Welcome to my first "World Travel Report - Paradise Hot Spot". In this report we will take a look at what makes Lake Atitlan, Guatemala a Paradise Hot Spot and why it scores well on my Backpacker Paradise Scale which you can learn more about here.
Backpacker Paradise Score = 4
Affordability= 4
Food= 3.5
Culture = 4
Safety = 4
Activities = 3
Hotel Value= 4
Transportation = 4
Lake Atitlan is a far cry from the dangerous and in-hospital living conditions of Guatemala City. Located five hours west of the capital by bus you can find a world of it's own. The population consists of a peaceful indigenous Mayan community, who still carry their culture and language with pride. Safety is generally not a concern here.
Lake Atitilan is very unique as the focal point is the lake with three volcanoes along the western edge. The lake hosts many lovely towns along it's border, each with it's own vibe and tourist infrastructure. The more touristy locations around the lake are San Pedro and San Marcos.
The main things to do here is kayaking, hiking, and exploring the surrounding towns that circle the lake. With affordable safe living, Lake Atitlan has attracted a retirement population from North America. One can certainly get a small apartment here in the 200 dollar range. If cooking your own meals, you could probably live comfortably here for 300-400 dollars a month.
Panajachel, is the primary town on the lake. This is where you can see the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's where the big market is, and where you can get some incredibly good food at great prices. My favorite find so far is shelled macadamia nuts for 4.75 USD per pound.
Panajachel has the highest population of both locals and foreigners, which means you can enjoy the best of both worlds. You can get a great deal on hotel and food, while still being in a community of fellow travelers with the modern services that one would expect. Panajachel is on the east coast of the lake and has the best sunsets.
Lake Atitlan is very affordable. You can easily negotiate a decent hotel room for 6-12 dollars per night if you commit to a week. I recommend El Amigo which shows up on google maps. It's very clean with a friendly staff, good wifi, hot water, and very comfortable bed. You will even have your own balcony.
Getting around is easy. Transportation consists of tuk-tuks, local buses, and ferries across the lake. The ferry will cost you about 3 dollars one way, while the local bus will cost you about 30 cents.
There are plenty of tour buses that will offer to bring you to and from other popular destinations in Guatemala, and if you're feeling adventurous you can always ride the chicken bus with the locals for pennies on the dollar.
There are plenty of restaurants catering to tourist all over the lake side communities, prices generally range from 3.50 and up. The traditional style of cooking is like a less intense Mexican, but much less bland than what you find in other parts of Central and South America.
Having your own kitchen can make a world of difference. Taking advantage of the inexpensive produce at the local market and cooking your own meals will not only save you money; it will put you in control of your diet without risk of sanitary issues.
With great weather, beautiful surroundings, a nice community, along with an exciting market and affordable accommodations; I highly recommend a visit to this Paradise Hot Spot of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
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This Coming Sunday! World Travel Report - Panama
Last Sunday, World Travel Report - Ecuador