Atitlan is a large lake in the highlands of Guatemala surrounded by three volcanoes and many little towns and villages. It’s located 62 miles west from Guatemala City (about two and a half hour drive) and approximately a mile above the sea level. This water body is filling an enormous caldera created by volcanic eruptions some 84,000 years ago.
The most interesting fact about the lake is that it is surrounded by three volcanoes: San Pedro, Atitlan and Toliman.
The villages around Atitlán have a strong Mayan culture, where traditions have been kept alive through centuries. The people living today in the shores of the lake still wear their traditional dress, different from each other from town to town. The ancient culture remains also in the food and in a syncretic religion that worships Maximon, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends.
This incredible lake is surrounded by at least a dozen small Indigenous villages. Many of the towns surrounding Atitlán were named after saints in the Conquista. The most important of them today are Panajachel, Santiago Atitlán, San Juan La Laguna, San Antonio Palopo, San Andrés Xecul, San Lucas Toliman, San Pablo La Laguna, San Pedro La Laguna, Santa Catarina Palopo and Santa Clara La Laguna. The economy of these towns has been based on agriculture for many years, but tourism has grown over the years and is now an important activity that provides a better income to a great number of families in Atitlán.
As the people from Atitlán realized the benefits from the tourism industry, many services are now provided to the visitors. Hotels and restaurants are found in most of the towns and coffee farms offer tours to their plantations. There’s plenty to do in Atitlán: the villages on the sloops of the volcanoes are a good starting point to volcano climbing tours, some hotels offer water sports to their guests, scuba diving excursions are available on the biggest towns, but maybe the activity that most of the people choose to enjoy the view is visit a local coffee shop or restaurant to simply relax and slowly drink a favorite beverage, watching the astonishing sunsets of the lake.
Activities, hotels, restaurants and more from Atitlan.
Image: Anaypeter
Comment by KARIN at Oct 12th, 2007 4:55 pm ↑
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER TO HAVE DINNER AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE AND WATCH THE SUN SET.
Comment by Dr. Walter J. Henderson III at Feb 25th, 2008 4:27 pm ↑
Last time I saw Maximon, he was smoking a Roy-Tan cigar. I know because I put it in his mouth myself. This is a worthwhile trip. Nice little market, plenty to see. If you have time stay a couple of days and nights. Wasrm and relaxing.