Introduction
This page on Atitlan covers Solola, Panajachel and all the villages around the lake.
Getting to Atitlan
The bus from Guate costs 23 Q (12/97).
You will probably have a short stop at Los Encuentros. It's possible to go up the military post, and they might even allow you to take a picture of the crossing.
In between Los Encuentros and Solola, there used to be a military base with an enormous military boot serving as watch tower, but that has been removed after the peace agreement, a real pitty !
Buses either stop at Solola or continue to Panajachel. There are shuttles in very old pick ups between Solola and Panajachel (2 Q). If coming from the market (without your luggage), you could walk the way down from Solola to the lake. It's a very easy 10 km walk down with magnificent views of the lake and the volcanoes. However, inquire about safety first.
From Antigua there's a first class bus leaving at 7 am costing 25 Q (1/99). There are more expensive minibuses for tourists charging 10 US$ (1/99).
Getting away
The first class bus to Antigua leaves at 11 am, costing 25 Q (1/99).
Solola
The market of Solola is undoubtedly one of the best and most colorful of Guatemala, and also much better then the overrated Chichi market. Take plenty of film and a 200 mm lens and you'll be able to take plenty of marvellous pictures.
There's a restaurant near the market which serves a good plato typico, but only on market days, on other days choice is limited.
Panajachel
Introduction
Panajachel is a very touristic place on the border of the lake. Don't expect a beach or something. Plenty of people try to sell the usual souvenirs. Tourist business is flourishing with restaurants and hotels.
Hotels
Hospedaja Santa Elena I is not too good, but they might have vacancies when arriving late at night. A double room without bathroom is 25 Q (8/97).
Hospedaja Santa Elena II is better for the same price.
Hospedaje Rooms Jere (follow direction of Hospedaje Garcia) has small but nice and clean rooms for 30 Q with shared bathroom, 50 Q with bathroom and cold water, and 60 Q with bathroom and hot water (8/97).
Hospedaje Santa Domingo has simple rooms for 27 Q a double, 40 Q for a better room and 80 Q for room with bathroom. Their singles are supposed to be 13 Q, but they'll often charge 27 Q for which it is overpriced (4/99). The Posada Contemporana is close to the lake and recommended for its good rooms for 65 Q including bathroom (8/97).
The Grand Hotel at the Calle Central is brand new and has a swimming pool. Very spacious room with bathroom goes for 70 Q (12/97). You'll find more expensive hotels along the lake (like Hotel El Lago). The Atitlan hotel costs 100 US$ a double and has a small webpage http://www.guatemalaweb.com/hatitlan.htm If you want something special, you should go to Santa Cruz la Laguna by boat and stay at the Arca de Noe. They have nice bungalows at the bor
der of the lake and charge 60 Q for a double room without bath. It's clean, dinner is taken together with all the guests and costs 45 Q. There's no electricity, dinner at candlelight and no hot water. An insect repellent is a must. Recommended by most travellers if you like this kind of atmosphere with not too much luxury.
An extensive list of hotels around the lake, as well as plenty of other info can be found on http://www.atitlan.com/default.htm.
Restaurants
Guajimbo Parrillada at Calle Santander is very good and popular. Their breakfast with pancakes and fruit are delicious, but also lunch and dinner are very good (8/97). Mario is also good for pancakes in the morning, but service can be slow.
Al Chisme is also quite good, but they don't give you too much time to finish your meal.
The Grapevine has rock music and happy hour at 8 pm. Their food is not good though. Circus bar is also popular with nice atmosphere but a bit more expensive. good shrimps. The restaurant at the lakeside next to the Hotel El Lago is very good, and not as expensive as you might think.
What to do
In Panajachel itself, there's not much to see and do except relaxing and enjoying the surroundings of the lake and volcanoes. Sunset can be spectacular.
You can visit the villages around the lake, but they are very touristy, and not really recommended, unless you want to climb a volcano. In Santiago, the road towards the center is lined with tourist shops. The boattrip is quite nice of course. You can either go there by public boat (check the schedule at the tourist office in Panajachel) or by tourist boat.
I got the following e-mail from a hotel owner around the lake who disagrees with the statement above: I own a hotel, restaurant and dive school on the lake in Santa Cruz La Laguna which is not touristy.
We do not have electricity and therefore evenings are spent with travellers sharing a tale or two around the table where we eat a 3 course meal. The name of my hotel is La Iguana Perdida and is highly recommended in the guide books and was quoted by the Rough Guide as being the best hotel in Guatemala due to its atmosphere.
The are only two other hotels in Santa Cruz and therefore it cannot be very touristy. There are also a number of other villages on the lake that are worthwhile visiting, San Marcos for instance has numerous hotels that are set in coffee fields and has a stunning view over the lake to the volcanoes. May I suggest that you rewrite your reccomendation about the villages around the lake. Many thanks and I look forward to hearing your reply. I am contactable on the following email santacruz@guate.net Deedle Denman Owner of Ati Divers and La Iguana Perdida.
There are some volcanoes around to climb.
You could also go to Chichi on a day trip. Public bus will take more then 2 hours, tourist bus only 1 hour.
San Pedro
Hotels
Valle Azul is very basic and charges 20 Q for double without and 50 Q with bathroom (11/98).
Go to the mountains
Article Comments:
| 07/20/2006 |
| chris clapton (1) |
|
I have been living in Panajachel for two years now. It?s a village that is growing into a smallish town, with many amenities, comforts, and price ranges.
A newer addition to the restaurants and bars here, and distinct improvement to the nightlife scene, is the Maktub?ar Caf? - Jardin. It has good food, competitive prices, and the quality of the service, the drinks, and the ambience (music, setting, etc..) is extremely pleasant and multi cultural, the staff coming from a variety of diffeent european and south american countries.
|
