Day Trips from Antigua to Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitln) Tuk-tuks only cost a few dollars and are great for getting up a narrow, winding mountain path! Out of the fewer travellers that do make it to Xela, not many of them will embark on the Xela to Lake Atitlan trek. Best time to beat the crowds with an average. Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule. Despite a bevy of active options, at heart the lake is all about relaxation. This hike starts in the village of San Juan la Laguna and is shorter than San Pedro, taking most between 1 1/2 to 2 hours to reach the top and slightly less to get back down. There are eleven towns around the lake, each with their own personality. Its very likely that youll end up in Antigua as part of your travels in Guatemala. And if you can see it all by swing all the better. San Lucas Toliman is probably the least known town on the lake but it has the oldest church, the only tile mosaics and almost no other tourists. If youre on a budget but still want to stay somewhere nice, this is a great option. It looks super pretty and has great views over the lake. You can hire a boat from any of the public docks or most accommodation will be able to arrange one. The temperature stays roughly the same all year round, ranging from around 15C at night to 25C during the day. We have a friend who comes every year to do a homestay and learn more Spanish. San Marcos is known as the spiritual village. Further on, youll hike by a grasslands plateau, passing through cornfields. At around 4pm, we arrived at the small and charming Village Comun Oj. Quetzaltenango (known as Xela, pronounced shay-la) is Guatemalas unofficial second city and just a nice, pleasant place. The current water level is roughly the same as it was during our first long stay in 2010, which is still quite a bit higher than our first time in Guatemala in 2004. I took every precaution and even called prior to packing. There are many different schools of thought on this, varying from Amazing! The staff at the Delta counter in ATL resolved it in less than ten seconds. Shuttles depart the lake 3 times daily taking you to Guatemala City. Ask around if there is a bus heading to San Pedro Sula. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. ", "Front gate person was very rude, inpatient and did not help us to print our new boarding passes that they gave in Barcelona. Transportation Services. 1. For a more comprehensive hiking gear list, check out our66 Travel Accessories That You Must Travel With. Scores according to KAYAK customer reviews, "On a quick 40 minute flight they still managed to serve coffee, water and snacks. regards, Darryl (globetrotting grandpa). Lake Atitln is located at 1450 meters above sea level in the department of Solol, Guatemala. A ridge that, with a little imagination, looks a bit like the rather prominent proboscis of a stereotypical indigenous man. Before you go to Lake Atitlan, here are a few more important things to know. Hotel Utz Jay is a great value choice. During the evening, youll see other tour groups in the small outdoor courtyard-like setup, chatting and hanging out. ATI Diverswill take you on a scuba diving adventure in Central Americas deepest lake. Other useful articles you may want to check out: San Pedro la Laguna: A Guide to Lake Atitlans Most Popular Village, Santa Cruz la Laguna: A Guide to Lake Atitlans Village With the Best Views, San Lucas Toliman: Guide to Lake Atitlans Secret Village, Santiago Atitlan: Guide to an Authentic Mayan Town, Slow Travel Settling in for the Long Haul. Find out why travelling from Lake Atitlan to Antigua in Guatemala is a wonderful journey. ", "How can you ran out of wine on a flight", "We were late, no TV screens, bad food and I can go on and on", "Flight between Atlanta to Istanbul was good with ample leg space. You can bring a filtering water bottle along with purifying water tables to use on tap water so you dont have to buy tons of water bottles. In general, Lake Atitlan is safe for tourists. Also the first village has a Temescal too if anyone wants something hot. Most of the trail runs across the face of the hill high above the water with great views across to the volcanoes. So, just pack the bare essentials (camera, water, headtorch, jacket), perhaps in a small drawstring bag. Volcan San Pedro), where unrest, and, robberies, respectively, arent uncommon. Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. Everyone speaks one of the three different Mayan languages on the lake Kaqchikuel (San Marcos and east), Tzutujil (San Juan, San Pedro and Santiago) or Kiche (some of the villages in the hills above the lake). The only thing left to dofigure out how to get from the airport to your hotel. From Antigua, the cheapest way to reach Panajachel is by chicken bus. Youve got yourself a room with a view of the volcanoes and just finished vigorously devouring a hearty breakfast of eggs, tortillas and frijoles, then spent the requisite hour discussing just how ideal the weather is not to hot, not too cold, etc. The clear blue water is surrounded by beautiful volcanoes and mountains. It has been hosting tourists longer than any other village on the lake, has a long shopping street, a pretty lakeshore and even some adrenaline options like ziplines and paragliding. If you're coming directly from the airport or Guatemala City, expect it to take much longer (up to 5 hours.) Santa Catarina is possibly the most beautiful village on Lake Atitlan. There are several ways to get from Antigua to Lake Atitln, including private transfer, taxi or Uber, shuttle bus, or chicken bus. It was 8:30pm by the time we arrived, tired and without a place to stay. Speaking of shopping, Ive heard rumours that tourists, from time to time, like to buy things. Its also located in the town of San Marcos, so if youre interested in being close to the yoga/wellness lifestyle, this is a good place to stay. We were dropped off around 2:15pm, and caught a taxi to the ferry terminal where we would have to wait until 4:40pm (the ferry only operates twice a day). Included in the price of Q750/person, is round trip transportation, six meals (lunch and dinner on the first day, three meals on the second day and breakfast on the third day), camping equipment (sleeping bag and sleeping mat), trekking poles (if available), entrance fees, rucksacks for storage and a guide. Shared Shuttle from Lake Atitlan to Antigua. Seats in economy class are a torture: narrow, not enough leg room. It's easy to book via WhatsApp. Where to Stay at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala It is a must-see when travelling through Central America and well worth visiting on a specific trip as many do. The inevitable sunburn is generally not included in price. And the best thing about Lake Atitlan is you can also find a spot to do some yoga by yourself with truly inspiring views. Below is a step-by-step guide with prices of how we got from point A to B (errror point A to B to C to D to E you get it). The driver took us to Comercial El Dorado, a small coffee shop on the tourist strip, where there was a man in a navy ballcap who seemed to be the authority on all things chicken bus. Rainy season covers the rest of the year, from May to early November, and is rather unfairly underrated. The beauty, the slower pace of life, the practically interminable service in restaurants they all tie in with what most visitors love most about the place. ", "The pilot greeted us all on the jet way and then spoke to us. It is the place to go for yoga, reiki, crystal healing, meditation, past life readings, shamanic readings, ecstatic dance, cacao ceremonies, massage, lucid dreaming and fire and drum circles. How To Get From Antigua To Lake Atitlan We do all our fruit and veggie shopping at these markets but even if you arent buying anything they are a fascinating look at local life. Boarding a shared van shuttle is the first and most convenient choice when you're traveling from Lake Atitlan to Antigua and seeking an affordable and hassle-free transportation option! Youll initially trek by farmland, and then ascend to the first mirador. A lot longer. Required fields are marked *. San Marcos la Laguna: A Guide to Lake Atitlans Spiritual Village. This odd little Mayan/Catholic diety will happily greet you in exchange for donations of booze and cigarettes. A long narrow bay, with the village of Santiago is located at the end of it, separates Atitln volcano and Toliman volcano from San Pedro volcano. While I did not visit Santiago, I have heard it is a great town to visit if you want to experience the local Mayan culture. Jump down to the bottom of this post to see the quick step-by-step guide and costs for everything. Cost: $32 AU (or $25 US, you can pay in USD, HNL or by credit card). If you want to try your hand at making one of the handicrafts for sale around the lake many of the Womens Weaving Cooperatives in the different villages will teach you traditional techniques. This one might be first on many peoples list. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there I recently did this trail, also with Monte Verde. ", "We actually did not fly this route. Also it was not made clear that I would have had to pay to check luggage. High season is considered to be May, June and July. Citlalli Alvarez Martinez on Instagram: "Just enough time to get a How to Get There. ", "Outstanding service, comfort, food, entertainment options May have been best experience ever flying", "SAS has offered great service on two flights this past week. What Is The Best Way From Guatemala Airport To Lake Atitlan? The cheapest flight from Atlanta to Prague was found 47 days before departure, on average. Very unpleasant experience and do not want to fly with Lufthansa again. There are a few ways to get from Lake Atitln to Tikal National Park, but flying is the best option as the two destinations are about 397 miles (640 km) apart. Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel. making things up): Another great benefit is how many other interesting destinations there are within easy driving distance. How To Get From Guatemala Airport To Lake Atitlan Best Way - You can go by bus, taxi and private transfer. All rights reserved. Take the Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan Shuttle. However, this trail is mostly exposed, which means you will bake in the sun the entire time unless you are smart/silly enough to start up around 4 am to catch the sunrise. Or you can buy a USB stick with data that plugs directly into your laptop. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. The cheapest transportation option in Guatemala is the chicken bus old American school buses that are festively painted and filled to the brim. Most people pass through on the popular hike from Santa Cruz to San Marcos and those looking for peace and quiet often stay longer. 7 ways to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan + practical tips How To Get From Guatemala Airport To Lake Atitlan Best Way - Gamintraveler Xela to Lake Atitlan 3 Day Hike: The Complete Guide - Travel Made Me Do It The cheapest month to fly is April. Santa Catarina Palopo: A Guide to Lake Atitlans Most Colourful Village. The Ultimate 2023 Guide to Lake Atitlan day 3: shuttle to Flores. We had to take a shuttle bus to another Litegua Terminal outside the city centre and transfer, which took a bit of time, and then there was construction which had us at pretty much a standstill for an hour. We saw a few buses and asked if they were going to San Pedro. Kayaks can be rented in a variety of places in San Pedro, as well as San Marcos and Santa Cruz. 10Q from San Pedro to San Juan or San Marcos to San Pablo and more for a longer trip. By this time we were hungry, and found that one of the shops near the terminal served lunch. Usually we go in a group of 4-6 people, but we have also done it with just the two of us many times without incident. Tigo and Claro have the best coverage on the lake and a typical SIM package costs 150Q ($20) for limited calling and texting and 10GB of data, recharged for 99Q per month after that.
