Lake Atitlan and Surrounding Villages, departure from Antigua
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Lake Atitlan and Surrounding Villages, departure from Antigua
By Voyageur Tours
About
Ages 12-60, max of 12 per group
Duration: 12–14 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More
- Local taxes
- Local guide
- Hotel pickup
- Collective boat
What's not included- Personal expenses
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Maximon entrance fee Q25.00 p/p (this fee includes ride in Tuc-Tuc)
- Departure details
- Traveller pickup is offered.
- We can pick up in any centrally located Antigua Hotels, Air BnB and family homestays. We don't pick up in the villages around. PLEASE SEND US YOUR HOTEL NAME OR HOME ADDRESS TO CONFIRM THE RESERVATION.
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17499P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- If you will not be arriving at your destination within the specified reconfirmation period, please reconfirm with the local service provider prior to travel, or upon arrival at your destination. Please note that departure times and locations may vary slightly
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17499P2
Itinerary
- You'll get picked upSee departure details
- 1Lago de AtitlanStop: 6 hoursOur day will start at 5:30am with a shuttle transfer form Antigua to Panajachel. At 9am we'll have some time for breakfast (own expense). At 9:30am we'll take a boat tour around the lake visiting the surrounding villages: -San Juan La Laguna: Is special the Tz’tujil inhabitants take pride in their craft traditions, particularly painting and weaving, and have developed their own tourism infraestructura to highlight these traditions to outsiders. Perhaps part of what makes it all run so well is the comunal sipirit, coffee growers, fishers, organic farmesrs, natural dyers and widows are among the like-minded groups who’ve formed cooperatives here. - San Pedro la Laguna: 20 minute break -Santiago Atitlan: Accross the lake from Panajachel, on an inlet between the volcanoes of Toliman and San Pedro, lies Santiago Atitlan, the largest of the lake communities, with a strong indigenous identity. Many atitecos (as its people are known) proudly adhere to a traditional Tz’utujil Maya lifestyle. Women wear purple-Striped skirts and huipiles embroidered with colored birds and flowers, while older men still wear lavender or maroon striped embroidered pants. The town’s cofradías maintain the syncretic traditions and rituals of Mayan Catholicism. There’s a large arts and crafts scene here, too. It¡s the most workaday of the lake villages, home to Maximon, who is ceremonially moved to a new home on May 8 (after Semana Santa). The rest of the year, Maximon resides with a caretaker, receiving offerings. He changes house every year. Our day will end at 4:00pm with a departure from Panajachel back to Antigua.Read more
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
- Trevor G00Might be the world’s most beautiful inland lakeA great trip this. Lake, surrounded by volcanoes is stunning. Boat ride to villages is a trial though - top speed across the lake with the boat rising and banging down hard on the water every 10 seconds. Not for the faint hearted.
- parisorn00Great experience, must do experience in Antigua!Wonderful tour company, super responsive to messages. Moderate hike, about 7 km long. Wish I wore good hiking boots instead of sneakers as you kick up a lot of dust especially on the descent. Gorgeous views, loved the marshmallows. Company was extra kind and circled around to drop off my stuff I had left on the van after we got dropped off. 100% would recommend!
- bcarter2600The Best Experience Ever !This was my favorite experience from my trip to Antigua! The tour guide/staff was very friendly. We chose the horseback riding option which was very helpful for those who may not feel like hiking by foot. The views were absolutely incredible, they seemed unreal. We ate pizza and roasted marshmallows as we looked at the sunset. Really great experience would highly recommend.
- Lisbethdiazz00Beautiful day tourThe tour was amazing! A lot of information, the tour guide Elena was great and very nice. Only thing is that the drive to the lake is long and is going up and down mountains so if you get car sick, please be ready. Other than that, perfect day tour!
- Navigate32480300Enjoyable hike.As others have mentioned: the park entrance fee is likely not included in your 'booked excursion', so check closely and bring quetzales. I like to hike at a brisk walking pace, which is what our guide was doing. I could keep up with him, but I was definitely huffing and puffing a bit (not sure if altitude and/or we were on second day of trip and my legs felt a bit tired). So it took me about an hour, but a so-so conditioned person can do it in 80 minutes, with short rests here and there. It's actually quite vigorous, I recommend bringing a minimum of 24 ozs of water and wear short sleeves. I wore hiking type pants and hiking shoes. Shorts would have been ok. Sneakers would work, although they'd likely get really dirty. There is definitely quite a bit of rocky/rooty terrain. (Our excursion included then going to 'hot springs' that were really some heated pools at a hotel, but they did feel good, it was not too over-crowded and it was an enjoyable post-hike relaxation activity)
- staufferjames00Beatiful views to an alien landscapeHelpful guide. He ran my backpack up to another person in my group who was riding a horse. He stopped to explain a few plants and bugs along the way. He even ate a grub.
- emilyoO1144UD00Tour pacaya VolcanoI love Guatemala ... It´s boutiful landscapes , I loved the experience at the Pacaya Volcano, the views are wonderful. They have a great service, the staff is very friendly and helpful! I would like to be back soon.
- markhamk202100Stunning views with tasty treatFantastic tour. Stress free pick up and drop off. Hike was moderate but definitely recommend to bring hiking shoes and water. Beautiful views and amazing experience roasting marshmallows over the volcano!
- Climber66224000Neat day trip!Neat trip and hike on the volcano. We were picked up exactly on time, our guide spoke great English and was very informative about the volcano. Roasting marshmallows on a volcano was a unique experience!
- adambC5974QR00Terrific!The hike to the volcano was one of the phenomenal experiences, they picked me up on time, the trip was comfortable, when I arrived we started the hike they gave us a warm welcome, I enjoyed the way, beautiful views to take photos, we roasted marshmallows on the hot spots and made pizza among the rocks, thanks to Alicia who was the girl who kindly assisted me in the office, I highly recommend them!
- Kevin O00Great hike with convenient transportation!Great hike and views! The uphill was shorter than anticipated (about 1hr 20min total up) and the downhill was less steep and full of cool views of the lava fields and surrounding mountain sides. Note there is no flowing lava at this time (Sept 2023). Also note there are people trying to sell horse rides and they will hike next to you the whole way up. If you stay towards the front of the group, it is less crowded and more enjoyable (unless you want to walk next to or behind horses). This pickup from downtown Antigua and drop off was also very easy. They had comfortable busses and picked up and dropped off every member of the tour from their hotels/airbnbs. Don’t forget Quetzals to tip the tour guide(s) and bus driver. Overall highly recommend and would do again!
- lcuandon00Good intro hikeThe hike was great and the pizza guy at the end was awesome! A little steep and loose dirt, but def doable and def easier than Acatenango
- Stefan K00Beautiful views and unique experience!Amazing experience! Shuttle picked us up right on time at 6am and we made it out to the trail head in about an hour. The hike itself is not too difficult, and our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful views on the way up for photo opportunities, and roasting marshmallows and eating pizza made over the volcanic rocks at the top was a great way to cap it off. The whole thing takes about 2 hours up and down and you’re back in Antigua by around 12pm. Highly recommended!
- amberhZ1431XO00Nice lake but wouldn’t do the tour againThe trip was ok- the lake was pretty but more time was spent shopping at the villages. All of the souvenirs and stuff are the same as you would see elsewhere. They stopped for breakfast and lunch at sit down restaurants and if you weren’t eating you just had to sit there and that felt like a waste of time. There was also the expectation that everyone do the tuktuk and if one person didn’t go, the whole group didn’t go. The tour was not in Spanish, but English
- K8357CNanat00Our great experience to pacaya volcano hikeIt was hard but worth it at the end so beautiful breath taking ✨️ our driver came to pick us up on time very nice gentleman our guide a very happy joung men very polite and intiusiastic Ii was raining but rain help with weather I will definitely recommend it 😀
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
11 reviews
Excellent
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4
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Martha N
1 contribution
Apr. 2018 • Solo
The lake is a pretty sight, and we got to see a Mayan religious ceremony, a weaving demonstration, and a presentation on herbs. That said, I hardly think it was worth a 14 1/2 hour day, 6 of which was spent in a shuttle. The "villages" you visit are more like cities without charm. The last one was 60,000 people, double the size of Antigua. The boat ride was so fast against the waves that we were slamming down upon our metal seats. I could go on, but you get the idea. This trip was my one regret of my visit to Guatemala.
Written April 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig F
Falkirk, UK12 contributions
Myself and my partner booked this trip before joining another longer tour and went just after arriving from Scotland. Early start no problem as our body clocks were still on UK time. Stunning location and a very informative guide. Great introduction to Mayan locals and very interesting contrasts between three very different villages. Long bus trip worth it.
Written April 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frapert
Glasgow, UK17 contributions
Nov. 2019 • Couples
A really charming town full of so much history. Once you get used to the bumpy streets. Also several interesting villages in surrounding area.
Written November 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve
Ruskin, FL39 contributions
Is travel to Lake Atitlan now open to travelers from te US?
Sheyla Z
Miami, FL41 contributions
Hello, i want to sign up and my daughter and i. My daughter is 5 years old, do i have to pay for her? or is her trip free? please confirm, thank you!
AmyH10323
Parker, CO89 contributions
I just responded that I didn't think this was a trip for young children but I was thinking you were inquiring about the ATV trip. We did the villages on our own. I am not sure if the water taxi charges for children but in any case the water taxi is only a couple dollars.