San Antonio Palopó Transportation

There are two ways to get here from Panajachel: pick-up truck (cheap but bumpy) or boat (dearer, because you will have to hire a private one as the ferries don’t call here, but more scenic). Actually there is a third way – some of the tours of the lake call here too.

We opted for the boat as it seemed a nicer way to travel, despite the higher cost. If you want to do the same you’ll have no problem finding one. As soon as you start to approach the lakeside in Panajachel you’ll be accosted by men offering to take you anywhere you want to go on the lake. Try to resist the first person who approaches you, and make your way to the main docking area where you’ll be able to chose between several offers and negotiate the best deal – haggling is necessary as the first price quoted will be well above the going rate.

We paid 175 Q for the two of us for the return trip, having negotiated the price down from the first-quoted 175 Q each way. The boatman asked us to pay 100 Q on arrival in San Antonio and the balance on the return trip, which seemed fair. If you come by boat you’ll need to agree a return pick-up time with your driver. I would suggest 90 minutes is fine if you just want to see the village itself, longer if you want to explore one of the paths beyond it.

Catch a boat from the dock area in Pana or a pick-up from the supermarket beyond the church there