Six awesome things to do in Lake Atitlán

A backpackers' haven for decades, Lake Atitlán continues to draw adventurous spirits to its shores today. After all, it's not every day that you get to see three volcanoes line the coast of a massive lake that formed in the caldera of another volcano. Having heard stories of travelers who planned to visit Guatemala for a few days only to find themselves stuck there months later, we knew we had to give ourselves a decent amount of time to explore this Central American gem. Since we like to chose only a few key spots in a country to be a home base, Lake Atitlán was an obvious place to situate ourselves during our first few weeks in Guatemala. Whether you're looking to go off the grid or meet other travelers from around the world, if you're interested in connecting with nature or learning more about the local Maya, Lake Atitlán will not disappoint. Though we only spent two and a half weeks here and still didn't make it to every town on the lake, we managed to squeeze in quite a bit. Here's our guide to Lake Atitlán on a budget.

Visit the Sunday market at Chichicastenango

This market is famous, and for good reason. While you can find flowers, fruits, and just about anything else here, the main draw in this sprawling and chaotic market is the textiles. Huipiles and skirts of every color and design hang from scaffolds, and women of all ages can be seen wearing and weaving these works of art. While the market is open every day, the best day to visit is when it is at full capacity on Sundays. For more information about how to plan your visit, check out our guide here.

Meet Mayan weavers

If you're as enamoured with Guatemalan textiles as we are, you'll likely want to buy one of these wearable works of art. While it's easy to find these textiles in every town in Guatemala, you'll want to make sure that your purchase is well-crafted and ethically-made. Luckily, there is a phenomenal women's weaving cooperative in Lake Atitlán just outside of Panajachel. Asociación Maya de Desarrollo is one of the largest and most successful women-owned artisan cooperatives in the country, and they make beautiful shawls, ponchos, scarves, and bags. To read more about how the coop supports indigenous Mayan weavers and preserves the traditional knowledge of the backstrap loom, read about the organization here.

Get close with nature

Lush mountains surrounding Lake Atitlán offer numerous opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy some picturesque views of the lake and volcanoes. Just outside of Panajachel is Reserva Natural Atitlán, a small eco-park filled with hiking trails, a butterfly geo-dome, ziplines, and wildlife. Located on grounds that encompass coffee groves and oak forest, this is a great place to stay the night (they have rooms available) or spend an afternoon. But consider yourself warned: the coatis may be cute, but once a banana is in sight they become vicious. Read more about the nature reserve and our coati mauling here.

Go gallery hopping in San Juan

Located across from Panajachel and next to San Pedro, San Juan is a charming town made for art lovers. As soon as you arrive at the dock, you'll see little art galleries and cute cafés. Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and stroll around to admire the local art in the boutique shops and on the streets. Several stores sell homemade items like soaps, shampoos, and teas and even have little herbal gardens you can visit.

Relax by day and party by night in San Pedro

San Pedro is the spot most backpackers base themselves during their stay on the lake, and it's easy to see why. This very walkable and budget-friendly town has cafés, bars, restaurants, hostels, and Spanish language schools galore. To make the most of your time there, stay a couple of nights. But if you only have a day, our recommendation is to rent a kayak in the morning while the water is still calm (should be about Q15, $2 USD, an hour) and then grab a hardy breakfast at one of the cafés with vistas of the lake. We had a great experience renting kayaks from right below Sababa (walk straight off the docks, turn right at the first intersection, and you'll see the restaurant a few blocks down the road on your right). Since we weren't staying the night in San Pedro and had our camera gear we weren't too keen on bringing in the kayaks, the owner graciously stored them in a locked closet for us. After you've paddled around the cove and returned your kayak, walk upstairs to Sababa for a Q5 ($0.70 USD) cup of coffee in a swing at the bar overlooking the lake. They also serve some hardy dishes, but if you're looking for something a little more budget-friendly, head down the road to Ha Falafel and grab a seriously delicious pocket stuffed with falafel, french fries, and hot sauce for Q25 ($3.60 USD). Work off the meal wandering the maze of narrow streets and make your way to Los Termales to soak in a hot bath with views of the lake. To find it, walk along 7 Av. around Pinocchio Hotel and the San Pedro Spanish School until you see this sign.

Then follow the signs along the path until you reach the entrance. The grandmother, daughter, or granddaughter will greet you (it's owned by a super nice local family) and ask what time you'd like to begin your soak. It takes 30 minutes to an hour to fill the tub, and since the baths are BYOB, head to a tienda in town while you wait and buy a bottle of wine or some beers. You'll likely have the entire place to yourself and you can soak for as long as you'd like. The cost is Q70 ($10 USD) for one person, but drops to Q50 ($7.15 USD) per person for a group of two or more.

Catch the sunset in Panajachel

Though most backpackers book it out of Panajachel as soon as they arrive for other towns on the lake, we ended up basing ourselves there and we're happy we did. Lots of bloggers had us worried that Pana would be crowded and busy, but we were pleasantly surprised to find it much smaller than anticipated. And while Pana might not have the restaurant or hostel scene of San Pedro, it hands down has the best sunset views on the lake. Don't get us wrong — we love a good night out with new found friends as much as anyone. But watching the sunsets was our favorite thing to do every day. Each night the colors were different and the hues became more dramatic the lower the sun sank behind the volcanoes. Grab some beers and sit on the docks for great views, or go on a booze cruise for a cheap and fun way to take in the sunset. Arrive at the docks with the big boats around 5 pm and hop on one for Q10 ($1.30 USD) per person. The best part is that it's BYOB, so make sure to bring a michelada or a few beers for the ride.

Have you ever been to Lake Atitlán? Let us know your favorite things to do in the comments below!