a string of Maya villages.
History
The lake fills a caldera formed by a huge volcanic eruption tens of thousands of years ago. Before the Spanish conquest in the 1520s its shores were held by Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel Maya kingdoms, whose descendants still live in the towns around the lake.
People
The lake's people are mostly Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel Maya who speak their own languages and Spanish, and many still wear traditional woven clothing and farm coffee, maize and vegetables.
Known for
- Three volcanoes over the water
- Maya villages and weaving
- Sunrise from Indian Nose
- Boat trips between villages
Did you know?
Lake Atitlán is one of the deepest lakes in Central America, and its waters lie in a crater formed by an ancient eruption.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.