Trips to Guatemala

ATITLAN LAKE

Location:     to 139 km of City of Guatemala.
                         It belongs to the Department of Sololá.
Altitude:           1.560 msnm
Length:       18 km
Surface:    130 km2s
Depth: Variable. In some points they have been drilled more than 350 M.s

The Lake of Atitlán, the Most beautiful Lake of the tourist ydestino World of attractive major of the Guatemalan Plateau, is a lake of volcanic origin. Some say that it is an old died crater, and others, that the sprouting of the volcanos Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro, located in its margins, interrupted the course of the three rivers that come from the north, and that when reuniting their waters in the place gave rise to the lake, that does not have visible water-drainage.

Surrounded by three majestic volcanos of green vegetation whose perfect cones are reflected in the bluish mirror of their waters, and 14 Mayan indigenous towns, the Lake of Atitlán constitutes an authentic natural wonder.

The strong wind is one of the own characteristics of the Lake of Atitlán. This wind, known like Xocomil, takes place generally to noon, when the warm winds coming from the south hit the air masses colder than eddies come from the plateau forming that shake waters of the lake causing very strong waves.

The Mayan population of Atitlán is formed predominantly by the ethnic groups utuiil Tz' and Kakchiquel. During the Spanish conquest, the Kakchiquel was allied at first with the invaders to overcome to their historical enemies, the utuiil Tz' and Quiche', but also they were conquered and put under when they refused to pay tributes to the king of Spain.

Each of these 14 indigenous towns has its own magical touch: a particular form of life product of the diverse times in which they were based and of its different topographic needs. They have its particular typical suits, they speak its own Mayan language and they cultivate different traditions. They mix their agricultural and artisan products in the different markets from the region, one of most colorful and interesting of the plateau. The weaves that the women dress and many of the men of the zone are more of tuna of Guatemala.

Some of the most popular towns of the lake of Atitlán are:

- Panajachel: Without a doubt the tourist center of the lake where it is possible to be taken a walk in bicycle, to be rented Kayak, to sit down to take a coffee in the Santander Street, to be bought some of the varied crafts and textiles or to be connected with the world in some of coffee Internet.
It enjoys one animated nocturnal life and lodges hotels, discotheques, bars and restaurants for all the tastes and budgets.
Panajachel is the front door to the Lake of Atitlán and from a boat for anyone can here be taken from the other pueblecitos.

If a calmer atmosphere is preferred they can visit some of the near towns like:

- Santiago Atitlán, the greatest town of the lake of the Atitlán and most famous, very ingrained in its traditions. It emphasizes the cult to Maximón, a local deity, fusion of traditional and catholic Mayan saints and legend of Conquista. A efigie of Maximón, also known like Brother San Simón, presides over a different house every year, being transferred in great procession during Easter.
Most of the tourists go only by the day to Santiago Atitlán since she offers few services of restoration.

- San Pedro the Lagoon, a town that he attracts the young and Bohemian tourism by the great amount of hotels, economic inns and restaurants: everything what a tourist needs to pass it without spending much well.

- San Marcos and Santa Cruz the Lagoon: These two towns, and especially San Marcos, characterize themselves by the multiple options of centers of Meditation, Relajación and Yoga that offer, some of them in incredible natural surroundings. Both they are very calm towns. At Santa Cruz Panajachel or San Pedro can only be arrived in boat from.