Destinations

Lake Atitlán: World Renown Volcanic Lake Surrounded by Historic Mayan Towns

Writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley once described Lake Atitlán as, “too much of a good thing, it touches the limit of the permissibly picturesque.” But Lake Atitlán is much more than a pretty lake - it’s an ultimate outdoor adventure hub for kayaking, mountain biking, road biking, rock climbing, and volcano exploration. Not to mention a cultural touchpoint for the Mayan civilization, which you can see remnants of dotted along the small towns that dot the coast.

Available Tours

About Lago Atitlán

Lake Atitlán, known locally as Lago de Atitlán, is a clear azure-blue volcanic lake located in the central highlands of Guatemala about a two-hour drive from Antigua. In the Mayan language, "Atitlan" means "the place where the rainbow gets its colors." It’s no wonder it’s often been short-listed for a top wonder of the world.

Surface elevation: 5,125 ft (1562 m)
Area: 49.3 square miles (127.7 square km)
Average depth: 722 ft (220 m)
Max. depth: 1,120 ft (340 m)

Lake Atitlán Tours and Adventure Packages

OTO offers one-day, two-day, and three-day itineraries for adventurers of all skill levels to experience the grandeur and diversity of Lago Atitlán and the surrounding areas.

OTO’s Lake Atitlán Pedal and Paddle Tour is one of the best adventure tours in Central America! In our signature tour, we combine Guatemala’s best single-track biking with the open water adventure of Sea Kayaking and swimming in Lake Atitlán’s deep blue-green volcanic waters and a hike through local towns via cliff-side trails around the ridge of the lake.

The Lake Atitlán area provides many other opportunities we’re happy to incorporate into custom itineraries. Get in touch if you’re interested in add-ons like:

  • Boating tour of the various Mayan villages
  • Visiting a women's textile weaving co-op
  • Paragliding above Lake Atitlan
  • Visiting a cave to experience a Mayan Ceremony
  • Visiting a family-run chocolate business
  • Birdwatching
  • Coffee tours
  • Yoga classes

Lake Atitlán Highlights:

  • Swim in our secret swimming holes and enjoy cliff diving
  • See the wonders of Atitlán away from Gringo-tenango (Panajachel), high atop cliffside trails with panoramic views
  • Explore native culture in the small Mayan villages and farmsteads including Tecpán, Panajachel, Jaibalito and Tzununá
  • Stay at the beautiful cliffside hotel Casa del Mundo, accessible only by boat
  • Drop 2000 vertical feet on Guatemala’s best singletrack or choose a backcountry cruiser road
  • Add on a hike to Volcán San Pedro, a beautiful volcano towering above the lake

Amazing 2 days Biking, Hiking and Kayaking: We did the Biking, hiking and kayak tour from Antigua. Luis our guide was amazing, chill, and really took care of us. The biking from Antigua was mostly downhill and beautiful. We stopped for lunch along the way that overlooked Lake Atitlán. We arrived to our hotel by boat on Lake Atitlan. Our hotel was amazing! Located on the cliffs, close to the water of Lake Atitlan. We kayaked and hiked the next day. Another amazing experience. The views are like no other! I strongly recommend this tour from Old Town Outfitters. I would do this tour again if I could!

– Chelsea N. - TripAdvisor

FAQs

Yes. Lake Atitlán is massive, and Old Town Outfitter tours create opportunities to swim from kayaks or in front of our lakeside hotel. Plus we can take you to our favorite swimming holes and cliff diving spots.

Yes. You can both dive and snorkel in Lake Atitlan, and while we don’t offer these activities in our standard tours, we’re happy to accommodate your unique interests with a custom tour.

The water temperature does not change much from season to season and varies only slightly between 66 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit (19 and 23 degrees celsius). That’s a pretty refreshing temperature, which is to say it’s a little chilly, but in a good way.