Lake Atitlán & Panajachel

Located in the Deparment of Sololá.  Framed by three towering volcanoes Atitlán (3535 m), Toliman (3200 m), San Pedro (3020 m) all extended in Lake Atitlán stands among the most beautiful lakes in the world, it is a wonder of nature. It is 1500 m (5000 feet) above sea level and 300 m deep (1000 feet) enjoys a pleasant weather all year around.  Only 2 ½ hour drive (146 km) away from Guatemala City following the Pan American Highway with great scenic views of the Mayan highlands. Panajachel a small but very charming town located on the shoreline of the lake is the gateway to explore the surroundings. A panoramic boat ride from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlán will last 30 minutes with a few stops for photos.  The Mayan village of Santiago Atitlán (pop. 35000) located over the shoreline is one of the most famous towns because of its Mayan culture that is very strong, lots of handicrafts including textiles  and paintings, Wood carved figures, beads Works, etc.  Whenever there is more time to spend, you can visit the other little Indian villages like San Antonio or Santa Catarina, each is different and each has a different traditional dresses.   There are lots of resorts, restaurants and other entertainment places in Panajachel so it is highly recommended to spend one or two nights here to get a flavor of Guatemala´s nightlife.  Panajachel is also convenient located to visit The Chichicastenango´s open air market one hour away to the north on Thursdays and Sundays.