Lake Atitlan and Its Towns
Located in the department of Sololá, Lake Atitlán is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Guatemala, and was nominated as one of the seven wonders of the world. It is considered to be the most beautiful lake in the world, and it is also conceived as one of the most unique places. The lake has an area of 130 km2, and the color of its waters varies from deep blue to green. The lake, formed approximately 84,000 years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption, is 1,500 meters above sea level, with a length of 18 kilometers, and a depth of up to 341 meters, making it the deepest lake in Central America.
The hills and volcanoes around the lake offer dense forests, where hiking can be practiced without problems, allowing for the observation of a wide variety of birds, from the timid little woodpeckers, to the Quetzal, the National bird.
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The volcanoes Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro (“The Three Giants“), on the shores of the lake, form an impressive landscape. Around the lake you can visit the municipalities of Santiago Atitlán, San Lucas Tolimán, San Antonio Palopo, Santa Catarina Palopo, Panajachel, and San Pedro La Laguna. Many of the inhabitants of these towns are descendants of the Cakchiquel and Tzutuhil groups. The villages offer different environments to tourists, from the peace characteristic of Santa Cruz la Laguna and San Pedro, popular places among tourists, to the festive atmosphere of Panajachel, the most popular spot in Sololá. You can also find all kinds of crafts such as fabrics, pots, chains, bracelets, drums and hammocks, among others. You can get to San Pedro, Santa Clara la Laguna and the rest of the villages by land. However, due to the number of lodging options in Panajachel, it is usually more convenient to get there, and from there, take a boat to the surrounding towns. The trip from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán takes about two hours and forty minutes.
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