San Antonio Palopó Travel Guide

  Crafts for sale, San Antonio Palopó
by toonsarah
 
  • Crafts for sale, San Antonio Palopó
      Crafts for sale, San Antonio Palopó
    by toonsarah
  •   San Antonio Palopó
    by toonsarah
  • Counting money after a sale
      Counting money after a sale
    by toonsarah
  • Church of St Antony of Padua
      Church of St Antony of Padua
    by toonsarah
  • Street scene, San Antonio Palopó
      Street scene, San Antonio Palopó
    by toonsarah
 

Explore San Antonio Palopó

Things to Do  

Church of St. Anthony of Padua

Church of St. Anthony of Padua, San Antonio Palopó

 toonsarah Says:  There are two main reasons to come to San Antonio. One is to see the pretty church, perched high above the village. The trucks will bring you to its door, but if you arrive by boat it’s a steep but rewarding climb up from the dock. The views from here are great (see photo... 

San Antonio´s church.

San Antonio´s church., San Antonio Palopó

 euzkadi Says:  San Antonio used to be a catholic town, now much of the inhabitants are protestant. The white washed church worth a look. 

Boat to San Antonio.

Boat to San Antonio., San Antonio Palopó

 euzkadi Says:  It used to be buses to San Antonio, but after the Stan Hurricane the roads are in a very bad shape. The best way to reach the town is by boat (40 minutes). If you are adventorous you can also get local pick-ups cars to the town. 

Great lake views.

Great lake views., San Antonio Palopó

 euzkadi Says:  From this town you can get great and different views of the lake. 

Along the way

Along the way, San Antonio Palopó

 acemj Says:  Along the way to the church, you'll notice a very quiet and traditional village situated on a steep hillside on the edge of one of the world's most beautiful lakes. There's not much to see in terms of great architecture, but it's interesting to see a more traditional, no... 

Walk to the church

Walk to the church, San Antonio Palopó

 acemj Says:  If your time is limited in San Antonio Palopó like mine was, I'd suggest heading up to the simle but beautiful white church up on the hill. They say in the restaurant business that location is everything and if the same applies to churches, then this place will not have any... 

Transportation  

By boat to San Antonio Palopó

By boat to San Antonio Palopó, San Antonio Palopó

 toonsarah Says:  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... 

Boat

Boat, San Antonio Palopó

 acemj Says:  We got here by boat as part of a tour that included two other villages, however, you can catch a direct boat from Panajachel for just a couple bucks (15-20 Q). If you'd rather get here overland, there are regular pick-ups between Panajachel and San Antonio Palopó (stopping... 

Shopping  

street sellers: Handicrafts in San Antonio Palopó

street sellers: Handicrafts in San Antonio Palopó, San Antonio Palopó

 toonsarah Says:  The other attraction that draws visitors to San Antonio is the opportunity to shop. The distinctive blue huipiles are on offer everywhere and are probably a more wearable design when you get back home than the more ornate ones elsewhere. Other handicrafts are generally of a... 

Local Customs  

Traditional locals

Traditional locals, San Antonio Palopó

 acemj Says:  San Antonio Palopó is one of the more traditional villages around the lake. The people here are Cakchiquel Mayan and the men wear traditional clothing of red shirts with vertical stripes, pants with a small woolen blanket wrapped around their hips called a rodillera. The... 

Coffee

Coffee, San Antonio Palopó

 acemj Says:  Just down the hill from the main church, I noticed a woman sorting through what appeared to be coffee beans drying in the sun. In addition to selling their local handicrafts to tourists, many of the locals make a living through agriculture and since this is Guatemala, coffee... 

Favorites  

Life in the village

Life in the village, San Antonio Palopó

 toonsarah Says:  Although the church is likely to be the first thing that catches your eye, don’t let it be the only thing that you see here. The village streets are unprepossessing and there are no buildings or architectural merit, but a stroll around them is a pleasant way of spending some... 

A quick tour

A quick tour, San Antonio Palopó

 acemj Says:  My buddy Ryan and I were only in San Antonio Palopó for about an hour, which was just enough time for a quick stroll around town and in the area around the church. My initial impression was of a place that was more traditional than the other villages and perhaps a little... 

The Place

Plan a San Antonio Palopó vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and San Antonio Palopó locals

Experience San Antonio Palopó
  •   13 Tips and Reviews
  •  38 Photos
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Map of San Antonio Palopó
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
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 From this town you can get great and different views of the lake. 

 

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Top 4 San Antonio Palopó Writers

1

San Antonio Palopó

acemj profile photo

 I love the way San Antonio Palopó clings to the edge of the steep hillside on the eastern shore of Lake Atitlan as if it were about to slide into the magical lake. The village is one of the more... 

2

A typical Cakchiquel Maya village

toonsarah profile photo

  San Antonio Palopó is one of the smaller villages on Lake Atitlàn and a visit here will only occupy a couple of hours but it’s well worth doing. The people here are Cakchiquel Maya, and if you also... 

3

San Antonio Palopo.

euzkadi profile photo

 San Antonio Palopo is a small village located 10 kms from Panajachel. It´s a very traditional town despite the touristic attack. The hillsides of town are terraced, and has great views of the lake. 

4

San Antonio Palopo

AnnaLupilla profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in San Antonio Palopó. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 1 photo uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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