Panajachel.
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Overview

Panajachel is in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Panajachel, or Pana as it is widely known is a small town on the North shore of Lake Atitlán. Pana is a small town with a booming tourist industry. Along with Antigua and Flores, Panajachel is one of the major tourist areas in Guatemala.

Get in

By bus There is no bus station yet, but chicken buses, taxis and shuttle buses congregate at the intersection of Calle Principal and Calle Santander, or you can catch them along the highway near the gas stations at the northwest entrance of town.

Camionetas, aka "Chicken buses" As of July 2024, there are no more frequent direct "chicken buses" from Guatemala City. The office they used to run from went out of business during the Covid pandemic. There may still be one that goes just once daily, leaving Pana for Guate early in the morning. What locals do instead is take a bus to Los Encuentros, a dusty crossroads on the Guate-Quetzaltenango route, and change there (2.5 hrs, Q40 from Guatemala City in July 2024).

Though armed robberies of passengers don't seem to happen much anymore on this route, you should still be alert for petty theft (pickpocketing, bag slicing, people walking off with your bags, etc.). Perhaps more importantly, be warned that the buses between Guate and Los Encuentros have a reputation for crazy driving, taking curve after curve at high speed and apparently even racing each other.

Shuttles Many tourist agencies will arrange tourist bus transport to Panajachel (usually called "shuttles"). There are also services to/from Antigua, Semuc Champey, Flores (Tikal), San Cristobal de las Casas, and other destinations.

By boat If you have arrived at other parts of the lake without passing through Pana already, you can get to the town by public speedboat from San Pedro, Santiago Atitlán, and most other towns in between. See those towns' articles for more details.

For an overview of how boat transport works here, see the "Get around" section of the Lake Atitlan article.

By pickup truck Fletes (Toyota pickups) can be found near the market. They are the cheapest way to get to nearby towns - if there's a direct road to them. These are a great way to meet the local indigenous people, who are their best customers.

Get around

Panajachel is quite small, and you can walk practically anywhere within 20 minutes.

Other towns along the lakeshore can be easily reached by public speedboats. See the Lake Atitlán article or articles for specific towns for more details.

See

Casa Cakchiquel. Built in 1948, Casa Cakchiquel was one of the first hotels on the lake and according to legend, Ernersto "Che" Guevara, Ingrid Bergman, and other intellectuals, artists, and writers enjoyed the house at its best. Today the house has been restored and features a fair trade store, rotating exhibits, and a vintage photo and postcard gallery. It is also home to organizations Thirteen Thread and Radio 5. WiFi

Lake Atitlan Villages If you are staying in Panajachel it is quite possible to explore a number of the villages around the lake in one day with a combination of lanchas, tuk-tuks and walking as follows. Catch a lancha to San Pedro La Laguna and walk to San Juan La Laguna along the road, before climbing to Mirador Kaqasiiwan. Back down on the road catch a San Pablo La Laguna-registered tuk-tuk (tuk-tuks are only allowed to go to the two villages either side of where they are registered) to San Marcos La Laguna. From there, catch a lancha to Jaibalito, before walking along the lovely footpath eastwards to Santa Cruz La Laguna. Catch a Lancha back to Panajachel

Do

Watch the sunset from the beach. You have a better angle to view it from here than in most of the other popular towns on the lake - and Lake Atitlán sunsets can be especially spectacular. Volunteer Robert Muller LIFE School; LIFE's mission is to provide a top-notch, multicultural education to expat and indigenous children alike. LIFE School is the only English-speaking non-profit school in Guatemala. 44% of its current students receive some form of financial assistance. You can also volunteer for free with Mayan Families. The organization provides support to Indigenous and Ladino Guatemalans through education scholarships, emergency food and medical services, donations, etc. You can install new stoves, teach preschoolers, translate, cook food for their Elderly Feeding Program, help sort donations and more! In addition to the aforementioned volunteer opportunities, Panajachel has a number of other Non-Governmental Organizations that accept volunteers on a no-fee basis. A couple of these include: Mayan Traditions and Estrella de Mar.

ATI Divers. In the nearby village of Santa Cruz La Laguna is ATI Divers. Diving in the lake is interesting as this is high altitude diving into a fresh water lake. Also, due to the fact the volcanic activity is present there are hot spots under the bed of the lake. At various points it is possible to feel the heat with your hands by digging them into the floor of the lake. The life in the lake consists of crabs, fish, snails and plants. Located on the same site and run by the same people is La Iguana Perdida.

Kayaking, Many of the lake side resorts own recreational and sea kayaks that they are more than willing to rent. But if you're not staying at a resort the public beach in Panajachel in front of Hotel Del Lago has a small two story tower that rents kayaks. The mobility of the kayaks and warm waters provide endless stopping points for private cliff-side diving and swimming as well as a close up look at some very fancy homes. Prices for the day are around Q100-200 for a two-person kayak. Q50 at La Iguana Perdida backpacker's hotel! Los Elementos Adventure Center has an excellent kayaks, and offer guided tours as well as hourly rentals. Full moon and sunrise paddles are a unique way to enjoy the lake. 2-4 day around the lake tours are an affordable adventure if you are looking for something special. 5359.8328

Xocomil Tours. Offers quality bike rentals for village around the lake also offers boat tours, trekking around the lake, climbing volcanoes, coffee tour, and other adventures ideal for adventure tourism can be organizing in Panajachel.

Nature Reserve. for Q55 the nearby Reserva Natural Atitlán, or Atitlan Nature Reserve and butterfly sanctuary is part of an old coffee finca. You can see monkeys, coatimundis and many species of birds, walk on hanging bridges towards the waterfall or the private beach. Stay in their "green" Hotel Atitlan. The oldest house in the area (~1700 AD) and a stone, German-built mill (~1880s AD) are on the property. You can ride eight zip lines across the valley with a great view of the property, the lake and the volcanoes and then ride into the forest for Q220 (which also includes the normal Q55 admission to the Reserva). The equipment and gear is very secure and you always have two guides.

Säq B'ey Tour Operator. Private boat tours to explore the more remote areas of the lake, or for private transportation to any area of the lake. Ideal for birdwatching, visiting the geothermal hot springs, or just for a swim in the middle of the lake. Also

Buy

Mayan boys, girls, women & men walk the streets of Pana from morning until night selling authentic handcrafted, as well as machine made, Mayan good such as textiles, paintings, jewelry, clothing, accessories and even nuts. Prices of the goods offered seem to compete fairly well with shops selling similar goods in Pana.

If you're interested in buying traditional Mayan clothes or textiles, Panajachel and the other towns around the lake are great places to do so.

Eat

A small selection of popular Panajachel restaurants and food options:

Guajimbo's, Calle Santander. (Uruguayan) The menu notes that their vegetables are disinfected and they use purified water for drinking water and ice. They have the best steaks: huge, grilled to perfection with creative toppings. Live music most evenings at 19:00.

Las Chinitas. Serving Chinese, Japanese, and Malaysian food in a variety of combinations. On one night the crowd was almost entirely foreigners, with a folk band of gringos playing 1960s and 70s American hits. They use purified water for vegetables and drinking.

Circus Bar. Good pizza. Typically features live bands at night on weekends. Well known place, now with another branch in Antigua.

Sunset Cafe. The tables are in an open room with gorgeous views over the lake. Cuisine includes Mexican and international dishes. Come for the view, not for the food - it's not that good. Prices are mid-range, with entrees at Q30-40. Enjoy an exotic cocktail or a variety of beers from the bar. The menu notes that their vegetables are disinfected and they use purified water for drinking water and ice. Live Music every night of the week.

Dina's Chocolate, If you are a connoisseur of fine chocolates and sweets, make sure you search stop by the small store in downtown Pana, where the calle Santander forks into a "Y" A very special variety is the chile lime! Pricy, but a rare break from Nestle bars in this part of the world!

Ricassoli Pizza Steak House. Cuisine: Italian/traditional Guatemalan. Provides a delicious typical breakfast plate.

Restaurante Hana. Serves traditional Japanese dining in a beautiful, authentic Japanese restaurant.

All along Calle Santander, inside and outside the mercado and in numerous other locations throughout Panajachel there are street vendors selling tacos, chuchitos, empanadadas, tortas, hot dogs, sweet corn, sweet nuts and other snack foods. These are a good cheap option for the budget traveller.

Drink

While you may still drink in the streets in Panajachel, it is no longer as common; only during certain festivities or special events will the party spill out in to the street.

Cafe-Bar above Tierra Maya Tours. Provides wi-fi to customers. 2-for-1 Cuba Libres (rum, coke & lime wedge) for Q25 & Black Russians (blanco y negro) for Q30.

Pana Rock Cafe. Buy a cubetazo of your favorite beer (or peruse the extensive drink menu), meet some locals and listen to Latin Rock or a live band with an ambiance unrivaled by any bar in the country.

Sleep

Some hotels outside Panajachel proper are also listed in the Nearby section.

Hotel Jere. Q75 per person per night for room with shower, private room, WiFi, and they arrange tour around the Atitlan lake.

Mario's Rooms. (Feb 2011) Q80 per person/night for room with no shower (shared, not ensuite, and located at the ground floors—might be problematic if you ate at street stalls!), including breakfast, and drinking water. So friendly and helpful. A beautiful courtyard, nice rooms. Free WiFi, albeit a slow but adequate connection.

Hospedaje Sanchez. If you do not mind shared bathrooms, then this is an excellent place. It is clean, quiet, and comfortable. It is particularly nice to have an upstairs room, where the window on the back wall lets in gentle breezes from the lake. Great lake views from the roof. Convenient to the main road, but you will feel that you are deeply in Guatemala. The Sanchez family are very sweet people, who respect your privacy, but are willing to help you with anything.

Lovely, family-owned place. Clean and cared for.

Grand Hotel. Can get busy at weekends due to an influx of visitors from Guatemala City, this hotel has comfortable rooms, a beautiful garden, free WiFi, swimming pool, and restaurant.

Primavera. A mid-scale hotel right in the middle of Panajachel. Renovated in 2000, most of the rooms are on the second floor.

Hotel Utz Jay. Quiet, nicely decorated rooms with Guate fabrics, artwork, set around a beautiful courtyard with birds and hammocks. Honor system for beers and sodas. Private baths with hot water, and a sauna on the grounds. Continental breakfast included with the room. You can also book boat and other tours here. The owner (Marie Lissette) is very helpful and aims to please.

Hotel Casa Loma, (on a small side street off Calle Rancho Grande near the Calle de Buenas Nuevas).Has private parking.

Hotel El Sol. Very clean, quiet and comfortable hotel. It's a bit of a walk from the centre of the town, but well worth it for the free WiFi, (small) hot tub, kitchen and sushi restaurant.

Casa Linda. Nice, clean and friendly place. Not very social but fabulous hosts. Water from shower head was hot & bathroom reasonably clean. Garden in centre court was lush & gorgeous.

Posada Don Miguel. Nice, clean and friendly place with guest kitchen, good showers, Wi-Fi. 14.739929, -91.158463.

Hotel San Buenaventura de Atitlan. Surrounded by an old coffee plantation. 10 houses offer double rooms, or units with double rooms, living and dining rooms plus a fully equipped kitchen. It is flanked by two rivers, has a private beach and it is only a 4 min walk to the Atitlán Nature Reserve.

Hotel Atitlan. 62-room lakeside hotel with extensive, beautifully-designed gardens leading right up to the lake, an aviary with macaws, parrots, hummingbirds. The hotel lobby has a theme of antique Catholic wood carvings. The outdoor unheated pool offers a great view of the volcanoes. It's located about a five min walk from the Atitlan Nature Reserve and the butterfly sanctuary.

Reserva Natural Atitlan. 12 min walk from Panajachel proper, the Nature Reserve has units surrounded by nature with private deck and a campground with bathrooms.

Las Tarrales Nature Reserve. A protected area with tourism and lodging. It goes nearly to the top of Volvan Atitlan. You can see an old coffee "benefacio", where freshly picked coffee is still processed. Various lodging options, from doubles and triples to dorm rooms to camping.