15 Epic Things To Do In Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

1. Go on the Indian Nose Hike

There are plenty of hikes lining the natural areas of Lake Atitlan, but none are as essential of an experience as the Indian Nose Hike. Getting its name from the mountain’s likeness to a side profile of a human face, The Indian Nose is considered a sacred place amongst the indigenous Mayan people and promises some of the most breathtaking views of the ancient volcanic lake.

The hike can be undertaken at any time of the day, but the best time to plan your summit is for sunrise. Similarly, visitors can try to complete the hike on their own, but booking a local guide is the easier option, especially if you plan on starting the trek in the dark.

Whether doing an independent hike or joining a group, all visitors must pay a Q50 admission fee to the farmer who owns the site.

2. Take a Water Taxi to the Different Towns

Another of the quintessential experiences of visiting Lake Atitlan is visiting some of the various villages and small towns in the ancient volcanic lake.

In total, there are 11 towns and villages lining Lake Atitlan, each boasting its own unique cultures, attractions, and identities. To reach each of these communities, visitors can either walk along the shoreline or take one of the water taxis that connect the docks of earth town. The latter is by far the faster and more convenient option.

While you are welcome to visit each village, these are some of the most popular amongst tourists.

San Pedro La Laguna: Vibrant village with friendly backpacker atmosphere
San Marcos La Laguna: Lake Atitlan’s ‘Hippie Town’ is popular for yoga retreats.
Santa Cruz La Laguna: Charming small village with upscale hotels
Santa Clara La Laguna: This small local village is perfect for starting hikes
Santiago Atitlán: Traditional Town of Tz’utujil Mayan culture
San Antonio: Authentic local town with low tourism
San Juan La Laguna: Lake Atitlan’s artistic center for cultural handicrafts.
Santa Catarina Palopó: Small village with authentic local culture

Check out this post to learn more about each of these villages to help you determine where to stay in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

3. Enjoy a Lakeside Hike Between the Different Villages

While not as quick or efficient as taking a water taxi, hiking between Lake Atitlan’s villages is one of the best ways to slow down to fully enjoy the natural splendour of the region while still experiencing the varied cultures of two or three villages you will pass through.

There are several hiking trails connecting the sporadic communities along Lake Atitlan, but I personally suggest embarking on the Santa Cruz La Laguna to San Marco La Laguna trek.

Starting in the small village of Santa Cruz, this route follows a 17.4 km path that passes through Jaibalito and Tzununa before ending in San Marco, giving you the opportunity to experience four villages and numerous outlook points, all within a 5-hour journey.

Both Santa Cruz and San Marco are popular stops along the water taxi routes, providing easy access to the hike regardless of where you are staying along the lake.

4. Cliff Jump at Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve

Lake Atitlan is so beautiful you are just going to jump right in. Luckily, you can literally do just that from just about anywhere along the lakeshore. You can wade into the water along a black sand beach, or you can get your adrenaline going by jumping from a nearby cliff.

There are several spots along the lake where you can go cliff jumping, with two of the best being on either end of the Santa Cruz to San Marco hike. The Reserva Natural del Cerro Tzankujil is, in particular, the most popular spot to go cliff jumping and even features a 12-meter-high wooden platform for some added thrills.

5. Take a Yoga Class

While Lake Atitlan has no shortage of outdoor adventures, it is also important to take some time to slow down and fully immerse in the natural serenity produced by the ancient volcano lake.

One of the best ways to embrace the natural tranquility of the region is by taking a yoga class. There are several studios and groups offering yoga classes in nearly every village lining the lake, but San Marcos is well-known as being the destination’s yoga capital.

Eagles Nest, The Yoga Forest, Las Primides, and Sacred Paths Yogas are just some of the best yoga groups in the town, offering plenty of relaxation and rejuvenation.

6. Hike San Pedro Volcano

Lake Atitlan is encompassed by three volcanoes — Volcano Atitlan, Volcano Toiman, and Volcano San Pedro.

As the smallest of the three, San Pedro is the perfect target for visitors looking to conquer one of the area’s foreboding peaks, from which you will enjoy some of the best views of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding area, seeing as far as Volcano Acatenango in Antigua on a clear day.

The hike itself is an arduous 6.4 km out-and-bak trek that features a total elevation gain of 3,805 feet. The journey poses a fun challenge for experienced hikers and takes approximately 5 hours to complete, starting from the trailhead near San Pedro La Laguna.

Alternatively, those who don’t want to brave the trek but still want to admire the viewpoints can also opt for a horseback ride up the mountain, offered by several tour providers around the various villages.

7. Take Spanish Classes

Whether spending an extended stay in Guatemala or planning future trips to other Spanish-speaking countries, Guatemala has become one of the best places on the planet for learning the language.

Not only do Guatemalans speak slower than many other Spanish speakers, but their accent is also considered one of the most neutral on earth. As such, the local Spanish is much easier to understand for beginners while also being the most adaptable when travelling elsewhere.

So, while learning Spanish is one of the best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala, I would argue that Lake Atitlan is the better setting to take language classes, allowing you to test your new skills while visiting different villages and cultures around the lake.

Spanish schools can be found in most of Lake Atitlan’s villages. However, San Pedro has become the unofficial language hub of the area, boasting the majority of the schools and providing a great local community of other backpackers learning to brush up on their foreign vocabularies.

8. Enjoy a Day Unwinding at Casa Del Mundo

Made famous through TikTok and social media, Casa Del Mundo is easily the most famous hotel on Lake Atitlan. Located in the small village of Jaibalito, this hotel is simply beautiful and is only accessible by taxi boat or the Santa Cruz to San Marco route.

The hotel is home to an extensive spa and wellness centre, a restaurant, a bar, and even a private beach area. It is easy to spend a day trip at this breathtaking resort complex, embracing the natural quiet and serenity of the setting.

Unfortunately, due to its growing fame, Casa Del Mundo is often booked up for overnight guests. But this doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy the facilities.

The hotel offers day passes for Q50 ($8.50 CAD), making it a great place to spend an afternoon sipping a cocktail or soaking in the sun along the lakeside beach.

9. Partake in a Traditional Cacao Ceremony

Chocolate is more than a sweet treat in Guatemala. In fact, thanks to its numerous health benefits, the Cacao bean is considered sacred according to the traditional Mayan culture, even being believed to have been a gift from the gods.

Among the many traditional ceremonies that occur along Lake Atitlan’s small villages, none are as quiet and enlightening as partaking in a Cacao ceremony. During these gatherings, participants consume small, potent doses of liquid cacao while guided along a spiritual journey by a ceremony leader.

These ceremonies are held at several healing centres and hotels around the lake but are the most prominent in the new-age village of San Marcos.

While cacao ceremonies are perhaps the most unique spiritual journey practiced in the Lake Atitlan area, other spiritual practices you can and should experience include shamanic readings, traditional fire ceremonies, and lucid dreaming exercises

10. Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard

One of the best ways to get on the water and explore Lake Atitlan is by renting a kayak or paddleboard. We opted for the stand-up paddle boards, and it was one of the most surreal experiences we had during our trip.

While the entire region is a beautifully natural area, there is no better place to embrace the serenity of the site than at the centre of the lake, where all the noise and tourism of the villages are entirely quiet.

We booked our paddle board for two hours, and we probably spent at least an hour and a half of that time simply sitting on our water crafts, taking in the unparalleled tranquillity of our atmosphere. And honestly, I probably would have sat there all day.

Kayaks and paddle boards can be rented at several places around each village. Prices vary between operators, but expect to pay about Q90 ($15 CAD) per hour for a paddle board and a little bit more for a kayak.

11. Paraglide Over Lake Atitlan

Hiking up one of Lake Aitilan’s volcanoes is a must-do experience. But while you are there, why not take it a step further and jump off?

While not for everybody, paragliding offers an entirely unique perspective of the area and is one of the most surreal things to do in Lake Atitlan. There are a few operators scattered throughout the towns, but I suggest booking with Real-World Paragliding in Panajachel.

Committed to safe practices, Real-World Paragliding offers tandem flights with licensed pilots, with flights lasting between 20 and 45 minutes depending on weather conditions.

Tickets cost Q700 ($120 CAD) per person, which, while the most expensive thing to do in Lake Atitlan, is also much cheaper when compared to the safe activity in other places around the world.

12. Learn Traditional Mayan Weaving

A stop at San Juan La Laguna is essential for tourists to Lake Atitlan, with the small village being the centre of the local Mayan traditions and handicrafts, most notably textiles and woven products.

While most tourists simply drop by the village to shop at the local market, the better way to fully immerse in the authentic culture is by taking a traditional Mayan weaving class.

These classes cost about Q300 ($51 CAD) per person for a four-hour session, leaving you with a new cultural experience and life skill you can bring home with you to practice long into the future.

13. Soak in a Hot Spring or Sit in a Temazcal

As an ancient volcanic lake, you would think there would be an abundance of hot springs in Lake Atitlan. In reality, there is only one collection of these natural thermal pools, and they are found in the small but charming village of Santa Catarina Palopo.

Found along the edge of the lake, these hot springs are popular amongst tourists and locals alike and make for a soothing respite following a day’s adventure hiking through the area’s natural terrains or shopping through local markets.

If you can’t or don’t have the time to make it to Santa Catarina Palopo, you can also sit in a Temazcal. These traditional-style saunas can be found in almost every village around the lake and consist of sitting in a round stone structure with a central fire that produces steam.

Not only is this Temazcal soothing, but it is also a spiritual process meant to symbolize the womb and guide the spirit through a journey of healing and enlightenment.

14. Zipline Through the Atitlan Nature Reserve

One of the most exciting ways to explore the jungles of Lake Atitlan is by flying through its treetop canopies along an adrenaline-pumping zipline.

Not only is this a great alternative for getting a bird’s eye view for those who don’t want to go paragliding, but it is also much more affordable, costing about Q230 ($40 CAD) per person.

There are a few places around the lake where you can enjoy this exciting activity, including the Atilan Natural Reserve. We ultimately went with Canopy San Pedro, which was just a short tuk tuk drive from our hotel in the village and allowed us to ride two ziplines through the canopies of Volcan San Pedro while providing awe-inspiring views of the surrounding lake.

15. Enjoy a Breathtaking Sunset from a Lakeside Cafe

Regardless of how you choose to spend your afternoon, a great way to cap off your day along Lake Atitlan is from the comforts of a lakeside cafe as you admire the beautiful colours of the setting sun.

Luckily, there is no shortage of cafes and restaurants lining the lakeside. Still, our favourite spot to admire the sunset was Restaurante El Columpio. This outdoor bar and restaurant is slightly removed from the main tourist area of San Pedro, providing a quiet setting for enjoying our evening with a delicious cocktail and a fantastic platter of nachos.

It also has a wood swing and pavilions, which are ideal for grabbing that perfect Instagram photo.

15 Epic Things To Do In Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

A Quick Look at the 15 Top Things To Do in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala