·
Gardens and lunch at Hotel Atitlan. See this
article in TripAdvisor,
or the website for the hotel. There
is a fee to enter, but if you eat lunch there (which we recommend), the entry
fee is deducted from your lunch. Leave a couple hours to wander and see the
flowers, peacocks, macaws and more.
·
Nature
Reserve. The giant caldera that made Lake Atitlan and its three volcanoes
frame the experience of nature on the nature trails, the hanging bridges or
perched on the highest zip line. In the butterfly
preserve you can enjoy the colors and forms of hun\dreds of butterflies
surrounded by flowers and the sounds of water. See the monkeys and agoutis. The
two courses of zip lines fly of waterfalls, a coffee grove, the oak stands and
the steep cliffs the guard the lake. You can take a break and have lunch,
coffee or a drink and then continue to explore the diversity and beauty of this
natural wonder. (Admission,
possibly 65Q/$9 adults)
·
Shopping and Markets
o Calle
Santander. Street merchants.
(always ask for a “discuento”/discount, often about 50%).
o Mercados
(markets) in Panajachel and a large one up in Solola. Open-air markets, noisy
and vibrant. Vivid colors and variety of foods and products.
o Stores
like Thirteen
Threads Fair Trade Store.
·
Museums and culture
o Museo
Azul Maya: It is a Mayan
Archaeological Museum with over 1250 pre-Hispanic pieces, 99% are original, we
have ceramics, jade, obsidian, alabaster and perdernal. Dating back to 250-900
A.C.
o Casa
Cakchiquel and Cultural Center. The history of the building is well
documented with stories about the European duchess who built it as a luxury
hotel. The photos are great and add to the story. There are also historical
photos from the area that document the local Mayan people and the visitors from
back in the day before airlines.
o Museum
at Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo.
An excellent place to learn how the lake was formed -- there is a series
of illustrations covering significant wall space at the beginning of the tour.
The artifacts are displayed in half-light, which adds to the feeling of
underwater --- and also makes it a bit harder to see details. Just two or three
rooms - but a half hour (or more) well spent if you like to reflect on history.
Beautiful grounds for the hotel, and a nice restaurant.
o Maya
Traditions Herbal Medicine Garden.
Herbal garden, learn about Maya culture. Tea-tasting.
o La
Galeria.
·
Nearby towns by boat
o San Pedro La Laguna.
We go there each Wednesday for our ministry. Hilly town, but relaxed, mellow
‘vibe’. Lots of foreigners.
o San Marcos:
Congregation goes there each Friday for ministry. Very hilly but beautiful,
green. New age ‘vibe’.
o San Juan La Laguna: Steep hills.
Watch women weaving. Buy paintings.
o Santiago Atitlan: Lots of shopping. This website also has good
information about points around Lake Atitlan.
·
Nearby towns, by car
o San
Antonio Palopo. By car or back of a pickup. Has a factory making ceramics.
o Santa Catarina
Palopo. By car or back of a pickup. Fewer foreigners; Spanish congregation
goes in the ministry there on
Thursday mornings. Beautiful view of the lake.
o Antigua:
By car, possibly 2 hours. Antigua is the original capital of Guatemala, and has
many old historic buildings from the Spanish colonial era.
·
Sporting activities
o Kayak rental
o Zip-line.
(see Nature Reserve)
o Rent
a bike or mountain bike.
o Climb
volcano San Pedro (or Pacaya, closer to Antigua)
o Horseback
riding around San Pedro, see a coffee plantation.
·
Archeology
o Iximche
Ruins. A little drive from Pana, between Pana and Guatemala City, near
Tecpan and Chimaltenango. This is a significant (though small) historical site
which was the capital of the Kachiquel Maya when the Spanish arrived in 1524. Closed
Mondays possibly. Tour guides (Spanish-speaking) available.
Source:
TripAdvisor
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