Panajachel
Panajachel is located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. It is the biggest and most visited of the towns located on the shores of Lake Atitlan. At less than 90 miles from Guatemala City, it serves as the administrative center for the surroundings municipalities. For tourists Panajachel serves as the gateway from where to visit the other towns around Lake Atitlan and the marvelous volcanos and mountains and lakes.

Panajachel, colloquially called just “Pana” by the locals, used to be a small quite Indian village that now has become a boom town for the tourist industry. Santander Street is the main tourist street; there you will find souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels. West from Santander Street you can find Calle del Embarcadero. At the foot of this street you will find the docks, from where public shuttle boats leave regularly to Jaibalito, San Marcos, San Pedro, San Juan, and San Lucas. You can also take private shuttle boats to other cities around the lake, like San Marcos la Laguna, San Pedro La Laguna, etc.

From the end of the main street people can enjoy great views of the lake with the two volcanos right on the other side. Besides the towns around Lake Atitlan there are other activities you can enjoy while in Panajachel: learning Spanish, diving in the lake (from Santa Cruz La Laguna), kayaking, bike rental, hiking the Atitlan nature reserve and butterfly sanctuary (part of an old coffee plantation), go birdwatching, visit the geothermal hot springs or just swim in the lake.

Discover Panajachel
Tha name Panajachel derives from the Kaqchikel language and means “Place of the Matasanos” which is a white fruit tree. The elevation is 1,597 meters (5,240 ft) and it has an estimated population of 15,000. During the Spanish conquests of Guatemala the shore of the lake was the scene of a battle in which the Spanish and the Kaqchikel allies defeated the Tz’utujils. After the conquests, the Franciscans set up a church monastery in Panajachel and used the town as a center to convert the indigenous people to the Roman Catholic faith.

The local tourist office (INGUAT) has free maps of Panajachel, bus information and bilingual staff. It is located Main street 0-87, zone 2, Panajachel.

Tourist assistance phone number: 1500

Public Transportation
Panajachel is small and you can practically walk anywhere, but if you do not feel like walking you could take one of the Tuk Tuk’s (three wheeled moto-taxi) that are continually circling the streets. Public and private shuttle boats and can be found in the docks at Calle del Embarcadero.

Highlights
From Calle del Embarcadero you can enjoy good views of the lake and two volcanos. Visit Casa Cakchiquel, built in 1984, which was one of the first hotels in Pana. It has recently been restored and is now a fair trade store with rotating exhibits and includes a vintage photo and postcard gallery. Other point of interest is the Atitlan Natural reserve and butterfly sanctuary, the San Pedro Volcano Ecological Park and Cerro de Oro.

The essentials of Panajachel:
1) Natural Reserve
2) Lake Atitlan
3) Santander Street
4) Casa Cakchiquel
5) Surrounding towns

Atitlan Natural Reserve
The Atitlan Natural Reserve is located at San Buenaventura Valley in Panajachel, and it is a privileged place to enjoy the magnificent natural setting of the Lake Basin. The goal of the reserve is to maintain the living communities and their surroundings so that future generations can have access to this extraordinary legacy. Start at the Visitor Center where you will find the natural history and human presence in Atitlan, restrooms and a souvenir shop, from there you can go zip lining, walk at the butterfly sanctuary, hike in the natural trails and eat the restaurant.

Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is an attraction itself, you can take a tour around, go kayaking, scuba diving or just admire it from one of the many towns surrounding the lake.

Santander Street
Prepare for an unforgettable experience, the Calle Santander is the legendary shopping street where tourist and local Indigenous get together. It is the main and busiest street in Panajachel. At the end of this street you will find the docks where you can take boat shuttles (private and collective).

Casa Cakchiquel
Casa Cakchiquel was one of the first hotels on the lake and the story goes that intellectuals, artists and writers like Ernesto “El Che” Guevara and Ingrid Bergman among others enjoyed the house at its best. Now it is a restored building which features a fair trade store, rotating exhibits, a vintage photo and postcard gallery. It also hosts the organizations Thirteen Threads and Radio 5.

Surrounding towns
The towns located on the shores of Lake Atitlan and which you can visit by boat are: Santa Cruz La Laguna, Tzununá, San Pablo La Laguna, Santa Clara La Laguna, Santa Catarina Palopo, San Marcos La Laguna, San Pedro La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna, San Antonio Palopo, San Lucas Toliman, Santiago Atitlan and Panajachel.

Half and full-day excursions

Bike Tour
Enjoy the thrilling emotions offered by Lake Atitlan, this is a biking adventure through the mountains, paths and towns surrounding the lake. This tour is only for the adventurous, and good physical condition is needed.

Hike from Mario Mendez Montenegro view Point to Santa Catarina Palopo
The walk starts at Pacaman village where you will be able to enjoy the environment and the cold weather of higher altitudes. This walk offers beautiful views of the lake and you will also be able to admire local agriculture, the forest and the villages around the lake. After visiting Santa Catarina Palopo you will return to Panajachel. The tour has a duration of 3 hours.

Horseback Riding

The tour starts with a boat ride to San Pedro La Laguna where the horseback riding tour begins. You will ride through the streets of San Pedro and then through natural paths between the mountain coffee plantations. After riding for 3 hours the tour arrives in El Dorado beach, a good place to swim or just enjoy the views of the lake. After this experience you will return to the village to take the boat back to Panajachel.

Chichcastenango One Day Tour
If you are in Panajachel on a Thursday or Sunday you should visit the Market in Chichicastenango. It is still one of the best places to buy souvenirs and local crafts from the locals and all the indigenous people that gather from different towns of the area. You can also visit the 400-hundred years old church, where you will see Catholic and Mayan rites come together. Just the ride there is worth the visit, the Highlands of Guatemala have the best views.

Kayaking on Lake Atitlan
Leaving by kayak from Panajachel, you can enjoy a unique experience; the route will take you to San Antonio Palopo where you can have refreshing swim in the lake and then return to Panajachel.

Coffee Tour in Atitlan
Atitlan coffee has a unique flavor; cultivation is organic and the coffee is of high quality. The tour starts with a boat transfer to San Pedro La Laguna. You will learn the process of the coffee, from sowing the seeds to harvesting the beans. And you will definitely enjoy a cup of delicious coffee before returning to Panajachel.

Canopy and Walk in Atitlan Natural Reserve
Participate in a unique adventure. You will swing along 8 zip lines with excellent views of the lake. During the journey you will also have walk, admiring the different animal species, the water falls and the suspension bridges. At the end of the journey there is a visit to the butterfly sanctuary.

Entertainment in Panajachel
You will find bars, coffee shops and restaurants in Panajachel, mainly in Santander Street and Calle del Embarcadero. Between the options you have are: Crossroads Café, La Palapa, Saolomon’s porch, Circus bar, Chapiteau, Café La Parada, Sunset Café, Pana Rock Café and El Aleph.