Lake Atitlan, Guatemala: Planning Your Accommodations
Feeling a little overwhelmed trying to choose the perfect place to stay when embarking on a journey to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala? That was me too! Whether you’re picking a single home base or splitting your time between locations, your accommodation(s) can shape your budget, itinerary, and overall travel experience. Read on for some helpful tips to help navigate the options. Happy planning!
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Lake Atitlan Accommodations
The lay of the land
Lake Atitlan is dotted with about a dozen villages along its shores, each different from the next in feel and appeal. Panajachel is the largest and is also likely your gateway to the area. There are a variety of lodging options in and near Panajachel and it’s easy to take public taxi boats (lanchas) to explore around the lake. However, the lakeside villages are so charming that it’s hard to resist staying in one of them. That’s why choosing your accommodation can be so hard.
For starters, I recommend a minimum of three nights in Lake Atitlan to explore and get to know the area. If you don’t have a lot of time, it’s probably best to choose one home base. And. That’s. OK….because it’s so easy to get around — just don’t miss that last lancha!
We had four nights and I ended up booking two nights in a more isolated lakeside lodge and two nights at an Airbnb on the edge of town in Panajachel. I booked our stay in Panajachel to make it easier and more affordable to reach activities like zip-lining and the chicken bus to Solola. But we gained so much more as we enjoyed exploring a new area: stumbling upon Sunday mass on the beach and a celebration in nearby Santa Catarina Palopo.
While I planned this to save some money and time; in retrospect, I totally suggest breaking up your say at Lake Atitlan this way if you aren’t one to mind packing up after a couple of nights.
Where did we stay?
Maya Moon Lodge between San Marcos and Tzununa (two nights)
The beautiful and peaceful Maya Moon Lodge has private cabins and shared dorm rooms. Our family enjoyed two nights in a two-story cabin with a private bathroom. I am not gonna lie, there were large spiders on the walls when we got there. Happy to say that they disappeared after we settled in — maybe they were as afraid of us as I was of them! I did move my bed away from the walls though.
It was pure bliss to sit on the patio or dock with sounds of birds, lancha boats, and erupting volcanos in the near distance — my happy place. The lodge has a restaurant and bar; however, exploring the areas is part of the fun and just a short boat ride or a walk to a nearby village. The staff can help arrange tours and make connections with local guides. I also highly suggest their morning yoga on the pier.
We loved this location and accommodation for our family + we met younger and solo travelers making it something for everyone. After exploring several of the villages around the lake, I also would have liked to stay in San Marcos and recommend that if you don’t want to be as remote as Maya Moon.
Panajachel Airbnb (two nights)
For the second part of our stay, we booked an Airbnb house on the outskirts of Panajachel, the main town on the lake. Upon arrival, I was a bit nervous as it was somewhat isolated, and there were a lot of locks on the gate — but this uneasiness faded after a day.
Visited in November 2019
