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Three people on a boat with a mountainous landscape in the background. 1
A group of people standing outdoors, a sign with 'PERICÓN' visible, and a structure with a roof. 2
A group of people sitting on benches under a wooden shelter. 3
A person walking on a street with colorful buildings and hanging lights. 4
Two people sitting outdoors, one holding a colorful woven basket. 5
By Guat2do Travel Experiences

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
Free cancellation available
Price is RM 507 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 16h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages

Overview

  • Explore three iconic Mayan villages of Lake Atitlan in one day (San Marcos, San Juan and Santiago), crossing the lake by boat surrounded by volcanoes.

    We leave early on purpose: in the morning the lake is calm, boat rides are smoother and the light is perfect for photos. After breakfast in Panajachel (on your own), we visit bohemian San Marcos La Laguna, known for its yoga and holistic centers. Or swim and cliff-jump at Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve instead (optional, extra fee). In San Juan La Laguna you'll walk its colorful streets and join two hands-on experiences with local families: a Mayan bee tour with honey tasting, and a cotton spinning, natural dye and weaving demo. Then choose a cacao tour or free time. We finish in Santiago Atitlan, the largest village on the lake, with lunch (on your own) and its living Mayan traditions.

    Your safety comes first: if the lake is unsafe for boats, we switch to a road route visiting Santa Catarina Palopo, San Antonio Palopo and Panajachel.

Activity location

  • Guatemala City
    • Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Guatemala City
    • Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala

Check availability

Shared Tour From Antigua

  • Activity duration is 16 hours16h
    16h
  • English

Visit 3 Mayan towns: San Marcos, San Juan & Santiago by boat. Bad weather: Santa Catarina, San Antonio Palopo & Panajachel by road.
Pickup included

Starting time: 5:30
Price details
RM 507.25 x 2 AdultsRM 1,014.50
Total
Price is RM 1,014.50
Until Wed, 11 Nov

Private From City or Antigua

  • Activity duration is 16 hours16h
    16h
  • English

Tour available every day: Visit Panajachel + 1 town, usually San Juan. If we have bad weather, we may change it to Santa Catarina or San Antonio Palopo
Pickup included

Starting time: 7:00
Price details
RM 1,318.85 x 2 AdultsRM 2,637.70
Total
Price is RM 2,637.70
Until Wed, 11 Nov

Shared Tour From The City

  • Activity duration is 16 hours16h
    16h
  • English

Visit 3 Mayan towns: San Marcos, San Juan & Santiago by boat. Bad weather: Santa Catarina, San Antonio Palopo & Panajachel by road.
Pickup included

Starting time: 4:30
Price details
RM 669.57 x 2 AdultsRM 1,339.14
Total
Price is RM 1,339.14
Until Wed, 11 Nov

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Mayan bee tour with honey tasting in San Juan La Laguna
  • Inclusions
    Bottled water
  • Inclusions
    Round-trip water taxi to 3 Mayan villages
  • Inclusions
    Cotton spinning, natural dye and weaving demonstration in San Juan
  • Inclusions
    Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off (shared, or private on the private option)
  • Inclusions
    Certified guide by The Guatemalan Tourism Board Commission
  • Inclusions
    Your choice in San Juan: cacao tour or free time for shopping and photos
  • Exclusions
    Gratuities
  • Exclusions
    Lunch
  • Exclusions
    Breakfast
  • Exclusions
    Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve entrance (optional, approx. Q40)

Know before you book

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Please note that the water taxi transfer can be a bit bumpy due to the movement of the lake waves. It is very likely that the boat will jump up and down, but don't worry, our pilots are highly professional and have years of experience. In addition, you will have life jackets at your disposal. Your safety is a priority for us.
    • If you choose the shared option, please note that we pick up all guests from their hotels, which may occasionally cause slight delays. Thank you for being ready on time and for your understanding. Your comfort and happiness are our top priorities.
    • During Holy Week, the Flower Festival, or other events when streets in Antigua close, guests may need to walk a short distance outside the city center to start the tour.
    • Weather plan B: if lake conditions are unsafe for boats, the tour switches to a road route visiting Santa Catarina Palopo, San Antonio Palopo and Panajachel. This decision is made for your safety on the day of the tour.
    • Shared tours run daily from Guatemala City, with a stop in Antigua Guatemala to pick up more travelers. If fewer than 4 travelers are booked on your date, an additional private-transportation fee may apply; we will contact you in advance.
    • This is a full-day tour with an early start: pickup around 4:30 am in Guatemala City and 5:30 am in Antigua. Breakfast (Panajachel) and lunch (Santiago Atitlan) are on your own; bring cash in quetzales.
    • Optional in San Marcos: instead of the village walk, you can swim and cliff-jump at Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve (approx. Q40 per person, paid in cash on site). You must know how to swim and bring a swimsuit and towel. Swimming and jumping are optional and at your own risk.

Activity itinerary

Guatemala City

  • 3h
Early pickup at your hotel in Guatemala City (around 4:30 am) or Antigua Guatemala (around 5:30 am). We leave early on purpose: in the morning Lake Atitlan is calm, boat rides are smoother and the light is perfect for photos. Sit back, relax or take a nap while the scenery changes from the city to farmland and volcano views. Please note the road to the lake has many curves; if you get motion sickness, we recommend taking medicine before the trip.

Panajachel

  • 1h
We arrive in Panajachel, the main gateway to Lake Atitlan, where you'll have time for breakfast (on your own) with lake and volcano views. After breakfast, we board our water taxi to start the journey across the lake to the Mayan villages.

San Marcos La Laguna

  • 45m
Our first village is San Marcos La Laguna, reached by a scenic boat ride across the lake. Known for its peaceful, bohemian atmosphere, San Marcos is famous for its yoga, meditation and holistic centers. Stroll its quiet paths among gardens and lakeside spots and take spectacular photos of the volcanoes. Optional alternative: instead of the village walk, you can visit Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve to swim in the lake and try its famous cliff jump (entrance approx. Q40 per person, paid in cash on site, not included). You must know how to swim and bring a swimsuit and towel. Travelers who choose this option meet the group again at the boat.

San Juan la Laguna

  • 2h 30m
A short boat ride takes us to San Juan La Laguna, one of the most colorful villages on the lake. We'll walk its famous streets: the colorful streets, the murals street, the hats street and the umbrellas street. Then you'll join two hands-on experiences led by local families: a Mayan bee tour with honey tasting, and a cotton tour where you'll see how cotton is spun, dyed with natural dyes and woven on traditional looms. At the end, you choose: a cacao tour or free time to explore and shop for local crafts.

Santiago Atitlan

  • 2h
Our last village is Santiago Atitlan, the largest Mayan town on the lake, set between the Toliman and Atitlan volcanoes. Here you'll have lunch (on your own) and discover its living Tz'utujil traditions, colorful streets, local market and historic church, getting a real glimpse of daily life in a Mayan community. Afterwards, we take the boat back to Panajachel (approx. 40 minutes) to meet our vehicle.

Guatemala City

  • 3h
From Panajachel we drive back and drop you off at your hotel. Approximate arrival times: Antigua Guatemala around 7:00 pm and Guatemala City around 8:00 pm, depending on traffic. Relax or take a nap on the way back after a full day on the lake.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Guatemala City
    • Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Guatemala City
    • Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala

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