This village is noticeably more high energy than the others and seems to be the Lakes epicenter for expats. Lake Atitlan 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor You can arrange for a shuttle or private taxi to take you from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua, which is about an hour away. The chicken bus fare from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan is around$4-5 USD. How will you get to Lake Atitlan? Although it may come as a surprise to some, many travelers tend to agree that Guatemala is one of the most fascinating destinations in the Americas. Stay watchful while exploring villages, especially crowded areas, markets, poorly lit alleys and places after dark. Guatemalas Lake Atitlan is without a doubt the most fascinating destination Ive ever visited. Our content may not be reproduced without our written permission. Go Paragliding Over Lake Atitlan 4. And if you are seeking for more peaceful and less crowded experience, there are still plenty of places to go - to get the idyllic atmosphere, head either to Santa Cruz or San Marcos. Transportation from Lake Atitlan to Guatemala airport In Santa Cruz you can walk around the village and then eat lunch at Cafe Sabor Cruceno, which is a part of theAmigos de Santa Cruznonprofit charity. It allows you to witness firsthand the sophistication and grandeur of the Maya that populated this city as well as providing insights into their diverse customs and beliefs. For one, Lake Atitlan is flanked by three immense stratovolcanoes on its southern end. Theyre one of the most trusted travel insurance providers and their plans cover a wide range of claims from overseas medical care to emergency evacuation. These three volcanoes (Volcan San Pedro, Volcan Toliman, and Volcan Atitlan) tower above the surrounding landscape and can be seen from almost every village on the lake. Our recommended tours in Lake Atitlan: Catch a Lake Atitlan Sunrise and Sunset 2. Lake Atitlan 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor Your fare to Santa Cruz or La Fortuna should be 10Q. All of Lake Atitlans villages are very walkable, but youll likely need a ferry to get from place to place. Sounds very beautiful, I love lakes.. Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel. As a One Key member, you can earn OneKeyCash on top of airline miles. Lake Atitlans nearest major airport is Guatemala Citys La Aurora International Airport, about 3.5 hours away. Rather tempted now to visit to explore it for myself. Lake Atitln (Spanish: Lago de Atitln, [atitlan]) is a lake in the Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierra Madre mountain range. If you want to stay and explore Guatemala City first, most hostels and hotels can arrange a shuttle bus from there. This town is home to small hot springs in the lake and cute cafes. Further, there arent that many cars around the lake. While Lake Atitlan is known for this vibrant culture, its also incredibly scenic. With the exception of decent WiFi (it depends on your definition) we found all of that in San Marcos La Laguna, a village on Lake Atitln in the highlands of Guatemala, where we just spent two and a half months. I am not sure how often they run so you would have to ask when you are there. 2. from AU$101 per adult. Eagle's Nest Atitln - Booking.com Search cheap flights to Lake Atitlan (GUA) today with Orbitz. Canon M50 | Trail Walking Shoes for Him & for Her | Daypack for Him & for Her | Waterproof Jacket for Him & for Her | Fleece Jacket for Him & for Her. The lake is a magical place, and from its shore, it is spectacular to see how the sky and surrounding volcanoes are turning red, orange and pink. Tackle a Lake Atitlan Hike or Two 3. While the 3:00 AM wake-up call is rough, you won't regret it once you reach the lookout . Cheap Flights to Lake Atitlan - Expedia.com Honestly, you have convinced me to add this one in my bucket lists! Oh I know, it's a perfect option for some. Alternatively, you may use. Shuttle Bus. It's true that the traffic in Chimal and entering GC has been truly awful lately during the week. A Guide to Living in San Marcos La Laguna, Lake Atitln ), waterfalls, hiking trails, wildlife, and zip lines! Yeah the countryside of any country is generally much safer than the big cities. If you ask someone what Maximon does, they will tell you that he only smokes, drinks, and sleeps. It is one of the natural gems of this country in Central America. I took the bus from Guatemala City to Panajachel last January. Circlesis a cafe and bakery in the center of town that has a very European vibe. DONT MISS: Jungle hikes, ATVs, and more, San Pedro is the place to book your adventure tours. 29 miles: Chicago, IL (ORD / KORD) Chicago O'Hare International Airport. If you are backpacker, want to meet new people, party, hang out, and socialize with others, and looking for a cheap place to stay, you will find all of this and much more in San Pedro La Laguna. Every experience is well worth it, and even a short glimpse of the sparkling water surface will stay in your memories forever. For those who want to read about Lake Atitlan but arent necessarily planning on visiting, you can skip ahead to the next section. Photo: Fiona Mokry. In this post, I will tell you all the possible ways you can get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan for every budget and style. You can arrange for a shuttle or private taxi to take you from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua, which is about an hour away. Mayan Bath: This is a site where residents of Santiago go to bathe and wash their clothes in the lake. Your cheapest option: a direct bus from Pana to GC. 1 Panajachel - Lake Atitlan's most-visited town; 2 San Pedro La Laguna - a laid-back small town with established backpacker reputation; 3 San Marcos La Laguna - "less party, more meditation" than San Pedro; 4 Santiago Atitln, small town on south side of Lake Atitln, famous for a shrine to Maximn; 5 Santa Cruz la Laguna - small village on . Iv heading to Santiago, youll need to make your way to the Publico ferry on the south end of town, which should also cost 25Q. In Santiago, learn about the Church of Saint James the Apostles turbulent past, get lost in the sprawling weekly Friday market and find this years location of the Maximn shrine. 8. Traveling through Lake Atitlan is exciting and safe, but you never know when some good travel insurance could come in handy. Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. The most up-to-date information you can get is usually by asking a manager in your hotel or local guides. Although for best quality, you might visit San Juan or Santiago for your souvenir shopping. Its also cheap to stay here, with beds going for around $7 and even the nicest rooms topping out at $30/night. Theyre created with the goal of improving the lives of the families involved and to promote local businesses within the community. Today, with a bit more pocket change, we can't imagine going by anything other than private shuttle. It's also the best time to visit Lake Atitlan, though shoulder season is your best bet if you want to avoid the crowds high season always brings. When not on a strict schedule, it is pretty easy to lose track of time, and every day find a new activity, and discover before unseen highlights. La Aurora Airport offers nonstop flights to 20 cities. If time allows, visit more than just one town on Lake Atitlan's shore. Contrary to popular belief, Guatemala is not a country where danger lurks around every corner. How To Get From Guatemala Airport To City Center Best Way, How To Get From Guatemala Airport To Antigua Best Way. But if you are working on your Guatemala itinerary without much success, and cannot afford to go just with the flow, here are the top things to do around Lake Atitlan. Owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul The airport is located near the Twin Cities suburbs of Lakeville and Farmington.. If you are traveling on a budget you can get the shuttle from Guatemala airport. Enter your preferred departure and arrival points in the form fields . And the tuk tuk reminds me a lot of the Filipino trisikad! The lake, 1,049 feet (320 metres) deep, is 12 miles (19 km) long and 6 miles (10 km) wide, with an area of 49.3 square miles (127.7 square km). THE BEST Lake Atitlan Transportation (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor If planned in advance, you can find reasonable direct flights to Guatemala City from most major hubs in North America including Houston from $217, Mexico City for $176, or Miami for $240 with our favorite flight search site, Skyscanner. Here you can reserve Indian Nose Hiking Tour in advance. Either way, bring correct change if possible. We wont make it to Central America this time, but your article confirms that should be among our next trips. You have two options after landing in Guatemala City: either you go through Antigua or you go straight there. Youre welcome Jamie! Some travelers choose to travel first to Antigua, and then to Lake Atitlan area, some of them travel there directly. Private Lake Atitlan Tour in Town of Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa and San Juan. The total travel time by chicken bus is around 6-7 hours. Expect to pay about 5Q/person during the day and 10Q/person at night. Note: This page contains affiliate links. Further, the road is somewhat precarious so dont take this route if youre prone to motion sickness. If you want to buy something really authentic in Guatemala, or you are simply interested in weaving and handworks, head to San Juan village where you can search for high-quality textiles, clothes, and purses. Therefore even in Guatemala's remote areas, at Lake Atitlan to be precise, you can find several yoga retreats, where you can work on your body and soul. Read more about the best things to do, top activities, tips on where to stay, when to travel, how to get to Lake Atitlan, and safety advice. Located between Lake Atitlan and Guatemala City is the incredibly well-restored and maintained colonial city of Antigua. Climbing the Indian's Nose gives a great view. You can pre-book withUber appand expect to pay around$100-125 USDdepending on your destination and time of the day from Guatemala airport to Lake Atitlan. In fact, the Prussian naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt once described Atitlan as the most beautiful lake in the world.. Lake Atitlan is a beautiful lake located in Guatemala's highland mountains. Closer markets to the lake are in Panajachel or Solola as well, where travelers can taste the fresh produce from the near surroundings. I liked learning about why the crime is so low in the villages in the area. Listen to Live Music at Jose Pinginos in Panajachel 5. San Marcos is a beautiful and relaxed village that has become an especially popular destination for those looking for all things related to a more hippie lifestyle. It takes about three to five hours to reach Lake Atitlan on a tourist shuttle and you can expect to pay around 50-70 quetzals for a ride ($6-9 USD). World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities. Name Atitln means "between the waters". The distance fromLa Aurora International Airportto Lake Atitlan is 140 kilometers. You'd be paying around half or a bit more of that for 3 people in a shuttle, so it comes down to personal preference as to whether it's worth it. In case you're interested, our favorite private driver, Alfredo Garcia, is bilingual, personable, prompt, and safe, and has nice vehicles: alf.transport@yahoo.com. This allows you to pick the cheapest days to fly if your trip allows flexibility and score cheap flight deals to Lake Atitlan. The price will be depending on the pickup point and schedule! more, Weve searched 100s of deals recently found by travelers. Lanchas are the main method of transportation around Lake Atitlan because the roads are overall in poor condition. Boats usually run on an infrequent schedule, but you should get an approximate time of departure when asking around. Thanks for stopping by! These cooperatives are composed of multiple individuals or families that have decided to work together to sell a specific type of product. Add Price Drop Protection and Expedia will pay you back if your flight gets cheaper.*. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. For a detailed description of this fascinating identity, see our article about Mayan culturein Guatemala and Mexico. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. went pretty smoothly and the return was just the same. Mikaso Hotel y Restaurante is a popular choice among travelers who want to spend a night in the town. Antigua is very safe and you wont have any problems getting there. To Depart Wed, 7/12 Return Wed, 7/19 Travelers 1, Economy Prefer nonstop Include nearby airports Find flights Top Attractions in Lake Atitlan See all Eagle's Nest Atitln - Yoga & Dance 294 Reviews San Marcos La Laguna Lago de Atitln 773 Reviews Lake Atitlan Atitlan Nature Reserve 833 Reviews Panajachel Hotel Atitlan Gardens 273 Reviews Panajachel Fishers ply the lake's aquamarine surface. We would recommend traveling during the wet season to anyone who is not on a strict schedule, and who can postpone plans or be flexible. Here are 2 transportation providers Ive been pleased with in Guatemala for share shuttles, private transfers, and flight arrangements: Adrenalina Tours: http://www.adrenalinatours.com, Rainbow Travel: http://www.rainbowtravelcenter.com, Our favorite private driver, Alfredo Garcia, is bilingual, personable, prompt, and safe, and has nice vehicles: alf.transport@yahoo.com.