Tucked along the shore on the outskirts of San Marcos sits Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve with its stunning volcano views, nice swimming spots, and pretty trails. Our morning started a bit early as we headed out of San Pedro with the intention of making it to the reserve before the crowds. Upon our arrival, we found a place straight from a dream. We spent the morning swimming and enjoying the reserve – it turned out to be one of our favorite moments from Lago de Atitlán.
Getting to Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve
If you’re not staying in or just around San Marcos, you can take a lancha there first. We were coming from San Pedro and took a lancha there in the morning for 15Q one way. It only took only a few minutes. If you’re coming from a further town, such as Panajachel, it will cost a bit more and take a bit longer with potentially more stops along the way.
You can also rent a kayak or paddle board from one of the nearby towns if you’re wanting to spend some time out on the lake before visiting the reserve. The lake can get super choppy with the winds and lanchas, particularly in the afternoons, so note the weather for the day, lake conditions, and your abilities before you head out.
Once in San Marcos, we headed directly inland a short ways from the lancha pier and soon took a left, following a path by some hotels and restaurants before reaching the entrance to Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve.
When we were done visiting San Marcos and the nature reserve, we headed back to the same pier in town to catch the next lancha back to San Pedro.
Hours & Fees
Entry to Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve costs 20Q per person for Guatemalan nationals and 40Q per person for foreigners.
The reserve is open from 8am until 4pm. There isn’t a set opening time for the diving platform – one of the staff members will show up at some point in the morning to open the little gate.
Exploring Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve
Upon reaching Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve, we were instantly in awe of the beauty. As we stated earlier, we arrived early at open and found ourselves to be the only ones walking down the pretty paths of the reserve.
The lower trails are well maintained and are surrounded by pretty vegetation. Smoke obscured much of the views during our time on the lake, but on this morning, the skies cleared a bit to reveal the stunning peaks. It still wasn’t perfectly clear, but we were honestly just happy to be able to see any of the surrounding volcanoes!
We passed the famous high diving platform, which was still closed since we were there early. So we headed down to the waterline to hang out. The sun still hid behind the hill, shading the pier we were relaxing on. It was a bit chilly to take a dip, but we couldn’t resist the calm blue water. Fishermen worked from their boats just off shore and the occasional lancha could be heard in the distance. Such gorgeous scenery surrounded us and it was perfectly serene.
A reserve staff member arrived to the nearby diving platform, so we made our way over to take the leap. The staff member stands at the top, instructing people on how to jump and making sure the way is clear. Supposedly, there are now also “lifeguards” positioned below the platform. People have been severely injured making this jump, so use your best judgement.
More people began to arrive, forming a small line at the platform and setting up on the rocks along the shore. The sun finally reached our spot, so we basked in the warmth a while and took another swim before deciding to explore more of the reserve. We definitely recommend arriving early and visiting on a weekday if you want to avoid crowds.
We took the trail up the hill towards the viewpoints where there is a clearing with Mayan altars in it. It was a steep, but fairly short walk up. The hike wasn’t anything too special, but there were some pretty views over the lake and San Marcos. The shoreline within the reserve was definitely the highlight, but we did enjoy walking the trails a bit!
Amenities
At the reserve there are restrooms and changing rooms for visitors to use.
If you want to get out on the water, you can also rent kayaks near the entrance. We didn’t rent kayaks here, but they cost 50Q per hour when we visited and can only be rented until 2pm.
What to Bring
Water & Snacks: There is no food or drink for sale within the reserve, so bring your own. The entrance ticket is good for the whole day, so you can also leave to grab lunch and reenter. Note that alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
Comfortable Water Shoes: We wore our Chacos to both be able to wear them in the water and when climbing out on the rocks near the platform and to be able to hike up to the viewpoint.
Towel & Swimwear: We just wore our swimsuit, but there are changing areas if desired. Also bring a towel if you want to swim and sit on the rocks near the water.
Payment Method: Both cash and card are accepted to pay the entry fee. You will need cash for lanchas.
Sun Protection: Hat, sunscreen, and/or sunglasses.
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