When you’re planning to visit Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, one of the most important things to research is your accommodation. I’ve put together this guide on where to stay in Lake Atitlán to help you narrow your search. Each of the properties I researched have a minimum 8/10 review level and several are places I considered booking. If you’re looking for more details on each of the villages, I also wrote an in-depth guide to Lake Atitlán. I hope you enjoy this blog post and planning your own fabulous trip to this gorgeous area in Guatemala!
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Where is Guatemala Located?
Guatemala is a country in Central America that’s located between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It shares borders with Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Where is Lake Atitlán Located?
Lake Atitlán is situated approximately 3 hours southeast of Quetzaltenango and 4 hours west of Guatemala City.
Kinds of Accommodation to Book in Lake Atitlán
For different types of affordable accommodation, there’s Airbnb and VRBO for vacation home rentals or Hotels.com for discounted hotel stays. Hostelworld is an excellent website to research and compare hostel options.
As you can see from the map below, there are more than enough options to choose from when you stay in Lake Atitlán. Scroll farther down and I’ll give specific options for each town.
Where to Stay in Lake Atitlán
There are 12 towns surrounding Lake Atitlán. In this blog post you’ll find a small summary on each of the 5 most popular places to stay (listed below). If you’d like to learn more about each town, along with helpful transportation, activity, and food information for visiting Lake Atitlán, check out this extensive guide on planning a trip to Lake Atitlán. I’ll share more about these 5 towns, along with a variety of accommodation options to book.
- San Pedro La Laguna (Spanish schools, backpacker vibe, party town)
- San Marcos La Laguna (hippy vibe, yoga retreats)
- San Juan La Laguna (most colourful village)
- Santiago (big yet quaint)
- Panajachel (access to services, chaotic, entry point to Lake Atitlán)
The other 7 towns are:
- San Antonio Palopó (eastern shore, known for its pottery)
- San Lucas Tolimán (eastern shore)
- Santa Clara (inland, north of San Pablo)
- Santa Catarina Palopo (the “blue town”)
- Santa Cruz (halfway between San Marcos and Panajachel)
- Jaibailito (secluded village)
- Tzununa (permaculture hub)
Pro Tip: Staying in a variety of accommodations can provide very different perspectives on a place. I stayed in my first ever homestay in Lake Atitlán and had a phenomenal experience. In Antigua my accommodation was an AirBnb. In El Paredón I stayed in a hostel. To bookend my trip in Guatemala City I stayed in both an AirBnb and with a friend’s family. Each of them were fantastic and suited the location, my needs, and my goals for different parts of the trip.
San Pedro La Laguna
San Pedro La Laguna is known as a Spanish language learning hub for travellers heading to Lake Atitlán. It’s the reason that brought me there and one I would return for again. I wrote about my experience attending a language school if you’re interested in learning more.
This lively town reminded me of my backpacking days over a decade ago. It’s laidback, with a slower pace and a less frenetic energy than other backpacking areas. In the town centre’s cafes, foreigners read books, write in journals, chat face-to-face, and enjoy the view at leisure. I was pleasantly surprised by the interaction between locals and foreigners – friendly, open, and welcoming. I don’t think I’ve been in a place where I’ve been greeted by more smiles!
Book Accommodation in San Pedro La Laguna
- Budget: Mandala’s Hostal
- Notorious Party Hostel: Mr. Mullet’s
- Mid-Range: Sababa Resort
- Boutique: Luxury Atitlán Suites
- Luxury: Lakefront Villa with Beach Access & Infinity Pool
- Special Mention: Homestay with San Pedro Spanish School *I stayed here and absolutely loved it!
San Juan La Laguna
San Juan La Laguna is a 45-minute walk, a short tuk-tuk drive, or a lancha (small boat) ride away from San Pedro La Laguna. Keep in mind that there isn’t a dedicated sidewalk on the main road so it’s not safe to walk along at night.
Known as the most colourful of the lakeside pueblos, San Juan is bursting with vibrant art from the roads to the murals to the galleries. The locals, the Tz’utujil Maya, are talented artisans in weaving, natural dyes, and painting. La Calle de las Artes is the main road and is lined with cafes, colourful art, and shops. Calle de los Sombreros, the road pictured below, is another picturesque spot. In the background, you’ll also see Rostro Maya (Indian Nose). Many people head to Mirador Kiaq’Aiswaan, a popular lookout. I didn’t make it there on our short visit but there’s always next time!
Book Accommodation in San Juan La Laguna
- Budget: 4 Elementos Hostal or Eco-Hostel Mayachik
- Budget Hotel: Posada Woochooch or El Chirris B&B
- Boutique: Kula Maya Boutique Hotel and Spa
- Luxury: Principitos Universe (new property)
- Special Mention: Mundo Abu San
San Marcos La Laguna
San Marcos La Laguna’s aura is evident the second your foot touches the dock. Foreigners in baggy yoga pants, casual hand pans laying around, gentrified coffee shops with Instagrammable design, and greenery everywhere. It’s where people come to participate in zen yoga retreats, to centre themselves, and to take a pause from the chaos of life outside.
San Marcos is one of the most popular places to stay in Lake Atitlán. Places like Baba Yaga Atitlan mix indoor-outdoor living with an open-air bath, yoga classes, and balconies with volcanic views.
With limited time for our visit, it was where we briefly wandered the streets located closest to the lake and ate a quick bite before hopping back into the boat. I’m curious to return and meander down side streets and dig a little deeper.
Book Accommodation in San Marcos La Laguna
- Budget: Maya Moon Lodge or Del Lago Atitlán
- Mid-Range: Sarnai
- Luxury: 1-Bedroom Loft Villa with Outdoor Shower
Panajachel
On the north shore of Lake Atitlán, Panajachel’s location, services, and access to transportation routes connecting to the rest of Guatemala, make it a good place to stay on your first or last night, depending on your itinerary. Many people come from Antigua to Panajachel to start their Lake Atitlán travels. Calle Santander is the main street and where you’ll find all sorts of travel agencies offering shuttles and tours, as well as souvenir shops and market stalls. Pana is more chaotic, given its size, so it may not be the place you choose to have your extended stay.
Book Accommodation in Panajachel
- Budget: Socialtel Panajachel (scroll down for the dorms) or Nomades Hostel
- Budget (Party Hostel): Dreamboat Hostel
- Mid-Range: The Lake House
- Special Mention: Maya Experience Homestay
Santiago
Despite our short visit, I got the feeling that Santiago is a neat place. Like the other villages on Lake Atitlán, it is colourful and vibrant. It is bigger than San Pedro and San Juan. While its population is also larger than Panajachel, it was less chaotic, more quaint, and seemed to retain more of its authenticity than Pana. Locals wearing traditional traje (clothing) will try to sell you art, tours, and the secret location of the deity Maximón who moves from house to house. Check out the coffee and chocolate cafes, the 16th century Santiago Apostle Church, artisan shops, and a famous mirador (viewpoint).
Book Accommodation in Santiago
- Budget: Amankaya Lake House
- Boutique: Hotel Bambu
- Group Spot: Charming 4-Bed House with Lake & Volcano View & Lake Access
Other Pueblos on Lake Atitlán
On this most recent visit I didn’t make it to the other 7 towns, so I don’t have firsthand knowledge to provide. That being said, I researched accommodation that is unique, highly rated, and provides a variety of amenities for you to choose. Simply click on the town name to produce an option.
- Santa Clara (inland, north of San Pablo)
- San Antonio Palopó (eastern shore, known for its pottery)
- San Lucas Tolimán (eastern shore)
- Santa Catarina Palopo (the “blue town”)
- Santa Cruz (halfway between San Marcos and Panajachel)
- Jaibailito (secluded village)
- Tzununa (permaculture hub)
Sneak Peek of Your Time in Lake Atitlán
Curious to preview your itinerary? Have a sneak peek here! Still have questions about planning your first trip to Guatemala? Send me a DM on Instagram or through my website contact page and I’ll be happy to help where possible.
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Helpful Tips for Booking Your Trips
Flights
If you want affordable flights, you must get into the points and miles game. Check out my Points and Miles Travel Coaching services to help Canadians fly for less than a tank of gas!
Car Rentals
To help you explore new destinations, turn to Discover Cars for a huge range of vehicle options and excellent prices.
Accommodation
There are so many options for affordable, comfortable, and unique accommodation. Some of my favourite accommodation options are housesitting and hostels. I’ve been using Trusted Housesitters and Hostelworld for years. If you prefer hotels, then check out Booking.com.
Activities
Get Your Guide is a fantastic resource for different activities to try when travelling. They have everything from walking tours, food tours, tickets to attractions, and multi-day trips, and more. Check out this super cool view I had of Helsinki when I was in Finland for the Christmas markets. My favourite GYG tour so far was the fantastic walking food tour I did in Dublin. That experience had a wild twist, but you’ll have to read this blog post to find out why!
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