2 Go Lake Atitlan
Up Chichicastenango

From Antigua, we traveled west to Lake Atitlán, considered by many to be the most beautiful area in Guatemala.  So far, we must agree with them.  In addition to the beautiful lake, the lake and the cities around the lake are surrounded by large, vegetation covered mountains as well as a number of striking volcanoes.  

We made the town of Panajachel our home base for exploring Lake Atitlán.  Panajachel is a colorful and lively, yet laid back, beach town.  One of the things that makes Panajachel so interesting is its blend of people that stroll its streets.  This includes Mayan women in their traditional dress, the wealthy of Guatemala City who come here to vacation or spend the weekend, backpackers, and hippies from the 1960s and 70s that appear to have visited but never left.  

More than a dozen small towns sit on the shores of Lake Atitlán, and all may be visited by boat.  We went by boat and visited two such towns on separate days:  Santiago and San Pedro.

 

On the bus ride from Antigua to Lake Atitlán, we passed through the town of Solola (Sololololola!)  and its authentic Friday market.  Locals only with few tourists, it was very colorful as all of the local people wore their traditional dress.  As you can see, many of the men wore cowboy hats, while Guatemalan women use their heads to carry produce and other items.  It is really amazing the way they balance such loads (with no hands) while carrying on with everyday life.

 

 

 

These men (well, three of them)  wear the traditional dress of their village, consisting of the brightly colored and embroidered shirt and pants together with the wide, more darkly colored, cummerbund type garment worn around the waist.  And of course, the cowboy hat.

 

 

 

 

When we arrived in Panajachel, we searched for a while to find the perfect place to stay.  We found a great little beach hotel with a great view of the lake from the terrace.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Hotel Contemporaneo was our home for three nights and, while somewhat extravagant at $9 usd per night, it was very comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here, in the village of Santiago on Lake Atitlán, these men wear the traditional clothing of that village consisting of embroidered shirts together with brightly embroidered, white, knee length pants.  And of course, the cowboy hat!

 

 

 

 

 

The beautiful lake shore at Panajachel with Volcan San Pedro to the right and Volcan Toliman to the left.  When the clouds do not obscure the view, it is an amazing sight.

 

 

 

 

 

On the boat ride back from Santiago, we sat on the top so that we could get some fresh air, as well as a beautiful view of the lake and the other villages.

 

 

 

 

During our second day in Panajachel, we visited the village of San Pedro.  As you can see, the women in Guatemala learn how to balance items on their heads at a young age. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also saw this farmer, who was more than happy to let us take his photo in exchange for a cool NFL pencil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rich woke up early in the morning to get this photograph of Volcan Toliman and Volcan San Pedro during sunrise from the shore.  The village of Santiago sits between these two volcanoes while the village of San Pedro sits to the right of San Pedro.

 

 

 

Our third day in Panajachel, we took the early morning bus to ChiChi for the famous Sunday Market.

For a different view of Lake Atitlan, follow us as we Revisit Lago Atitlan and see it from the other side in 2001--and then come right back to 1999....

 

 

 

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