SAN PEDRO, gt
San Pedro is my favorite place in the lake. I am not alone in that opinion though. It's certainly the most popular tourist and backpacker destination here at Lake Atitlan. I would say it's for good reason. The town is pretty big — at least for the lake standards. But generally speaking it's a small town. It's built right into the lakeside. At the base of windy steep road from the mountains above. The streets are lined with tuk tuks, restaurants, bars and other little businesses. For the most part I would say almost nothing in this town feels new. It's relatively dilapidated looking, but to me that's what gives the place its undeniable charm. The further inland (can you say that for a lake?) you go, the more local and less touristic the town gets. The streets are small and windy, and there's something interesting around every corner. Some of the streets turn into alleys, and walking through alleys and these tiny tuk tuk-only access streets is how you get around. Some of the best places to go are down walking-only streets. The place is like a maze. An interesting and awesome maze. It's a crowded-feeling city. — Almost reminiscent of Asia. I love the crowded and seemingly organized chaos of Asia, so San Pedro was really cool to me. The streets of the commonly toured areas are filled with backpackers from all over the world. There are small restaurants with cheap and tasty international cuisine, and it's just an exciting place to be as a traveler. As you go up into town, locals will be walking around in the hundreds. Buying from the side-of-the-road market stands that seem to pop up out of nowhere, and have no real centralization to them. Although I'm sure there is in fact very much a method to the madness. San Pedro has the largest amount of travelers on the lake and you'll meet really cool people. The food is really good and diverse. There's heaps of authentic local culture. The nightlife scene is one of my favorites in Guatemala — and last but not least, it's beautiful. San Pedro, if I were you, is where I would call home base. It's the best place to call home while you explore the lake. You could spend a long time here, and be happy about it.
When speaking about the places on the Lake, San Pedro is pretty simple to get to. There are shuttles from the other major cities that will take you directly here and it's one of the most— if not the most popular place on the lake to visit, so if you are coming here from anywhere on the lake it would be easy. A simple water taxi from any dock should be going at some point. If you are coming from Antigua, there will be a bus, direct.
BY SHUTTLE - Shuttles from Antigua Guatemala to San Pedro depart daily. The ride takes about 2.5–3 hours, and costs about $19. The drive is about 75 km, and involves winding roads and inclines and declines. — Just as a warning: the roads in and out are not good, and if you get car-sick, be prepared. You can book a shuttle here. It will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, wherever you are going. For the most part.
BY CHICKEN BUS - I would not recommend taking a chicken bus directly to San Pedro. It's going to be difficult, and there's no direct route without using local chicken buses or local mini-buses. If you know your way around already then I would say a chicken bus could be doable, but for the most part you won't know your way around. If you want to chicken bus here I would recommend first going through Panajachel. There is more information in the Location Section on the Panajachel page.
BY CAR - Simple enough. Just make the 2-and-a-half-hour drive from Antigua. — Assuming you are coming from there. Just be aware that the decline into San Pedro is EXTREMELY steep and windy. If you have really shitty brakes, this could be something to consider before doing the descent.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
The hostel scene here is really good as it should be in any established backpacker town. There's a ton of options that go from the strange, potentially interesting, to raucous party hostels. You can really make it whatever you want to make it.
But regardless, there's going to be a bunch of different places that you can choose from, but a few that are in higher demand than others. I would recommend getting a place booked here a few days out.
One of the best options in town. It's going to be much more mellow here compared to the others, which all have some sort of social component. Going to be one of the homey and intimate hostels in town. A great option if you want to meet people in a more chill environment. One of — if not the best, option in town. Much more family vibes. If you like those types of hostels, this is place.
Okay, so personally I would never stay here. It's a crazy party all of the time. Full of young backpackers getting drunk all day long. The accommodation is really bad, and it's just kind of gross. But it can be really fun. I came by here all the time to grab drinks at night, and to meet people because it is the best place to do that. But personally I would never stay here. But if you want to be neck deep in partying, I guess you can stay here. There's always a lot of volunteers here also. They seem to really love one another.
Zoola is a popular spot for backpackers to stay. It doubles as a great restaurant as well. Also there's an excellent bar attached, with a pool. I didn't stay here, but if I were to go back to San Pedro this is probably where I would stay. Has everything you need in one place. Really cool spot.
EATS
A good budget option. Dorms are only $9, and pretty nice. You'll be right in town as well. — Not going to be very social, and it's just more of a place to sleep more than anything else.
So I stayed here for a week. It's a really weird place, but I guess has the potential to be kind of cool. There's a really big house that has a bar, and a pool table, and some couches. It's also right on the water, and it's the only place on the lake where you can walk out the front door and be at the lake. However, when I was here, the people who were staying here were really weird and sketchy. — Just an odd vibe. The accommodation is in little white tents, and there's a dorm. The water also hardly ever worked. But it appears they have done some work to it since then. It's kind of a cool spot, but at the same time kind of strange and shitty.
I personally loved the food in San Pedro. It was by far my favorite of all the lake towns and some of my favorite in the country actually. There's oddly a lot of really amazing Mediterranean food here. Specifically a bunch of Israeli inspired or owned places that make delicious falafel and gyro types of food.
But in addition to this oddly international favorite of mine from San Pedro they have food from all over the world here. Really good and well-priced Guatemalan food as well. The food options here are robust, you have a lot of variety, it's not expensive, and it's all generally really good. Also, the further you get into town, the more local variety you can find with off-the-beaten-path spots.
Restaurants
This was absolutely my favorite place to eat in San Pedro. It's a little spot that has pita with falafel and fried chicken. It's delicious, and priced right. I went here a few times a week. It was in a really small little shack, with a view of the water but they have since upgraded to a larger and more modern space.
Another place for Israeli and Mediterranean eats. It's a really cool space with a few different levels, and beautiful view of the lake. The food here is a little bit more on the expensive side, but it's a really nice space and atmosphere.
Delicious Asian-food eatery in a small and cozy space at the edge of town. Really beautiful view of the lake, in what I consider to be great vibes.
NIGHTLIFE
Awesome pizza spot that is tucked in really deep into some of the skinny walking streets of San Pedro. It's a great place for dinner, or with a bigger group. Best pizza in town. There's always one.
Big place right in the middle of town. They have a wide range of food, including Israeli, and vegetarian. It's a beautiful multi-level spot right on the water. Was usually really quiet, so it's a good place to kind of just hang out.
A small and relatively unassuming falafel and pita spot. I found this to be on par with 'Pita Sabij', and was also cheaper. — Great place for quick and tasty and cheap takeaway also.
Spot nestled in town to get more traditional Guatemalan plates.
Authentic and delicious Mexican food. Tortas, tacos, burritos etc. Right on the water, with a great view of the lake.
Little coffee shop tucked up in town. Nice place, with a little patio to grab some coffee and chill.
Little bakery, Italian restaurant, and cafe. Good food. Nice place to hang out outside as well.
This place is also a really popular hostel. They have Israeli food, and it's in a really cool part of town. Great food — lots of backpackers will be running around as well.
Stalls will pop up here throughout the day serving up little snacks and stuff. But there is also a bustling market in the center of town which serves fresh produce, and street food as well. Walking around the market was one of the best things I did here, and you get a great look into the real local culture in San Pedro, and at the lake.
Relatively new spot here in San Pedro. Great Indian food, in a really chill spot with a view of the ocean.
Burger spot right on the main strip in town. Name is really interesting too. Vegan options.
American food spot here. They have a weekly barbecue every Sunday, with the typical American bbq options, like rips, and pulled pork, and brisket. — Etc., etc.
Of all the places on the lake the nightlife is the most wild and the most diverse. Theres a proper nightlife scene here that's driven and aided certainly by the hostel scene, and the fact that one of the biggest party hostels in the whole country is in town here. — 'Mr Mullets'. It's a 7-day-a-week party at that hostel, so if you want to do something on any given night of the week you can.
That is not to say that the nightlife scene here is all encompassing. If you want to avoid it, it's really easy to do so. But if you are looking to get amongst it, below are the offerings.
There's also the Mr Mullets pub-crawl, which will take you to a lot of these places should you decide to do that.
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Great later-night drinking spot. It's a large place, so it can hold a lot of people. Right on the water, but for the most part people are here for the night — not the daytime, views. Probably one of the most popular places in San Pedro to drink.
The aforementioned party hostel. There's a bar inside, and almost every night of the week there will be a large crowd in here drinking, playing beer pong — hanging out. A good place to come meet people as well. I never would stay here, but it was a good place to come get beers and meet the people in town. It does get pretty ridiculous in here though. Beer bongs, dildos on the wall, spin the wheel of (mis)fortune. Etc.
Popular bar right on the main strip. It's a small spot, but really fun up on the second floor with a balcony. A part of the Mullets pub crawl, and it's most crowded on these nights. Typically live music here as well.
One of the cooler spots to come and drink for the day or night. It's going to be filled with backpackers getting drunk and hanging out by the — you guessed it, pool.
Low key sports bar in town. Nice place to just come and grab a drink. Usually won't be anything crazy. It's not much more than just an open space with a bartender. But that's just fine sometimes.
Upscale-feeling bar right next to Eddys. They have a nice and new-looking bar, and it's a popular spot with expats and backpackers.
SIGHTS
One of the more local options in the center of town. It's right in the middle of the thick of it, up a few stories. A fun and more interesting spot to go. — Especially really late at night.
Often just referred to as Reggae Bar, this is a divey little spot that's really fun if that's what you like. One of the spots in the center of town that you may hop in and out of when you are running around town.
Tiny little cocktail and beer bar out on the outskirt of town. It's a fun little spot.
The things to see here at the Lake are pretty uniform across the different towns. Much of it is going to be outside of the town you are in. Visiting other towns, some of the same hikes, some of the same activities, etc.
So for the towns on the lake there is going to be some crossover in this section, but there will be a few things that are unique to the individual towns.
Below is what there is to do and see at the lake.
Known as the 'hippy town' here in Lake Atitlan. Lots of spirituality stuff, hippies, and crystals. A lot more of that on the San Marcos page.
Walking around the San Pedro market and the center of the town was one of my favorite things that I did here. It was something that I don't know if many people around were doing. But up into the town becomes much more local and authentic. There will be Indigenous people walking around and doing their shopping, and it's amazing to see the authentic lake culture. I would recommend going for a nice long walk and visiting the market here.
LOS TERMALES (HOT BATHS)
There's naturally occurring hot baths here that some people go to. Hot springs aren't my thing, but if you like them then this could be a nice activity.
Panajachel, or 'Pana'. The largest city at the lake. Much more on that over on the Pana Page.
This is an extremely tiny town, but it is home to two really amazing hostels. One of them is called 'Free Cerveza', and it's a beautiful hostel right on the water. It's called 'Free Cerveza' because every night there is a family dinner with everyone staying at the hostel. You eat at a low table, while sitting on the ground. The beer is free for an hour while you consume your dinner (that you pay for). There is also an amazing little hostel there called 'La Iguana'.
The town itself is super tiny, and 100% worth staying in for a few nights. At a minimum, come walk around the tiny town for a day.
San Juan La Laguna is a cool town that sits right next to San Pedro. There's an amazing walking street that has a bunch of flags overhead, and the ground is made up of different-colored bricks. There's great walking and shopping here, and it's a perfect way to spend a day. A day trip here is probably enough.
There's a fun cliff-jump that you can do outside of San Marcos. It's pretty high up, and a really popular and fun thing to do.
This is a stunning and extremely unique market located a little bit outside of the lake town of Pana. You will need to get on a chicken bus to get out here, but it's worth it. The market days are Thursday and Sunday, and it's a sprawling textiles market that also showcases the tradition of textile-making that goes on here. The textiles and colors that you see being worn by the women walking around everywhere, and adorning the table and in the restaurants. Buy something as a gift of just a souvenir. It's an awesome day.
There's a lot of really great hiking that can be done outside of the Lake, including Volcan San Pedro, Atitlan, Toliman, and the Lower Mayan Trail hike (Santa Cruz to San Marcos). I am just going to get into my favorite — hiking up to the top of Indian Nose. This is one of the best viewpoints you could ever imagine for the lake. The hike gets you up there at sunrise to watch it all, and there's not much walking at all, making the difficulty low. I would check with your hostel and get involved in a tour to get you up there. It's one of the best things to do at the lake. Here is the Alltrails about the hike. Notably you need to get to Santa Clara to start the hike. But if you get on a tour, then they will handle this for you.
From Pana you can get on a sunset cruise trip that will take you on a boat around the lake right at sunset. It's a beautiful way to see the sun go down and experience the lake. I recommend. It's BYOB on the weekends, and the cruise only lasts about a half-hour and costs 10Q ($1USD).
Taking a booze cruise around the lake is a good way to spend the day here in Atitlan if that's your thing. The booze cruise is put together by Mr Mullets hostel and is a wild time for sure. It's going to be full of young backpackers, so just be aware of that. If you know what you are getting into, it's a fun time.
There's a beautiful little lookout point north of San Pedro call Maravilla. It costs a little bit of money to get in there, but you end up with a stunning look at the lake. I would recommend.
The lake is another great place to come and go to Spanish school. I did mine through Lake Atitlan Spanish School. There's tons of other people that are going to be doing the same, so it's not only a good way to meet people, but also a great way to support the community and improve your Spanish. You are in Latin America after all.
There's a pub crawl here in San Pedro that practically every young backpacker is going to go on. That's why, after you get here you will notice there are a bunch of idiots wearing 'Mr Mullets' shirts. You get the shirt for free for going. Whatever — it's dumb, but it's an excuse to go out, and you will meet a lot of people. The parties can be fun too, if you can somehow avoid all the 18-year-old guys from the UK.
There's an awesome DJ collective called The Wizards that are based here at The Lake. They pretty frequently throw amazing parties and raves. They aren't necessarily published, but keep your ears peeled, and you may just hear of one. If you do, they are amazing.
SURFING
I think you can wakeboard here.