Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

  Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan is the jewel of the highlands. Nestled beside Lake Atitlan, in a volcanic archipelago, Panajachel is surrounded by astounding natural beauty. Lake Atitlan floats in the sky, a mile above sea level, relying on 3 majestic volcanoes to hold gravity at bay.

 The word " atitlan " is a Mayan word that translates as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors". Panajachel is an 800 year old pueblo of about 14000, mostly Kaqchikel Mayans and some foreigners from every corner of the globe, living inside that rainbow.

 In the highlands of Guatemala, especially around Lake Atitlan, the Mayan culture still rules. In Panajachel, it thrives. The spirit it invokes is the hidden gem of Guatemala, and makes this one of the most exotic destinations in the world.

 The Mayans are known for being friendly, funny, welcoming of strangers, and shy. Living among them is an enchanting experience. There are about a dozen other villages scattered around Lake Atitlan . Some are Kaqchikel, some Tz'utujil. They speak different languages. The lake people were accustomed to dealing with people they can't talk to long before tourists ever showed up.

Panajachel

 You will find them, and everyone else in Panajachel, friendly and fun to be around. As you explore the area on and around the lake, with its incredibly beauty, the hospitable local folks will provide you with a lifetime of stories that your grandchildren will never believe.

Spectacular Lake Atitlan

After Antigua, the must-see destination is Lake Atitlan, 50 square miles of deep blue formed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption more than 100,000 years ago. A 2.5-hour drive from Antigua, Lake Atitlan lies 5,000 feet above sea level with depths of 1,000 feet and a backdrop of three breathtaking volcanoes. 

The tourist town of Panajachel is the most frequent lake destination for visitors, with its Bohemian feel and ample selection of small hotels, restaurants and honky-tonks.  

Boatman eagerly work the shore looking to ferry visitors to lakefront villages such as Santiago – home of the region's favorite pagan saint, Maximon – Santa Catarina Palopo or San Antonio Palopo, both noted for colorful clothing and textiles made by indigenous weavers . A dozen towns are scattered among the forested mountain slopes, where hiking and biking tours provide spectacular vistas of the lake.  

Travelers commonly shape their itinerary to or from the lake for a Thursday or Sunday to coincide with the market days at Chichicastenango, one of Central America's largest outdoor markets. Like their ancestors did hundreds of years ago, vendors display colorful textiles, woodcrafts and ceramics, all hand-made in nearby villages, and sell all manner of staples for the local diet – fruits, vegetables, seeds, meats – and cut flowers by the basketful. 

While the Atitlan-Chichi circuit is best enjoyed with at least one overnight stay, a pleasant one-day excursion from Antigua takes visitors to the laid-back beach town of Monterrico. Pacific waves thrill those brave enough to venture into the ocean, while others prefer to watch from the beach, its black sand a result of eons of volcanic eruptions. Beachfront restaurants, complete with swaying hammocks, offer complete meals, sandwiches and snacks, along with a wide selection of drinks, to slake the appetite that grows after an hour or two in the heat and surf.  

Guatemala also hosts the continent's largest excavated Mayan complex: Tikal, a six-square-mile city of more than 3,000 structures, surrounded by the 220-square-mile Tikal National Park . Excavated between 1956 and 1969, Tikal flourished in the ninth and 10th centuries A.D. with a population of 90,000. ( U.S. filmmakers included Tikal's pyramids and temples, which soar over 200 feet, in one of the original Star Wars movies, and fictional adventurer Indiana Jones searched here for the holy grail.) 

An Antigua-Tikal trek is best done overnight, to experience the rainforest at sunrise and the chorus of howls, chirps and squeals from the abundant wildlife. Options range from backpacker-basic hostels to filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola's luxurious new lodge, La Lancha. Plenty of tour packages, including transportation to Guatemala City for a short flight to Flores and ride to Tikal, are available in Antigua.