Sacred Lake Atitlan: Unforgettable Day Trip from Antigua

This was by far one of our favorite tours we’ve taken! We (like many other reviewers it seems) did not realize it was a private tour, so that was a lovely surprise. Our driver was great and our guide, Joel, was absolutely fantastic. Joel was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and excited to share a bit of his culture and history with us. We got lessons about native bees, weaving, local dress, and painting which were very educational and great opportunities to support local businesses and artists! Our lack of impulse control meant it turned out to be one of the more expensive days of our trip, but well worth the money! It feels important to note that, though 2/3 of the bee species you meet do not sting, those biting species are very interested in landing on you. Thus, if you have an allergy or are not okay with bugs, you may want to mention that early on so your guide can find a different activity.

Our guide Joel was outstanding. He brought passion and knowledge to the experience. It was fun getting to see the culture through his eyes and experiences. Highly recommend!

I had an incredible experience. Marlon our driver was punctual, accommodating, knowledgeable and felt very safe. He had good restaurant recommendations. Our tour guide Nicolas was very knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable.

Great full day trip. A bit too much driving, but totally worth it! Some activities in the towns feel like tourist traps… but they are not pushy at all.

Great experience to get an overview of the lake in a short timeframe. Joel is one of the best guides I have ever had, he is very passionate about the area and his roots in the Mayan culture. He also takes care to make sure everyone is comfortable and was a huge help for my elderly parents. He makes the trip 1000% worth it. Rene drove us to and from the lake and he was excellent as well. Highly recommend this tour if you’re short on time!

We had a fabulous time learning about Mayan culture while touring the lakeside villages and getting a taste of daily Guatemalan life. Joel was an exceptional tour guide.

The day trip to Atitlan was a wonderful experience. The setting of the lake is beautiful. The boat ride took us to three different towns. Our knowledgeable guide was fluent in English, and helped us to appreciate the differences between the towns that we visited along the lake, as well as to better understand local (Mayan) culture. Since it was a private tour, we had a little flexibility in the choices of locations of visit and time spent. We had a light breakfast in Panojachel and a nice lunch in Santiago, both with views of the lake. Meals were not included but were not expensive. The ride to and from Atitlan passed fairly quickly. The vehicle was comfortable, The driver was very nice and was understanding of our needs. This was a fun,safe and easy way to see a site that shouldn’t be missed one someone visits Guatemala.

The experience was amazing, Joel the tour guy was very kind, very knowledgeable of his traditions and culture. The locations my family and I visited were just magical.

We had an amazing trip to Lake Atitlan. Our driver, Marlo, was so kind, provided lots of information during our long commute and the car was very comfortable. Our guide Nikolas was also very knowledgeable about the villages and made sure we were well taken care of. Keep in mind, although the tour is private, many guides are doing the same thing for other groups so you will see several other groups eating at the same places you end up, watching the same demonstrations, etc. The restaurant, Chichoy, half way there was a nice place to break up the driving, and the breakfast was good. Didn't care as much for the restaurant, Tierra, in Santiago. Pay the extra for the tuktuk in San Pedro. We took the tour with three kids, ages 9, 12 and 15, and they enjoyed the viewpoints, but it was a long day of travel for sure. Honestly, we enjoyed the boat ride just as much as the villages.

What a great way to spend the day! We saw places and did things we never would have tried on our own. Marlon and Lydia, Thanks