It has become a tourist mecca with incredible volcano views, a beautiful lake, and amazing towns on the shores. Panajachel to San Pedro La Laguna Ferry from $3 - Rome2rio You can also get direct shuttles to San Pedro La Laguna from Antigua if you do need up choosing this as the first stop on your adventures around Lake Atitlan. Whether you decide to hike a Volcano, do the popular Indian Nose hike, or simply to a view point. Pana to/from Santa Cruz/Jaibalito Q10 This town is a busy spot for travelers and is somewhere many people choose to stay. I was in touch before my arrival and communicated my interests and we set up a custom tour. Our kids did well on both days; there is so much variety in activities during the trips that the kids never got in a rut. Once in Pana, you may hail a Tuk Tuk (mototaxi) for destinations in town (Q5), or a pickup truck to go to Santa Catarina Palapo and San Antonio Palapo. They walked me through the process of get to the lake from Antigua, then took on wonderful boat trips on Lake Atitlan. Atitlan Boats operates a ferry from Panajachel to San Pedro La Laguna on demand. Have already recommended them to someone looking to go to Guatemala in the fall and will continue to refer travelers to Jim, et al. I know that those who have lived in and experienced a destination long term generally know the dos and donts better than those passing through, but this is questionable to me. Felt like we were off the tourist track. Want more Guatemala Inspiration? Yoga: Lake Atitlan is yogi heaven, and thats not just San Marcos. The only way to arrive here is by boat (just 10 min from Panajachel, see below). I did the Lake Atitlan village boat tour, which really turned into a private "create your own tour" (per James' own words!). San Marcos to/from Santa Cruz Q10 The two trips covered different parts of the lake and provided good contrast to each other. Everyday Enlightenment: Beginnings. San Pedro in its earlier years was the home for many hippie travelersthat was 20 years ago. Answer 1 of 4: We are Panajachel from Antigua in the afternoon, is it easy to catch a water taxi from Pana to Santa Cruz? We need 2 cookies to store this setting. He comes from a large and hardworking family, with two sisters, two brothers, and several nephews. For the villages listed above you want to use the dock by Hotel y Centro de Convenciones. Seriously there is such an assortment of shops selling all sorts of local handicrafts. There are definitely fewer tourists here than in other villages around the lake, so it can be nice to get away from all the crazy and come here for a breather. and interacted with a ton of James' local friends. One of the larger towns, and one of the smaller villages, that way you get a good overall experience of what the lake has to offer. Lake Atitlan Travel Tips. Santa Catarina is most easily accessed from Panajachel, by road, hiking, or boat. Santa Cruz la Laguna - Wikitravel Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. We took a beautiful boat tour across the late to two of the villages, drank lots of coffee, ate an authentic lunch, visited many sites (chocolate story, weaving store supported by local Mayan women, honey store, etc.) During your visit, you can browse, buy and even learn about what it takes to make these impressive ceramics. You will find people here still wear beautiful traditional clothing, as well as their habits still being deeply ingrained with their beliefs. If you are looking to get the most bang for your buck this is certainly worth visiting. You can check these in your browser security settings. Deal direct with the boat captains. The Santiago dock is on the other side of San Pedro in a flooded area. It is a pretty large place, though basically none of it is set up for tourism. This embarcadero services routes to Santiago Atitlan, San Antonio Palapo, Santa Catarina Palapo, and San Lucas Tolimn. Another highlight was meeting a beautiful Mayan family as they welcomed us into their home. Atitlan Boats. 16 Panajachel Sightseeing on wheels. The captains and their assistants will convey an, often false, sense of urgency to get your body into their boat. San Pedro/from Santiago Q20 One will be a direct boat, and the other will stop in each village along the North shore between the two villages (Santa Cruz/San Marcos/San Pedro/Jaibalito/Tzununa). We appreciated Jim's willingness to answer all of our questions, his patience with the kids and his flexibility to adjust the itinerary (E.g. Looking directly at the volcanos across the lake you will find the pier which is similar in size to that of San Marcos. Tour a NGO non profit Vocational Training Center Amigos de Santa Cruz There are no public boat services from Panajachel to Santa Catarina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo. Recently we published a blog, Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule Price and Times post discussing early boat services from San Pedro to Panajachel. Panajachel >> Santa Cruz 15Q Panajachel>>San Marcos 25Q Panajachel >>San Pedro 30Q Also, if you want a private boat that's safe & comfortable, with a captain we know and trust from our years living in Panajachel, you can get in touch with one here. Required fields are marked *. Panajachel to Solol - one way to travel via bus, taxi, and foot It would be hard to recommend one tour over the other, you can't go wrong with either and doing both is worth 2 days of your time. The perfect stay for backpackers and digital nomads. Instead, you will need to chuck on your sneakers or take the water taxi. Important information. Lake Atitlan is a big place and there are so many beautiful places to explore here. James works with you to see what you're most interested in, and you ultimately get a say in what you see. Santa Cruz La Laguna Walking Tour, Lake Atitlan Guatemala Walking around Santa Cruz La Laguna, the less visited Mayan village on the shores of Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlan), in Solola, Guatemala. For an active family, these trips more than met our expectations and resulted in a unique and memorable adventure. Public lanchas run daily starting at 7:00 am. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Duration 2h Frequency On demand . This is the largest city in the area and often travelers first stop. How To Travel By Boat Around Lake Atitlan, 5 Things to Love About San Juan La Laguna, 7 Unusual Guatemalan Vegetables & How to Prepare Them, 5 Atitlan Activities to Boost Your Adrenaline, From Handicrafts to Online Success: The Story of Jesus and His Familys Traditional Textile Business in Santa Catarina, 10 Free Things To Do & See Around Lake Atitlan. A very good day taking advantage of all the wonderful things on offer in this area. This was actually an initiative by the local organization Pintando el Camibo in hopes of increasing tourism to Santa Catarina Palopo. The first was to the Chichicastenango market, on New year's Eve. Not sure? San Pedro to/from San Marcos Q10. Next up we have the same trip, but starting in San Pedro this time, rather than traveling Panajachel To San Marcos. Great views. James and I also had great conversations throughout the day. Copyright - Lake Atitlan Travel | Lake Atitlan Tours. All-inclusive rates start from $80.00 per night in a dorm room. Though if you are wanting a more relaxed studying experience this may not be the place. Jim, an American read more expat, has a special relationship with the T'sutujil and took me to see the villageMore, My sister and I accompanied tour guides, Jim and Stephanie, on a guided tour of the villages of San Juan, San Pedro, and San Antonio Palopo on Lake Atitlan. How To Travel To Lake Atitlan - Atitlan Living Lake Atitlan is a lake in the Guatemalan Highlands. I was very impressed with his knowledge of the Mayan culture; but even more so respected his heartwarming relationships with the locals. The good thing was that they are travelling by car so they gave me a lift to Panajachel. Recommended option Bus 8 min Take the bus from Panajachel to Solola Cheapest option Taxi 9 min Take a taxi from Panajachel to Solol 8.6 km We recommend that you carry the appropriate amount of money for the lanchas. You'll wind through a pine forest, terraced farms and finally the home on the hill of lower Santa Catarina. This isnt fun for anybody on board so go ahead and close up the plastic flaps, you may still get some water dripping down, but at least it wont be hitting you in the face now. You can find numerous yoga and meditation classes, as well as healing sessions, and learn about medicinal herbs, plants, and mushrooms. Some of the more free-minded population has spilled over and ended up in this agricultural area. Once you are on the boat you will find it stops at San Juan and San Pablo before pulling in at the pier in San Marcos. Prices start from $44.00 per night. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. PIck-up at your hotel in Panajachel, Santa Cruz, San Marcos, or Jaibalito. 16.01.2018 - 20.01.2018 I was really lucky. There are no regular set times for boat services from San Lucas Toliman to San Antonio Palopo and back. The village of San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Atitlan is one of our favorite villages on the Lake. A lot of people will oppose this and cause quite a scene. This is certainly one of those places where I constantly heard travelers say if you enjoy yoga go here or if you are from country X you need to go here. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. our Village tour day and made several suggestions to enhance my experience. In order to avoid some of the issues discussed on other blog posts about Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule Price Times Updated take some of our advise, avoid the street hustlers and go directly to the docks. How To Travel Lake Atitlan: Panajachel To San Pedro & MORE Afternoon rides can occasionally turn a bit adventurous. The lanchas you will find here on Lake Atitlan is simply a fiberglass shell with numerous rows of plastic benches. It was an amazing experience and one I highly recommend for the adventurous traveler. Pana to/from San Marcos/San Pablo/San Juan/San Pedro Q25 James and I also had great conversations throughout the day. I just didnt have to have my guard up. If you are keen on visiting you are best to talk to a tuk-tuk driver who will know of its current location. You'll take a van up to the top and walk down. Nevertheless, there are still some excellent accommodation options here for people wanting more of a unique stay on Lake Atitlan. I was very impressed with his knowledge of the Mayan culture; but even more so respected his heartwarming relationships with the locals. If you are taking a shuttle from Antigua or elsewhere in Guatemala they will drop you off on this street so you will just need to walk a minute or so to the ferry dock. This has grown quickly in popularity with backpackers over the last couple of years thanks to the affordable hostels on offer. The article was viewed hundreds of times over the last few weeks with many comments and debates about the boat captains, prices, times, and the hustlers on the streets of Panajachel, The Main Villages Around Lake Atitlan Guatemala, Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule Prices Updated. For free-spirited travelers. Flip flops and sandals. Read: Tips for Visiting the Panama . As a result, you can learn all about permaculture farming techniques, and herbal medicine, and of course, it has yoga retreats as well. You will see locals getting charged half price for transport; thats normal and fair; they ride everyday and youre just passing through. You can instead do that when you have had a rest and a good meal after recovering from the likely motion sickness you got from traveling the windy roads. This is also helpful if it starts raining while you are onboard. It was neat to hear their stories and see how/where some of them lived. Here, you dont have to wait for Black Friday or [], The main vehicle for getting from village to village on Lake Atitlan is a boat, better known as alancha. I was very impressed with his knowledge of the Mayan culture; but even more so respected his heartwarming relationships with the locals. This site uses cookies. Made the experience much more authentic in my opinion. Leaving from Panajachel to take a collective boat for our transfer to tzununa. This is another popular town worth checking out when traveling around Lake Atitlan. Our kids did well on both days; there is so much variety in activities during the trips that the kids never got in a rut. . Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your typical New Zealander, now discovering the world one country at a time. We may request cookies to be set on your device. For the villages listed above you want to use the dock by Hotel y Centro de Convenciones. Recommended Ferry Take the ferry from Panajachel to Santa Cruz La Laguna 41 min Cheapest Taxi This makes it super easy to simply arrive and get to your accommodation, there is no need to stress about catching a boat. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. I also enjoyed sipping the coffee from locally grown coffee beans and sampling delicious chocolate from locally grown cacao. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Compare prices and schedules and book tickets online with no hassle. Did I fall in love? You'll take a van up to the top and walk down. 14 Panajachel Private tours. Great views. Walking is the only way to see most of the off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods and alleyways, and the villages are so small that you can walk across anyof them in under20 minutes. There are roads to San Antonio Palopo, Santiago Atitlan, San Pedro La Laguna, and San Marcos La Laguna, but they are in dire need of repair, and the going is very slow. Another popular spot is Santa Cruz la Laguna. Enjoy summer camp vibes and tipi dorm rooms. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Phone: + (502) 58087471. The prices below are the accepted pricing. Tucked away and completely across the lake from Panachjel you will find the township of Santiago de Atitlan. Click on the different category headings to find out more. 15 Panajachel Guided tours. Today, San Pedro still remains a destination for the younger travelers and backpackers that visit Lake Atitlan. As the map below indicated by the little ferry Icon there are 2 ferry docks in Panajachel. The price for this journey from Panajachel to San Pedro should be Q30 / $3.80 on a public lancha and you dont pay until departing at San Pedro. Depending on the wind, the waves, and which direction the lancha is traveling you may find yourself getting quite splashed. Many of the designs on the buildings are based on traditional weaving patterns. Keep in mind that early mornings on the lake are typically calm, while wind is common late morning and afternoon making for a more adventurous boat trips. Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule - Guatemala Tours and Travel Services But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. I also enjoyed sipping the coffee from locally grown coffee beans and sampling delicious chocolate from locally grown cacao. Again this isnt really a town that tourists stay in, instead, it is just visited as a day trip when they travel around Lake Atitlan. Take the ferry from Panajachel to Santa Cruz La Laguna 4h 49m Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guatemala There is widespread community transmission globally. He also arranged transportation for me from Antigua. and interacted with a ton of James' local friends. Lake Atitln and its villages are a winning combination of scenic beauty, a relaxed atmosphere, easily accessible Mayan culture, and a good tourist infrastructure. . There is an assortment of towns around the lake which you will no doubt want to visit and stay at. Some boats will make stops at the villages in between such as Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa, San Marcos, San Pablo, and San Juan, whereas others will be a direct service from Panajachel to San Pedro short cutting it directly across the lake. Step inside the Maya community of Santa Cruz with this NGO visit. A short distance from the ever-popular San Marcos you will find the village of Tzununa tucked away. Private lanchas are available from most villages around Lake Atitln to just about any other lake destination. Entered homes of the Mayans - as James has a good relationship with them. I'm not a fan of "touristy" tours and James did not disappoint as he showed me traditional Mayan ways and we stayed away from "touristy" places on the tour. There are also life jackets on board the boats. Enjoy the beautiful grounds and relaxation. Camera. And I also love the bumpy ride back from San Pedroon the choppy afternoon waters when the wind kicks up and the sun starts to set. You can check these in your browser security settings. Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule | Price and Times is not an official boat schedule, however, the lanchas typically depart and arrive every 20-30 minutes from the public docks at the end of Calle del Embarcadero located just west of Santander in the village of Panajachel. The next morning I enjoyed an amazing sunrise from the top of the "Mayan Nose". For an active family, these trips more than met our expectations and resulted in a unique and memorable adventure. San Pedro to/from Santa Cruz Q20 Shuttles leave regularly from Guatemala City Airport to Panajachel. How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Myanmar? Has Wi-Fi and Balcony. Lets start with catching a boat from Panajachel to Santa Cruz/Jaibalito/San Marcos/San Pablo/San Juan/San Pedro. This is a very beautiful part of the lake and the perfect place to capture some awesome photos. A comfortable eco-hotel with incredible views over the lake. So, you may end up sitting in a laucha for up to 25 minsbefore the boat actually departs. The day was one of the highlights on my trip. LANCHAS. It does take between 2 to 3 hours but can be shortened by taking a water taxi from Tzununa. It is super easy to find the dock in San Juan La Laguna as its right down the end of 2Da Calle. I love riding the lanchas. The perfect stay for backpackers with dorms starting from $13.00 per night. Starting from $27.00 per night. They have a huge pool you can chill around at, super fast Wifi, and can organize activities and shuttles around the country for you. In the wet season when the weather is a bit more stormy, the lake can get quite wavy. Private tour well worth it. Prices start from $12.00 per night. Want to explore the rest of the lake? These are the BEST Places to Stay at Lake Atitlan (2023) Were always looking for new paid writers to contribute to Atitlan Living. This is also a great place to do some shopping and buy some authentic souvenirs. This was a guided hike that James had suggested and arranged for me. The price for this journey from San Pedro to San Marcos should be Q10 / $1.28 on a public lancha and you dont pay until departing. things Guatemala - from coffee to history to current eventshe was a wealth of knowledge. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Te Vara Nui: The Best Cultural Show In Rarotonga. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. This is the perfect town to position yourself in if you are planning to hike the San Pedro volcano. Tourists started imposing on their once-tight villages and they came in large numbers. villagers and we visited artists and shops and had lunch in one of his Mayan friends homes.. Rim Hike. Some travel restrictions are being lifted in Guatemala. Santiago/from San Pedro Q20. They will then usher you to the boat and take any luggage to be safely stored, Grab yourself a seat on one of the plastic benches and prepare yourself for this short but sweet trip. You can have an enjoyable weekend visit, a week away from it all, or several weeks to learn Spanish. Both days were excellent and are worthy of a 5* review. Similar note I traveled from Antigua to Panajachel with a digital nomad who had been living in Santa Cruz on Lake Atitlan for the last few months. Antigua Guatemala to Atitlan Sunset Lodge, Santa Cruz La Laguna Though what makes this village special is the beautiful handicrafts and murals lining the streets displaying parts of their culture. She made a point of letting me know to not let the boat driver take advantage and overcharge me. Be aware you may get asked for a small payment to take photos, and you can also bring along with you cigarettes and alcohol as a donation. Boat service runs between 6:30am and 7:30pm. The Ultimate Guide to Panama Canal Cruises From San - Celebrity Cruises Hike: There is an assortment of hikes available in Lake Atitlan, where you can capture the best views this area has to offer. Top 10 Things To Do & See On Lake Atitlan - Atitlan Living We also did the boat villages tour another day with James visiting San Juan and San Pedro. I highly recommend Sababa Restaurant! Lake Atitlan Guatemala private boats are available after hours please contact Henry for rates and time he services from most villages around Lake Atitlan. And unless the boat is full and leaving the dock at that moment, you have plenty of time to figure out which boat to get on. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Dorms start from $16.00 per night. There are basically 2 routes for the public boats: Panajachel - Santa Cruz - Jaibalito - Tzununa - San Marcos - San Pedro - San Juan (then it returns to Panajachel stopping off at all the villages again) - If you want to stop at a private dock belonging to one of the hotels, just tell the driver which hotel; Panajachel - Santiago At least one pair of comfortable walking shoes. I was in touch before my arrival and communicated my interests and we set up a custom tour. By Pick Up Truck Pickup truck collectivos connect Panajachel and the eastern town of Santa Catarina. Nevertheless, it is probably best to hire a guide just to be on the safe side or travel in a large group. Panajachel to Santa Cruz La Laguna Ferry - Rome2rio About 4 miles long. Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve, San Marcos La Laguna Price is about Q20 and upwards depending on if you are on a Chicken Bus or a Tuk Tuk. 1 DC_in_MD Bethesda, MD Level Contributor 3,918 posts 38 reviews 24 helpful votes 1. Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule Prices Updated | Lake Atitlan Tours Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule | Price and Times is not an official boat schedule, however, the lanchas typically depart and arrive every 20-30 minutes from the public docks at the end of Calle del Embarcadero located just west of Santander in the village of Panajachel. It was neat to hear their stories and see how/where some of them lived. You can find it just down from Mr Mullets Hostel and my favorite Sababa Restaurant. Let's start with catching a boat from Panajachel to Santa Cruz/Jaibalito/San Marcos/San Pablo/San Juan/San Pedro. This is only for boats departing Panajachel as obviously you will be waiting a long time to full a boat in the smaller villages. Jim was a successful business man who moved read more to Central America to start a hotel business and now lives along Lake Atitlan and committedMore. A lovely homely hostel right by the pier. This is just a quick breakdown of some of the top options: Study Spanish: Studying Spanish in Guatemala is a popular thing to do here, but even more so at Lake Atitlan. Private Lake Atitlan Tour in Town of Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa and San Juan. How To Travel By Boat Around Lake Atitlan - Atitlan Living Another highlight was meeting a beautiful Mayan family as they welcomed us into their home. Panajachel located three hours from Guatemala City and 2.5 hours from Antigua is considered the gateway to Lake Atitlan. We took a beautiful boat tour across the late to two of the villages, drank lots of coffee, ate an authentic lunch, visited many sites (chocolate story, weaving store supported by local Mayan women, honey store, etc.) It would be hard to recommend one tour over the other, you can't go wrong with either and doing both is worth 2 days of your time. The trip from Panajachel to San Juan la Laguna (and vice versa) usually takes about 45 minutes and should cost 30-40Q. We know the prices are Q10 per person each way. Dorm rooms start from $22.00 per night. I'm not a fan of "touristy" tours and James did not disappoint as he showed me traditional Mayan ways and we stayed away from "touristy" places on the tour. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The two trips covered different parts of the lake and provided good contrast to each other. Though the water taxis run from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm daily between Panajachel to San Pedro and vice versa. I also enjoyed sipping the coffee from locally grown coffee beans and sampling delicious chocolate from locally grown cacao.
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