Lake Atitlán has been called the most beautiful lake in the world. Although I certainly haven’t seen them all, I have to agree that it’s up there at the top of my list. It’s surrounded by volcanoes and is large enough to be dotted with villages along its shores. My recent trip to Guatemala had to include a journey to the lake! I stayed in Santiago Atitlán several times and have visited a couple of smaller villages. This time I had my sights on San Juan la Laguna, known as an art community. We—my Japanese friend and I—considered staying a night there, but we had already booked a place for the week in Antigua so we worked out a day trip.
The shuttle from Antigua to Panajachel, the closest and most common jumping off place for Lake Atitlán, took about two and half hours. Paying for the crossing was much more organized than the last time I was there, when you had to bargain individually with each boat owner. We paid a set rate and received a slip to hand over on the boat, whichever one we ended up on. Then we talked to a few of the boat runners to see which one was likely to go out next. As usual, they wanted to wait a while until they had enough passengers to fill the boat, so we settled in until a few more people hopped on. Then we were off!
A cool breeze caressed us as we moved out into the deep blue, volcanoes keeping watch. Quiet, except for some muted conversations further back in the boat, waves lapping its sides.
We passed by villages nestled among the steep, forest-carpeted hills or hugging the shore, stopping at some to pick up or drop off.
Our little boat pulled in to the dock at our destination.
San Juan la Laguna was bursting with color! Umbrellas above in every shade, painted paths below. And interesting shops along the way.
And murals everywhere you look…
Some memorable faces
A few more street scenes
Visit to a textile center
We didn’t have much time to venture into the town proper, away from the touristy lakeshore. The schedule of the return boat across the lake was uncertain, and we would need to get to Panajachel to catch the last shuttle back to Antigua, so we gave ourselves ample time, knowing we’d probably end up waiting around for both the boat and the shuttle. But we did find time for a late lunch.
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Ruth Rosenfeld 
Spectacular framing on the lake and volcano shots. The deep blue of the water creates a wonderful contrast with the colorful paths and textiles of the village. The clarity of the street scenes and the sharp details of the weaving center are outstanding. Beautifully done! ⛰️🌊
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I love your photos from San Juan la Laguna. They show that there are many highly creative/artistic people living there. An extremely colorful place, for sure.
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I’ve not heard of San Juan la Laguna, but wow, what a colorful town! No drab corners whatsoever. Timing of ferries back can be tricky, and unfortunately can limit time on what to see and do. Nevertheless, you had a wonderful time!
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