Tours in Panajachel

We have brought fun and excitement and mixed it in with the beauty and cultural experiences the lake has to offer. We depart from our office in Panajachel and head over to the colorful village of Santa Catarina Palopo. In this village we are able to see and learn about local weavings, blankets, nahuales and other goods made and sold by the locals. At the plaza of this village, we visit a local coffee house where you can grind your own coffee and taste the locally grown beans. Once finished in Santa Catarina we hop back on our ATVs to the village of San Antonio Palopo. We visit local ceramic factory where we learn about the process to make all these incredible goods. We also visit a local chocolate factory in San Antonio where we learn about the process...

Get ready for the adventure with this combined tour that includes kayaking and hiking to the rugged north shore of Lake Atitlan. Explore ancient Mayan paths on an adventure tour from Santa Cruz La Laguna. Discover Mayan villages in the jungles of Guatemala, and see the villagers tending their coffee crops, and more. You will have the option of cliff jump, only if you dare! This section of Lake Atitlan has barely been touched by the outside world, enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding volcanoes.

The Lake Atitlan Sunset Tour is one of the best afternoon activities you can do while visiting Lake Atitlan, you were able to visit some villages around the lake and see amazing views of it.

This is shared shuttle transportation that delivers to the airport and central zones of Guatemala City (Zone 1 bus stations, Zone 10 hotels, and Zone 13 hotels adjacent to the airport). We ask you allow MINIMUM 4.5 hours travel time, and leave ample time if you're catching a departing flight, as traffic and other delays can happen. Sometimes, we pass through Antigua to drop off passengers and there may be a short wait there. Inquire with us if you're worried about arrival times to the airport. This is NOT direct service most of the time.

Visit the most sacred and holy locations around Lake Atitlan. Shaman priest perform Fire ceremony at sacred caves for healing, protection, safe travels, and for centering their energy. This is a once in a lifetime experience! You will experience an ancient Mayan custom at a fire cleansing and protection ceremony at the Sacred Caves of Lake Atitlan. The modern day Fire Ceremony is how the Mayan of today connect with the old wisdom known as the Mayan Cosmovision. Immerse yourself in the mysticism of a holy place, and learn why the highland tribes travel for hours to connect with the spirits. Your guide will explain why the ceremonies are performed, and teach you about the ritual and unique meanings of the Mayan calendar. You will witness shamans performing ceremony on most days, although this is can not be guaranteed.

Panajachel is a great place to start a journey to the stunningly beautiful and culturally vibrant Chichicastenango. Located only a short drive away through the breathtaking natural landscapes of the western highlands of Guatemala, Chichicastenango is home to the famous Santo Tomas Church, an iconic colonial structure with bright white walls and stairs at its base where many devotees burn incense, bring flowers, and show their gratitude. Upon arriving in Chichicastenango, you will be amazed by the number of colors, textiles, street traditional food, and all kinds of sales in the market. We will visit the indoor and outdoor market, make stops to buy if you wish, and learn about the great history of this market, its people, its traditions, and its religion. Afterward, we will visit the Santo Tomas Church, and at the end of the day, we will go to the Pascual Abaj Hill, where if we are lucky, we´ll see a traditional Mayan ceremony.

Experience the flavors of Guatemala during a cooking lesson at the Santa Cruz Cooking Class. Learn to cook authentic Guatemalan dishes like Pepian and Tamalitos with a fantastic view of Lake Atitlan. Taste how Mayan culture and Spanish colonial influences blended in perfect harmony through food. Enjoy what you've prepared afterwards. Great for those who love to cook, fine dining, gourmet food, cultural sharing, experiential travel.

Enjoy the most magnificent view of Lake Atitlan, whether it be sunrise or mid-day. Over 4000 feet above Lake Atitlan you will see the entire lake and have views of seven volcanoes.  Easy hike from the trail head to summit, the drive through the highlands and cloud forest are worth the trip alone.  Add on a trip to the Sacred Hunters Cave as an extra bonus. Learn about the history of this cave and why it has become a sacred symbol for the hunters.

During our visit, you will have the opportunity to get to know the Mayan Kaqchiquel culture in an authentic way and the day-to-day life of local women who seek to make their routines their job. They will share their passions and concerns with you and we hope that you can too, to learn and enjoy diversity. Our experience is special because we are based on a regenerative tourism model, which can preserve culture and provide new ways of working for the future of women in Santa Cruz, having a 100% impact on the local economy.

Mornings always have calm waters on Lake Atitlan, so we suggest a morning start for the kayak or stand up paddle segment. The fleet of SUP and kayaks are safe and stable, and you will be provided with  professional instruction. The guides are patient and thoughtful and make this activity a great option for anyone.  Zip lines can be scheduled for late morning or early afternoon.  Enjoy lunch (optional, not included) at the Nature Reserve or bring a picnic along to extend the day.  Two options for zip lines offer extreme or ultra-extreme.  Safe and fun for all ages!!!

Visit the closest Mayan ruin to Lake Atitlan. These well preserved ruins include pyramid-temples, ball-courts, royal palaces, museum, and interpretive signs explaining the history of the site. Built over 1000 years ago, this site is worth exploring. Mayan rituals are still performed at this site. Learn about the ancient Mayan civilization, the 5000 year old Mayan calendar, astrological observations, and how the modern day Mayan views their culture.

Walk the Face of the Earth on the Sacred Path of the Sun: Author & lecturer Vincent Stanzione has opened his mountain home in an exclusive arrangement to offer an amazing experience. This experience will enable you to enter the Maya world in truly authentic ways. It allows visitors to learn about the Maya Civilization by entering the Maya World of the Present Day. Let us take you to places nobody but the Maya ever go while learning all you can from a researcher and writer who is hungry to share the world he has made his home. Guiding enables those of us who have attained a great deal of knowledge to share it with others in a direct way. So take a walk with Vincent along the flowery paths during this fascinating day in the highlands, high above Lake Atitlan. Learn about the Maya and the Mesoamerican traditions, their cosmo-magical thinking, their calendar, the way of living in the world, their myths and their deep sense of being the descendants of divine ancestors.

Discover the North Shore of Lake Atitlan on this 4-hour hiking tour. Family Friendly and suitable for all ages. Admire the breathtaking scenery, and see Mayan villagers and farmers on their daily life. Hike along ancient paths in a remote section of Lake Atitlan that is only available by hiking trail.

The Indian Nose is a Peak known for having the appearance of a person's face looking up at the sky. It is known as Rostro Maya in Spanish and its original name is in Tzutujil, one of the Mayan languages ​​ around the lake. We´ll take you to the highest point of the peak so you can spend some time appreciating the beauty of the lake and the towns around it, take some pictures, and breathe fresh air. To close with a flourish, we`ll take you to a place by the lake where you`ll have the chance to cliff diving in the clear waters of the lake! Make sure you don`t forget your swimsuit as you`ll need it. This tour is a different way of appreciating and enjoying Lake Atitlan. Don't miss this fascinating tour.

Visit three typical Mayan villages from around Lake Atitlan.Witness the lifestyle of the Mayan people, learn their natural techniques for making textiles and see the local way of life.

If you like adventure enjoy a leisurely and picturesque bike ride through Mayan villages above Panajachel. Mostly downhill, this relaxing tour takes you through the spectacular Guatemalan Highlands and small Mayan villages, and enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Atitlan and the nearby volcanoes.

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast this is a great way to visit many places around the lake in just half a day.

This is a community tour that starts from Panajachel we will take a private boat that will take us to the first town where you will meet women weavers that the guide will explain the whole process from cotton to clothing using natural plants to obtain different natural colors, then the guide will take you to a chocolate factory where you will be able to taste and see the elaboration of various products made from cocoa to chocolate and to continue learning with the local people you will visit a group of women who work with plants to treat different types of diseases Also on the tour you visit the vegetable market, colonial churches, parks among others. This tour is conducted by people from the community who speak Spanish, English and Mayan

Have you wanted to visit the towns around Lake Atitlan but don't you dare to go on your own? If what you are looking for is to understand the meaning of the living Mayans' traditions and customs, in addition, to learn from them their ancestral practices such as weaving techniques, natural dyeing of fabrics, the importance of chocolate and natural medicine, then we got your back. Join this collective tour and have fun while learning that and much more! We'll take you to discover 3 cultural towns on a boat ride that’ll give you insight into the heart of the Mayan culture. The local Mayans say that Lake Atitlan holds unique energy fields that run through the area. Whether you feel the vibes or not, there’s no denying that this lake is a special place.

Our adventure begins as we board a private boat, that makes a stop in the middle of Lake Atitlan. Our knowledgeable guide unveils the secrets of the Maya Atlantis, a mystical submerged city hidden beneath the lake's surface. Leaving the mysteries of the deep behind, we arrive at Chuitinamit, an archaeological site nestled amidst the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Atitlan. Here, we marvel at the meticulously carved stone structures, each a testament to the artistic prowess and advanced engineering of the Maya people. Our journey reaches its pinnacle as we arrive in Santiago Atitlán, a vibrant and culturally rich village. Experience the essence of Mayan heritage as we explore the captivating murals that narrate stories of their past. Visit the village church, witness the communal washing basins, and have the opportunity to partake in a ceremonial request to Maximon, a revered religious figure blending Catholicism and Mayan traditions (if we are lucky enough to witness a ceremony).

Great opportunity to see the inner workings of a successful NGO.  Perfect for volunteers, educators, families, and individual travelers who are interested in social development.  This experience will inspire you with the success' that have transformed a small Mayan community.

Guatemala is one of the most known country in the world where there are good coffee. We have been producing coffee during many years and it mean that has been supporting the economy of the country. We want to share with you since the coffee conquisted the world and when Guatemala begun produce coffee, also we can share you more about all the process since seeds, plants, harvest, dried, rousted, grounded. Also we want you be part of this step of cupping that is a method of evaluating different characteristics of a particular coffee bean. Cupping allows us to compare and contrast coffees against each other, and allows us to get a better understanding of each coffee and that form you can taste the flevor each one.

Guatemala is known for being "The Heart of the Mayan World" and has a great legacy of the indigenous cultures that lived here many centuries ago. On this tour, we´ll appreciate THE LIVING MAYAN CULTURE, learn about their textiles and the meaning behind the colors and the figures we see on their traditional clothing, learn about the chocolate that centuries ago was served to the gods and that in this tour we´ll have the opportunity to taste. You will do and enjoy much more during this tour, including a delicious lunch. Believe us, this experience of knowing 3 cultural towns around the lake will be something spectacular. Do not miss it!

This full day tour takes you to Guatemala’s most famous market. This market is a traditional indigenous Quiche market, and includes a walk to the cemetery and Paschal Abaj, the Shaman Hill. You are likely to witness a sacred Fire Cleansing Ceremony conducted by a Mayan shaman. Learn about the Mayan story of creation, the Mayan ceremony, the base-20 counting system, and the 5,000 year-old Mayan calendar. Even visit the Mayor's office.