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In November 2025, I spent 17 days in Guatemala with 7 days staying on the beautiful Lake Atitlán! It’s a charming and peaceful place which is sure to stay in your heart long after you leave. A place that allows you to slow down, feel the breeze in your hair and take in local culture at every corner. It should be a firm favourite on any Guatemala itinerary and for good reason! In this post, I’ll give you a break down of my favourite towns – where you should go, stay and eat.
San Pedro
We’re starting strong with San Pedro, one of the most popular towns on the lake. Known as the hub for backpackers, you might have already heard of it! I would generally agree that it’s the best place to stay on the lake if you want to be easily connected to the rest of the towns.
From here, you can pretty much hop on a lancha (small boat) to any of the other towns on the lake. It’s also the perfect place to learn Spanish, with multiple schools in the area. Spanish schools here often offer packages including lessons, accommodation with a local family and meals included which is an amazing way to immerse yourself into the language. San Pedro is definitely busier than some other towns but there can also be a relaxing element if you choose your accommodation wisely; i.e don’t stay at Mr Mullets if you don’t want party 😅
We stayed in an Airbnb just outside of the main town and it was so peaceful and relaxing – I would really recommend this if you want a chilled base in San Pedro! It was a small cabin but had all of the amenities you’d need, including a small kitchen area. If you’re interested in staying at this Airbnb, I’ve left the link here.
Where to stay in San Pedro
- Boujee backpacker – Sababa Resort
- Party backpacker – Mr Mullet’s
- Relaxed backpacker – Mandala’s Hostal
- Apartment over hostel backpacker – Jair’s Lake Room
Where to eat in San Pedro
- Sababa
- Tacomex
- Orbe Café
- Bistro Isabella
- Restaurante Laila
- Las Delicias de Pablo
What to do in San Pedro
- Indian Nose Hike (hike itself is in Santa Clara but pick up is from San Pedro)
- Los Termales thermal baths
- Spanish school (there are so many in the area but the most popular are San Pedro Spanish School and Community Spanish School)
- Cafe hopping!
- Tzunun’ Ya’ local museum
San Juan
San Juan was maybe my favourite town on the lake; full of colour, friendly people and amazing vibes. It is quite small but it still packs so much charm. San Juan is home to possibly the most colourful street on the lake, La Calle de las Sombrillas! Aside from this, it’s known for being the art hub of the lake, with many murals on the buildings and weaving workshops. It’s the perfect stop for a day trip on the lake and easily accessed from San Pedro (tuk tuk or lancha) and Panajachel (lancha).
Where to stay in San Juan
- Sustainable and chilled – 4 Elementos Hostal
- Beautiful lake views – Hotel Villa Luna
Where to eat in San Juan
- Nativo Coffee Shop
- Deleite Ancestral Experiencia con RESERVA Soy Cocina Tradicional Tz’utujil (quite possibly my favourite food experience in Guatemala!)
What to do in San Juan
- Cerro Kiaq’Aiswaan viewpoint
- Walking tour of the town
- La Calle de las Sombrillas
- Independent art galleries
- Weaving workshops
San Marcos
A town mostly known for relaxation and spirituality but there is more to San Marcos! I loved the nature aspect here; the nature reserve (Reserva Natural Cerro Tzankujil) is truly special and a must visit. You could easily spend a few relaxing days here to really enjoy the tranquility. San Marcos is also the best spot for some yoga – there are some amazing studios here with incredible volcano views too.
Where to stay in San Marcos
- A unique stay in a converted Volkswagen – El Destino
- For the luxury travellers – Kula Maya Boutique Hotel and Spa
Where to eat in San Marcos
- Circle’s Cafe & Bakery
- The Emporium Plaza
- Arati Café
- La Cocina at Lush
What to do in San Marcos
- Yoga at the Eagle’s Nest
- Reserva Natural Cerro Tzankujil
- Dive platform (accessible from the reserva)
Jaibalito
An honorary mention to Jaibalito is a must on my list. While I sadly didn’t visit the town itself, I did visit the iconic Casa del Mundo which is located here. A picture-perfect hotel nestled on the side of a cliff, with incredible views over the lake. Day passes are available at just 50Q (£5) which let you experience a relaxing day here and it’s so worth it! Casa del Mundo is easily accessible by lancha on the routes between San Pedro and Panajachel. If you tell them you are visiting, they will make an additional stop after Jaibalito to drop you off at the hotels dock. You can get picked up from the same dock when you leave. Of course, you could even stay here but be warned, the hotel books up well in advance during high season.
Panajachel
Known as the gateway to Lake Atitlán, it’s very likely your arrival at the lake will be here. Similar to San Pedro, Panajachel is a backpacker-favourite destination to stay. Calle Santander is the main street here with many street-vendors. So if you need to pick up any souvenirs or do any shopping, you’re in the right place! It also has magical sunsets over the lake so make sure you head down to Playa Publica around sunset. I shared my final sunset on the lake there with the cutest dog and the memory will stay with me forever!
Where to stay in Panajachel
- Variety of rooms (tents, privates and shared dorms) – Socialtel Atitlán
- Budget friendly and quiet – Posada don Miguel
Where to eat in Panajachel
- The Little Spoon
- 7 Caldos
What to do in Panajachel
- Sunset watching at Playa Publica
- Shopping on Calle Santander
- Chichicastenango market (the largest in Guatemala!)
Other towns on the lake
While I didn’t manage to visit all 11 towns on the lake, these are the 5 I did visit and I thoroughly enjoyed them all! I wanted to give a mention to a few other towns that I don’t have first-hand experience of visiting, but they were well-recommended by locals and other travellers:
- Santiago Atitlán – a traditional Mayan town surrounded by volcanoes
- San Lucas Tolimán – an authentic town with markets and coffee tours
Summary
Wherever you choose to stay during your time at the lake, you will not be disappointed! Every town has its own charm and amazing views. The best part about the lake is that it’s so easy to travel around by lancha or tuk tuk. So you can day trip every day if you want to! You can even split your stay over 2 or 3 towns if you want to fully experience the lake some more.
Lake Atitlán fits very well into a wider trip of Guatemala as it is easily reached from both Guatemala City and El Paredón. All of my transfers and overnight buses in Guatemala, I booked via Bookaway. It was really easy to book online, with numerous options for different times and types of transport so I would really recommend.
If you haven’t already, take a look at my Antigua guide, Acatenango Hike Tips and Full Guatemala Itinerary. If you have any other questions about the towns of Lake Atitlán or Guatemala in general, drop me a message (@jetsettingwithsian on all socials) and I’ll be happy to help!