Lago de Atitlán Off The Beaten Path

Here is where the main road ends and the beaten path literally begins and Casa Domingo is just over yonder. Its also the last place to grab a cold gallo before the beaten path begins. These little gallo shacks are very quaint adds to the charm.

Posada Casa Domingo is pretty much of the beaten path. If you have reservations and cant find the place just go up the dock, make a left at the first and only main road and keep walking. Eventually the paved road ends and you will hit a trail. No matter keep look for the gallo sign make a right and its right there.

Theres a fascinating and FREE Museum which looks at history & tradition of weaving and traditional Mayan Costumes run by co-op of Women Assocician Cojolya.

On your left as you come up the hill from the docks in Santiago Atitlan this is a real gem, explanations in English and Spanish tell about backstrap loom weaving, and the Mayan Costumes. Ask to see their video too!

Beautiful contemporary designed goods by women from the co-op for sale and some of the women can be seen weaving in the museum.

Santiago is a fascinating village because most of the women and 50percent of the men still wera traditional costume. Can be visited in a day from Panajachel.

You must get up early in the morning from San Pedro to climb the 5000 foot vertical of the Volcano San Pedro. You first switch back through coffee groves and corn fields before the terrain gives way to a lush cloud forest environment. Then you must battle the trees, vines and very slippery mud that seems to go on indefinitely. The journey is half the adventure. However, the view from the top of San Pedro has to be one of the best in the Central America. I was really stunned and no picture can deliver that awesome feeling you get standing on the lip of that crater looking down 5000 feet on Lago Atitlan.

Our guide was one of the nicest guys I met on the trip. He had a real passion for walking in these mountains and sharing his knowledge of the floral and fauna. He gave me a big hug when I made it to the top.

There were some security concerns while I was there. It is definitely recommend to take a guide. You should be able to get a small group and the fee will be small. This is a poor country. The guides are knowledgeable about the local terrain. There are many trails and it is easy to get lost.

It is easy to find a guide, just hang out at Nick's Places near the water taxi dock in San Pedro.

I have some other views in my travel log.

I had to scale rocks to make it to this watering hole, but the adventure was well worth it.

They say el Lago de Atitlan is treacherous, but the warning did not keep me from enjoying a swim in the lake.