Panajachel Things to Do

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The Posada de Don Rodrigo has its own small museum, displaying Mayan ceramics and other artefacts found on the lake bottom. While the collection isn’t extensive it is attractively displayed and there is plenty of information in both Spanish and English. I learnt quite a lot about the different periods of Mayan history (pre-classic, classic and late classic, as they are known) which stood me in good stead a few days later when we were visiting the ruins at Tikal. There are also some displays about the Lake Atitlàn area in general – its geology, periods of human settlement, the impact of the Spanish conquest and so on.

When I visited I was the only person in there, and I had to ask the man on reception to come and switch the lights on for me! Entry for those staying at the hotel is free, but other visitors have to pay 35 Q (students 20 Q and under 12s free).

I couldn’t see any signs prohibiting photography so I took a few shots, but was sure not to use the flash. My photos show:
1. The top of a large urn from the Classic Period (300-600 AD), from San Pedro
2. A vessel of the later Pre-classic period (600 BC – 300 AD)
3. An incense tripod from the Classic Period, also from San Pedro

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Lake Atitlàn is beautiful at any time, but an early morning visit is a must, especially if you are a keen photographer. As the day wears on the wind picks up and the surface of the lake becomes rippled, but for the first few hours after day-break the water is still and the reflections at their best. So grab your camera and head down to the lake before breakfast – you won’t be disappointed.

If you’re lucky there may be a local fisherman out checking his lines, as this one was on our first morning here. Or stroll along to where the small ferry boats dock to add some foreground interest to your shots. A few clouds may wisp the top of the volcanoes but that only makes the photo more atmospheric.

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The reserva is a kind of nature park/arboretum. There are lots of plants as you walk through the paths and hanging bridges. There are also a group of spider monkeys who live here and there's a viewing area near the first bridge. A couple of nice waterfalls can also be viewed along the trail. I should state that the path can be a bit strenuous as there are some steep portions. Also, near the base of one waterfall you must walk on some slippery and steep rocks. I slipped and fell and was probably lucky not to sprain my wrist which I instinctively put down to break my fall. Still, it was a nice experience overall. They also have zip lines set up for an additional fee but we opted not to do it.

A short walk away from the visitor's center is a butterfly garden which I'm sure would have lots of butterflies when the flowers are in bloom but alas we only saw three butterflies. Oh, but there was a falcon or hawk living in there that we saw sitting on a wood railing. A bit further down (there are signs directing you) past the butterfly garden is a beach area that is also part of the reserva. Not much of a beach but there is a nice view of the lake and volcanoes. It was actually very peaceful sitting there.

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The main drag in Pana is Calle Santander. It runs approximately 800 meters from the top at the intersection with Calle Principal (Calle Real) to the bottom at the lake. It is on this street that one will find many shops selling indigenous crafts, travel agencies offering tours throughout the country, lots of restaurants, food carts, and lodging options. It's one of the main areas where everything happens in Pana. The others would be at the market or on Avenida Los Arboles where there are a few night clubs.

Calle Santander is a great place to take an evening stroll before dinner to see what things you might have missed at the huge market in Chichicantenango or to watch a futbol match at the rural elementary school. If you come to Pana, you will spend time on Calle Santander.

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Pana is situated on Lake Atitlan directly opposite three large volcanoes. They are Volcan San Pedro is to the right while Volcan Toliman and Volcan Atitlan are to the left as you look across the lake. Depending on the haze it is sometimes difficult to tell that you're looking at two volcanoes when viewing Toliman and Atitlan as Atitlan is almost directly behind Toliman and both are nearly the same height (Atitlan: 11, 604 ft, Toliman: 10,361 ft). Because of the micro-climate of the area, clouds are often seen floating in front of the volcanoes and can often obscure them completely especially in during the rainy season (June-November). Best viewing time with minimal clouds is in the morning before rain systems move in during the afternoon.

These photos do not do justice to the view. The first time I saw Lake Atitlan and the three volcanoes with my own eyes I was truly amazed at how beautiful it is.

There are not that many things to do in town ... shopping is one of those, Pana is usually cheaper than Antigua but could be more expensive than other towns. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants, travel agencies ... and you have the lake! One of the best lakes I've seen!!

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Take a drive through the hills about Panajachel for spectacular scenery. The view of the lake from here is awe inspiring. There are many stopping points along the way where you can take pictures. Often police were stationed here in response to robberies. On our drive we stopped often and felt very safe.

We discovered this wonderful art shop about a block off of the main drag. It is run by a German national and is not a tourist trap. The art work on display was quite extraordinary and very expensive.