Lake Atitlan Communities

Around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, there are several communities all with different vibes and culture that draw in travelers from all over the world. Here’s my take on the ones I went to:

San Pedro

Partying. Backpacking. Steep hills that make your lungs feel like they’re on fire, but tuktuks to help you get up those hills. Oftentimes boats will stop in San Pedro to connect to other ports. You should also know that San Pedro has two ports, one is the “main” port that faces San Marcos, the other is a smaller one that faces Santiago. I learned the hard way that I got off at the wrong stop, but luckily I met a man named Kiwi who just drove me to Santiago through the mountains on the back of his motorcycle. A good morning. San Pedro is known for having great party hostels and a good atmosphere for younger travelers.

On your way into the port you can see people paddle boarding and doing other water sports on the lake. If I were to go back to Lake Atitlan (which I totally will one day) I think San Pedro seems like the place to be.

San Juan

Known for the colorful flags zig zagging across the street, San Juan is best known for its amazing street markets. If you’re looking for some good shopping and colorful photos, San Juan is the place to go. Of course, this community also has extremely steep hills, but with a good climb comes a great view.

I stopped into San Juan for a few hours to check out the markets and get some food. The view from literally any restaurant at the top of the market street is amazing. The people were so friendly to me, I had broken my toe and likely fractured another when I visited. The top right of my right foot was completely black with bruising. A taxi driver even gave me a free ride down the hill because I was limping so badly. Kind people, good markets, colorful streets, and amazing views… that’s San Juan.

San Marcos

Hippie City. I stayed in San Marcos during my stay on the lake. Now, I’m pretty hippie, but I’m “walk in the street barefoot and wear colorful clothes hippie” this place is “drum circle white people with dreadlocks hippie” and while that’s fine, it was a little much for me. I also found San Marcos to be a little more expensive than the other places around the lake, particularly the shopping (a guy tried to charge me $15 for a plastic hair clip and $9 for a single coaster) I got the same coaster in San Juan for $2 a piece. The actual town of San Marcos is not hilly at all, it’s quieter than the other communities as San Marcos is known for peace, meditation, and yoga.

This is why I chose San Marcos- I love yoga. I took a class at a place called Eagle’s Nest. While it was a little expensive for a class, you do get the bang for your buck. I took a class with Hannah and it started at 7:15-7:45 meditation, followed by a 15 minute break, then 8:00-9:30 yoga for $20 USD. The view is incredible and I loved Hannah’s teaching. Obviously I had a broken toe so I had to modify the class quite a bit, but Hannah’s flows were easy to follow and easy enough to modify it to be easier or harder based on your level of flexibility and strength.

I stayed at ATI Beach Hostel… 3/10. Quite pricey for what you’re getting. But there was a drum circle every night that was quite peaceful to listen to. If you’re not into partying and are looking for a more peaceful lake experience, if you’re into meditation, yoga, and living hippie for a few days, then I would definitely recommend San Marcos.

Santiago

I don’t have a lot to say on Santiago, just because I didn’t spend much time there, but it seemed quite local. I didn’t see many backpackers or travelers around. Santiago is a little harder to get to because the boats stop in San Pedro first and they are far less frequent. The boats also stop in Pana before heading anywhere else. Santiago was fine, it was just a little out of the way, but if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, you might find you like it there.

Pana

The first stop. If you’re coming from Antigua, you’ll likely find yourself catching the boat from Panajanchel (aka Pana). It is the most popular way of getting anywhere on the lake. Pana has some cute shops, but as it’s the transit community, they’re a little pricey. I don’t really know anyone who stays in Pana, but when I go back I think I would like to look at it a little more.

When I broke my toe I walked around Pana trying to find a doctor (ultimately unsuccessful), but other than the excruciating pain in my right foot, it was a nice walk!