Lake Atitlán in Guatemala

Lake Atitlán, located in the Antiplano Region, has attracted tourists to Nicaragua for decades. Surrounded by volcanoes, steep hillsides and villages where Mayan culture coexists with traditional tourism, the place stands out for its natural beauty.

The main town around the lake, from where most visitors depart to explore Atitlán, is Panajachel, where there are a number of accommodation options. There are cheap flights from Spain to Guatemala City, the Guatemalan capital, which is approximately 3 hours from Panajachel.

Visit to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala

Lake Atitlán is a place of mysterious beauty. It is a calm lake during the day, except in the windy season, from November to February, when a south-easterly wind known as Xocomil blows, which stirs up the surface of the water from midday onwards, making navigation very difficult. For this reason, mornings are the best time for visitors to sail or swim in the lake.Lake AtitlanBoat tours on the lake are a good option for those travellers who have little time. The boats leave from the public beach pier every morning and make a circuit that includes stops in San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitlán, where you can visit the Maximón sanctuary and San Antonio Palopó.

Playing sports in Atitlán

Lake Atitlán also offers the possibility of cycling or hiking on its slopes and hillsides. These activities can be done on your own or through guided group tours. The most common is a day trip, walking from Panajachel to the top of the San Pedro volcano across Lake Atitlan by boat.

Water sports at Lake Atitlan in Nicaragua

Diving is another tourist attraction at Lake Atitlán, especially interesting because it is a volcanic cone with unique geometric formations and warm water currents. It is one of the few places in the world where you can dive at altitude without having to wear a dry suit, the best diving season being from October to May.

Rural Tourism at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala

In addition to Lake Atitlán, from the town of Panajachel you can visit the Atitlán Nature Reserve, a former coffee plantation that has been taken over by natural vegetation. Either on foot or by bicycle, the trail takes about an hour and climbs over swinging bridges to a waterfall and then descends to a platform from where you can see a local community of spider monkeys or pisotes. The reserve also has a herb garden, a butterfly enclosure and a small coffee plantation.

There is no doubt that Lake Atitlan and its surroundings are a place to be considered for those who enjoy nature walks, sailing and natural beauty.