Around the lake – Atitlan Eco Retreat

An easy guide to make your way to the Atitlan Eco Retreat and explore Lake Atitlan area.

Join us for a yoga teacher training, at the MAYA Highlands, at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. We provide a spiritual experience with lots of opportunity for self growth and empowerment.

Getting to Atitlan Eco Retreat

Located just below Mexico, Guatemala is a short journey from the US. From the La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, a shuttle ride brings you to the heart of Lake Atitlan’s Mayan community – town of Panajachel and astounding beauty. Feel the breeze in your hair and the water around you as you take a short boat ride to the village (pueblo) of Tzununa where we are located. Local tuk-tuk drivers greet you with a friendly “Taxi?” and bring you right to our entrance Atitlan Eco Retreat.

At additional cost we can help you with transportation arrangements. Once you book, we’ll send you details about the logistics.

Around Lake Atitlan

With all of the beautiful nature and serenity of Atitlan Eco Retreat, you may just want to stay on the grounds enjoying the view of the lake (Lago Atitlan), study by the river, chill on a hammock, or hangout at the Buddha cafe. If you feel like venturing out to see more of what is around Lake Atitlan, there are great opportunities to explore. You can take an excursion to neighboring villages/towns, swim, kayak, hike, enjoy holistic treatments in San Marcos, and more.

The simplest way to get around Lake Atitlan is via lancha (boat). Tzununa has a dock at which lanchas headed to either Panajachel or San Pedro stop every 20-40 minutes. Tuk-tuks (rickshaws/ small motorized taxis) are easily found and can be hailed anywhere. It is also possible to walk to neighboring villages/towns via the dirt roads along the lake. Though incidents are rare it is advised not to walk after dark, alone or with valuables.

All the villages around Lake Atitlan are awesome. Below is a bit about each.

Tzununa

Atitlan Eco Retreat is hosted in Tzununa – the Mayan land of hummingbirds and water. This quiet, serene village is surrounded by hills on Lake Atitlan with great views of the volcanoes on the other side of the lake.

There is lots of yoga around Lake Atitlan, and now Tzununa is becoming the authentic yoga leader of Central America.

About 20 minutes up the hill is the Tzununa waterfall. Nice hike, You can go with a guide. There are lots of hiking options around Tzununa with great views. You can swim in the lake, bird watch or just walk around.

San Marcos la Laguna

The town of San Marcos, to the west of Tzununa, can be reached by lancha, tuk-tuk (10 minutes), or by foot (40 minutes) along a dirt road. Known as a spiritual center of Central America, you will find many workshops and classes including kirtan, dance, shamanism, cacao ceremonies, reiki, massage, yoga classes San Marcos, among others.

One of the calm villages around Lake Atitlan, San Marcos offers many cafes and chill out restaurants of various flavors.

There is a natural reserve (Cerro Tzankujil), which has a fun deck to jump from, straight into the refreshing lake. Kayaks for rent are at the entrance to the reserve.

Panajachel

Considered a gateway to the lake, as this town is easily reached from Guatemala City and Antigua. It is the first town around the lake to get gringos settling in. Already in the 60’s many expats came down here, some choosing this awesome lake instead of the war in Vietnam.

Panajachel has a great market every day, which includes produce, fabrics, cloths and more. It gets even busier Saturdays and Sundays.

Panajachel is also a great place for shopping along Calle Santander. Santander market offers many traditional items, but also many items one may wish for at home, made with traditional fabrics.

Pana is a good place to exchange/withdraw money (BAM, Colua, Banco Industrial). There are a few couriers, such as DHL, and stores that sell international foods. There are phone agencies, lots of food options, and a quick bus ride up to the bigger town and market of Solola. With a more traditional feel, Solola market also has cheaper prices than some other markets around Lake Atitlan.

San Pedro la Laguna

Going around Lake Atitlan to the other side via public boat, San Pedro has more of a vibrant backpacker’s atmosphere and is a little less expensive than San Marcos. It also hosts numerous bars and restaurants for a night out.

You can quench your thirst and fill up on vitamins and minerals with a delicious fresh juice or smoothie. De’ Juice Girls are located on the main tourist strip along the lakeside (first left after you come up from the dock and down a few shops on the right-hand side). I love them so please send them a hello from Doron!

Further down the street, you’ll find an American-run health food store Salud Para Vida – offering an impressive array of products but at a premium higher than the US retail rates.

More on the food side, carnivores and vegetarians alike can mindfully enjoy Smokin Joe’s BBQ, offering flexitarians the occasional mouth-watering steak and a bountiful salad bar!

To conclude your trip to San Pedro you must stop at the market, preferably on the weekend. It offers produce spices, meat, cheese, clothing, kitchen needs and other surprises. Keep going up the hill from the Dock. It is mostly active every day till 12:30pm.

Santa Cruz La Laguna

Santa Cruz is the small village seat of one of the lake’s municipalities, which also houses numerous expatriates in villages and hotels lining the lake. Hostal La Iguana offers drinks, food and scuba diving.

Retreat Centers such as Villa Sumaya and Isla Verde are part of Santa Cruz.

CECAP, a vocational center for locals, runs a good café and sells some great local food products, including herbal tea and home-made peanut butter.

Santiago De Atitlan

The major town of Santiago is located under Volcan Tuliman and is known as the home of Maximón whom is an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends. He is believed to answer the more unscrupulous prayers when offered tobacco, alcohol, and money.

Santiago Atitlan is a relative large town with a bigger medical facility and some stalls selling arts and crafts. In general Arts, crafts, and boat building are common trades here.

San Juan

This beautiful artisanal town is the home of friendly locals and many co-op/fair trade organizations. The paintings and textiles here are worth the visit.

There are also coffee shops that sell home-roasted coffee, chocolate shops, and lots of beautiful hand-painted murals with local Mayan themes. You will find enough places to eat here and nice strolling around. It is a calm and peaceful village; even if tourism is on the rise here, the charm is still alive.

Enjoy your time around Lake Atitlan – it is magical, spiritual and like no other. The Mayan tradition mixed with the Christian influence, and now the yoga and meditation practices merge into an amazing experience. An Energetic Vortex!