Exploring Lake Atitlan

Boat trip between Lake towns.

I spent my last couple days on the Lake town hopping and exploring.

The placement of the towns around lake Atitlan and their names reflects the deeply mystical nature of the Indians; It is all set up as a visual representation of the world as the Maya knew it.  The different towns were positioned on the special cardinal points, starting with Santiago and proceeding around the lake.  The circle also follows the old calendar; 18 months of 20 days each and the 5 special "dead days" that fall miraculously on Easter week.

Panajachel's dock



Santiago from the boat.

The towns are named because of where their positions are according to the Saints day that corresponds with the date that fits with where the town is (Santiago Atitlan, the largest town on the lake, owes its importance to its position as the center of the Tzutujil nation, and because of the pass to the coast.)

Santiago

Santiago

Santiago

As far as any volcanic activity from the volcano's surrounding the lake they appear to be sleeping. There is no record of San Pedro having erupted in pre Hispanic or recent times, and Toliman has not erupted within historic times. Atitlan has erupted several times since 1469 but it's been more than 100 years since the volcano last erupted... although there are steam vents at the top and Atitlan still claims an occasional victim when people inadvertently find a gas cloud. 

In Panajachel, the biggest town, I went to the nature reserve and wandered around town a bit. I actually debated staying here before deciding on San Pedro as my base....after visiting it I definitely made the right decision. It was crowded and big with lots of traffic. San Pedro is so much nicer with a better vibe.
 

Panajachel



View from Panajachel

Panajachel's lake side path

The Atitlan Nature Reserve has tons of self guided hikes complete with suspension bridges over the waterfall.

There is a butterfly sanctuary and a super fun tour of eight zip lines ranging from 90 meters to 320 meters along waterfalls, canyons, the valley and the coffee grove forest.

Hiking in the nature reserve.

 



Butterfly sanctuary in Panajachel

The zip lines were definitely a highlight and I was high on adrenalin! I first climbed the mountain then crisscrossed my way down across a deep valley. The top speed is 30feet/second!

Fear factoresque walk over a river.