As the largest city along the shores of Lago de Atitlán, Panajachel has become one of the main tourist hubs on this stunning lake. Looking for things to do in Panajachel during your visit? Here are 10 great activities to add to your itinerary!
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1. Wander the Town on Foot
While Panajachel is the largest city on the shores of Lago de Atitlán, it is still fairly small and can be easily explored on foot. Strolling down the streets is a great way to get to really know the city.
As you wander, you’ll come across pretty murals, shops, restaurants, food and craft vendors, and more. Calle Santander is the main tourist street where there are an abundance of cafés, restaurants, and artisan shops. Panajachel is also a major hub for locals living on Lago de Atitlán, so we recommend going beyond the main tourist street and shoreline to see a more authentic side of the city.
2. Explore the Municipal Market
In addition to the street vendors set up around Panajachel, there’s the main Mercado Municipal. This local market is a covered area full of booths offering vegetables, fruits, spices, clothing, raw meat, flowers, some kitchenware, and more. There are also some spots to find prepared food, like soup, a simple breakfast, and handmade tortillas.
Locals come from around the lake to shop here. We always love wandering through bustling markets wherever we go because it gives us a little glimpse into the lives of those living in the area as well as what fruits and other foods are typical there.
3. Relax on the Beach
Panajachel honestly isn’t the best spot to swim along the shores of Lago de Atitlán. This larger city contributes pollution to the lake and there also tends to be quite a bit of algae. Additionally, being a main hub, there’s a lot of boat traffic coming in and out from various spots along the shore. Many recommend avoiding swimming here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some time along the shore!
Panajachel has somewhat of a rocky beach area known as the main Playa Pública. Locals and travelers alike come down here to enjoy the sun, take in the views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes, watch the sunset, and hang out with friends and family. There are some benches, Pana signs for photo ops, a pretty pathway above the beach, lancha docks, and vendors selling food and drink.
Across from where the Panajachel River enters the lake, there’s also Playa Jucanyá. If you do decide to swim around Panajachel, there’s a dock here that is popular to jump off. This is also a rocky beach and it’s lined with vegetation, giving it a bit more of a secluded feel than the main public beach. We enjoyed a calm afternoon hanging out here.
4. Head Out on the Water in a Kayak
If you want a little more action than just enjoying the lake from the shore, there are opportunities to rent kayaks in Panajachel. As you walk along the shore, you’ll see some kayaks lined up or buildings along the waterfront advertising kayak rentals. Ask the price, confirm the time allotted for your adventure, and head out on the lake. Make sure to have cash to pay. There are also paddle boards available from Atitlán Zup.
If you’d like a guided adventure, you can find tours from companies like Atitlán Adventure Tours and Ati Adventures as well as on sites like Get Your Guide and Viator. Your accommodation may offer excursions or have equipment available as well.
Note that the water tends to get choppy in the afternoon with the winds and lots of boats out and about. So if you want to kayak, it’s better to go earlier in the day.
5. Visit the Iglesia Católica de Panajachel
Near the Mercado Municipal sits the Iglesia Católica de Panajachel, aka the Church of San Francisco de Asís. This pretty building is believed to have been constructed in the 1560s and is one of the few remaining examples of colonial architecture in the area.
The church is free to visit, but make sure to wear church-appropriate clothing and respect those who have come to pray.
6. Visit the Lacustre Museum of Atitlán
Head to Museo Lacustre de Atitlán if you’re interested in learning more about Atitlán history, communities around the lake, and the volcanoes that shaped this landscape. It contains lake models, artifacts found around the lake, informational signs, and an exhibit covering the city discovered within the lake and how archaeologists operated in the area.
It’s a pretty small museum and takes only about an hour to get through. But consider a stop if you’re interested in history or are trying to fill time on a rainy day. Entry costs 35Q per person (less than $5 USD).
7. Nightlife
Panajachel has the widest variety of nightlife options of the cities on Lago de Atitlán. From bars to clubs and hostel parties, there are plenty of ways to continue the fun after the sun goes down.
There are two small clubs in Pana – Aleph and Element. Both are popular hangout spots on the weekends. There’s also Azul Rosa, which serves food and drinks throughout the day and converts to a club/beach party spot Thursday through Saturday nights. Other popular bars include Simoneta Mixology Cantina, Tipzy Goat, Exotic Drinks, Circus Bar, and Pana Rock, which often has live rock music.
8. Stroll Through Reserva Natural Atitlán
Just beside Panajachel sits Reserva Natural – a small nature reserve with a variety of activities. Walk the trails among lush vegetation and waterfalls, spot wildlife like monkeys and coatis, step inside the butterfly garden, enjoy the pretty lake shoreline, or cruise the zipline.
If you aren’t staying at the hotel in the reserve, entry costs Q80 for the day, which includes access to trails and suspension bridges, the butterfly garden, and the private beach. There is an extra fee for ziplining. To get here, you can take a tuktuk from Panajachel or make the walk up to the visitor center (it takes about 30mins from the heart of town).
9. Take a Spanish Lesson
Many travel to Guatemala to learn Spanish, and various language schools have popped up around Lago de Atitlán. Multiple levels of classes are often offered, and taking a Spanish lesson in a place where many people only speak Spanish will really immerse you in the language and enhance your learning experience.
There are a couple Spanish schools in Panajachel – Jabel Tinamit and Jardín de América. Additionally, some hostels will offer Spanish lessons.
10. Take a Day Trip
If you come to Lago de Atitlán, don’t just stay put in one town! There are many things to do in Panajachel, but the city also makes a great home base for exploring the other incredible things in the area.
There are many other towns along the lake that are a quick lancha ride away, including Santa Catarina Palopó, Santa Cruz, Tzununa, San Marcos, San Pablo, San Pedro, San Juan, Santiago Atitlán, and more. You could also head up into the hills above the lake to explore Sololá, Santa Clara, and Chichicastenango, which is known for its massive artisan market that occurs every Thursday and Sunday. Another popular excursion is to head to the Iximché ruins near Tecpán.
Additionally, there are so many ways to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, from ziplining and taking a swim to hiking and cruising around the lake in an ATV.
You can find many different tours and excursions on sites like Get Your Guide and Viator or through various tour agencies located in the cities along the lake. Check out our Guatemala page for more info on some of the things we got up to while visiting Lago de Atitlán.
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