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? You’re not alone! 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 Atitan is dotted with about a dozen villages along its shores each different from the next in feel and appeal. Panajachel is the largest and only one that I’ll call a town; this is also likely your entry and departure point to the area. I recommend a minimum of three nights to explore and get to know the area and with a short time it’s probably best to choose one home base. And. That’s. OK because you can take launchas, public water taxis, to get around.

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 since we mixed it with Panajachel + we met younger and solo travelers making it something for everyone. You may also want to consider staying in San Marcos since we really enjoyed our time there.

Panajachel Airbnb

For the second part of our stay, we booked an Airbnb 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.

I booked this place only because staying in Panajachel made 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 a small village down the street. I planned this to save some money and time, but in retrospect, I totally suggest breaking up your say at Lake Atitlan this way.