Things to do in San Marcos La Laguna

9:00 AM - We will pick you up at your hotel to begin our adventure. We will head to the dock to board a boat that will take us to visit two charming villages located in the basin of the majestic Lake Atitlán: San Juan la Laguna and Santiago Atitlán. With their rich culture, lively traditions and vibrant colors, these destinations are perfect for capturing incredible photographs. 9:30 AM - Transfer by boat to San Juan la Laguna. 10:00 AM - Visit a local cooperative where you will experience a millenary process: cotton extraction, hand spinning, natural dyeing with vegetable dyes and traditional loom weaving. An authentic sample of Mayan textile art. 11:30 AM - We will visit an artisan chocolate factory, where you will learn about the importance of cacao in the Mayan culture. The best part: we will taste handmade chocolate and cocoa rum! 12:30 PM - Transfer by boat to Santiago Atitlan. 1:30 PM - Time to enjoy lunch with authentic flavors of the region. You will be able to choose from several typical Guatemalan dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. 2:30 PM - We will explore the heart of Santiago Atitlán: we will visit its 16th century Catholic Church, the relief map of the lake located in the central park and the sanctuary of Maximón, known as El Gran Abuelo, a spiritual figure venerated by the Maya Tz'utujil people. A place where ancestral faith and contemporary devotion merge. 3:30 PM - Return by boat to the hotel. 4:00 PM - End of the tour.

Here we visit a few look outs located above the village where we are able to enjoy great views of San Pedro and San Juan La Laguna, the lake, and the Indian Nose aka “Rostro Maya or Nariz del Indio”. After the look outs of San Pedro we have our longest drive of the tour going all the way to San Marcos la Laguna passing the town of San Juan and San Pablo La Laguna. In San Marcos we visit the Natural Reserve of “Cerro Tzankujil”, where we can take a swim on the lake or enjoy the views from the rock / mountain formations. After enjoying some time at the natural reserve we will hop back on our ATVs and head back to San Juan La Laguna, where we visit the famous lookout named “Kaqasiiwaan” viewpoint. To get to the actual lookout we have to hike about 15 minutes up the steps which takes us there. Once we reach the top, we are able to enjoy the views of the lake and villages and able to take some pictures around the lookout. After coming down from Kaqasiiwaan, we get back on the ATVs and drive about 5–10 minutes to "La Abeja Maya", where one of the local guides gives a short explanation about how the bees live and work inside the reserve. You’ll learn about the different types of stingless bees, and you'll be able to see the hives up close in small boxes while they explain. Onces finished we head back to our office in San Juan La Laguna.

9:00 AM we pick you up at your hotel and then board a boat to visit 3 of the towns belonging to the Lake Atitlán basin, San Marcos la Laguna, San Juan la Laguna and Santiago Atitlán. Towns with a lot of history, customs and a lot of color, these towns are a great setting for your photographs. 9:30 AM you will have the opportunity to visit a nature reserve where you can have the experience of swimming in the lake and, especially if you wish, jump off a platform with an average height of 10 meters. 10:30 AM transfer by boat to San Juan la Laguna. 11:00 AM you will have the joy of learning an ancient process of cotton extraction, spinning, artisanal dyeing, and weaving. 12:00 PM we will visit an artisanal chocolate factory, learn about the importance of cocoa in the Mayan world, and the best part, try chocolate and cocoa rum. 1:00 PM transfer by boat to Santiago Atitlán. 1:30 PM Local food will also be the essence of this activity so you can taste surprising dishes from our cuisine of your choice. 2:30 PM we will visit the 16th century Catholic Church, a relief map located in the central park, to Maximon, The Great Grandfather for the Tz'utujil Mayan people, a place where religion, Faith and devotion are mixed. 3:30 PM we will return to the hotel. 4:00 PM we finish the tour.

From Guatemala City we will travel to the most beautiful lake in America, enjoy Lake Atitlán, 3 Magical Towns in 1 day: San Juan La Laguna, San Pedro and San Marcos La Laguna. Immerse yourself in the Mayan culture, visiting San La Laguna walking along the Paseo de las Artes, visiting and admiring the Kaqasiiwaan Viewpoint; enjoy the vibe and life of San Pedro La Laguna, enjoy a typical Guatemalan dish and dare to jump from the Trampoline in San Marcos La Laguna; the best of Lake Atitlán in a single day trip.

Start your adventure in Guatemala in the most convenient and comfortable way possible by choosing our private transportation service. You are able get the perfect trip for you, as you can pick your preferred departure time and pick-up location from several zones in Guatemala City and La Aurora International Airport. For those departing from the airport, accommodating delays with prior notice. Upon arrival at Panajachel, this service will drop you off directly at your destination, whether it's an hotel, Airbnb, or any other location you prefer, withing Panajachel's dowtown. From that point Panajachel and all its surroundings will be yours to discover! We encourage you to visit any viewpoint that you find as all of them offer an unbelievable sight, also you can visit any town nearby by boat, where you’ll be able to experience a lot of different activities! Enjoy a direct journey in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles. This private transport is an excellent choice for solo travelers or any group size up to 12 people. Book now and let your dream trip begins here!

This half-day adventure tour from Santa Cruz La Laguna includes a kayak along the rugged and remote north shore of Lake Atitlan, followed by a hike back through the Mayan villages of San Marcos, Tzununa, and El Jaibalito. At the meeting point, a qualified kayak instructor will supply dry sacks for your backpacks and gear for the 2nd part of the tour. All the guides are experienced kayak teachers, and can show you basic paddling techniques. You will paddle for about 2 hours along the shores of Santa Cruz La Laguna, heading past the Mayan settlements of El Jaibalito and Tzununa en route to San Marcos. Encounter Mayan men fishing from hand-hewn boats known as “cayukas,” just as they have done for centuries. Gaze at the rugged rocks that provide home to exotic plant and bird life. You will even have the opportunity to jump into the crystal clear waters from the cliff tops. Pull into the Bay of San Marcos to gear up for the 2nd part of your adventure. The north shore of Lake Atitlan has no road access, so you will be hiking paths that have been used by the Mayans for centuries. See villagers tending their maize and coffee crops en route. This section of Lake Atitlan has barely been touched by the outside world, and from your privileged position several hundred feet above the ever changing waters of Atitlan, enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanoes.