Lake Atitlan is one of Guatemala’s most popular attractions—and for good reason. Surrounded by volcanoes, the ancient caldera lake is mesmerizing in its beauty, while the villages that line its shores are all unique and fascinating. Perfect for travelers who have limited time, this small-group day tour from Antigua is a great way to squeeze in the highlights of the lake while delving deeper into the colorful local culture.

Spend a day exploring the stunning beaches and villages around Lake Atitlan
Visit Panjachel, San Juan la Laguna, San Pedro, and Santiago Atitlan
Enjoy a fun group day out with a maximum of 16 travelers
Includes return-trip transport from Antigua, shared boat trip, and guide

What's Included

Round trip shared transportation (Antigua-Panajachel-Antigual)
Shared Boat transportation and life jackets
Professional local guide
Local taxes

Personal expenses
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Tuk Tuk (local small taxi) to visit Maximon - Optional Q25.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

05:30 AM

Pickup details

We can pick up in any centrally located Antigua Hotels, Air BnB and family homestays. We don't pick up in the villages around. Send us your pick up location to confirm. You are purchasing a collective service, this means several people will join the tour. The van will experience some delays caused by travellers that are not ready in time, or gave a wrong address. Please be Patient.

What To Expect

Panajachel

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

San Juan la Laguna

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

San Pedro La Laguna

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Santiago Atitlan

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking (the meals aren't included but if you have any special requirement we can help you to choose a good restaurant according to your needs)
The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
IMPORTANT: If do the weather conditions there is no access to any of the towns listed in the tour, we will suggest you other town options to visit and keep the three towns in your tour

Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

94 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 94 reviews

Loved this tour!!! I was...

Thea_E, Apr 2024

Loved this tour!!! I was emailed my pickup time the day before and the driver was on time. We drove about 2 hours to Panajachel and had breakfast. There were only 3 of us on the shuttle but we met others for this activity at the docks. Asusana was our Spanish speaking guide and Nicholas was our English speaking guide. I don’t speak Spanish but mostly stayed with Asusana. She was so sweet and I would recommend her for this activity. We went to 3 towns and squeezed a lot in one day but it was well worth it. Would absolutely do this again. I met other solo travelers from all over and had the best time!

A hole joke

Sebastio_M, Apr 2024

the transport car in the morning was much too small for the two hour journey you couldn't even move your legs that was absolutely disgusting the small vehicle for so many people And then the journey back with a driver who was constantly on the phone while driving on the mountainous stretch or texting during the journey with 14 people in the car. Safety was zero. If something had happened, Viator would also have been partly to blame. I wonder what kind of drivers you chose. They only spoke Spanish and the people who spoke English had to somehow find out for themselves what was being said. It was just poorly and unprofessionally planned, even though I paid 80 euros to be picked up from outside the hostel, on the way back he suddenly said he didn't have time to drop off the people as promised because two guests who had nothing to do with the tour were picked up and then dropped off in Guatemala City. They were all thrown out somewhere in the city in Antigua and had to walk to the hostel after the all day tour. What a joke, the whole thing is just embarrassing. but the tour with Nikolas and his female colleague was great from a to z nothing to complain about awesome but the drivers and the car in the morning crap

Fantastic and efficient way to see Lake Atitlan!

Breanna_F, Apr 2024

I had the best time on this tour! I booked an extra day in Antigua just so could visit Lake Atitlan and I’m so glad that I did. While some reviews mentioned this tour being rushed, I did not find that at all. I found it to be an efficient way to see the highlights if you happen to not have the time to spend staying at the Lake overnight. The driver picked me up on time along with 3 other tour members and the 2 hour drive there was very easy. We were given 2 hours at the restaurant for breakfast which while seems quite long, I think it was to give time for the different tour groups sharing the tour to get to the restaurant and have a meal. The food was good and cheap! The people I shared the drive to the lake with were so lovely. After breakfast they explained we would join the different tour groups and split us by Spanish guide and English guide, and I got to meet a new group of people to spend majority of the day with. As a solo traveller this was great and I felt very comfortable in getting to chat to a bunch of different people from different parts of the world. Our English guide was helpful in giving us a history of the different towns and providing us with clear instructions on how much free time we had and went to meet back with the group to venture on. The boat took us to the first town San Juan where we spent 2 hour, which I thought was the most beautiful town with all the umbrellas overhead. Here they took us to visit a chocolate making business and then a women’s cooperative that hand makes different textiles. I noticed some reviews complaining about this and how it was just to get you to spend money. I thought both of these demonstrations were great to learn more about their culture and not too long either - and they were not pushy about purchasing products. Next the boat took us to San Pedro where we spent 20 minutes, which I actually think was enough time to quickly look around and get a cold drink. Next was the final town, Santiago, where we had lunch and then our guide helped to arrange Tuk Tuks (only $5/6) for us to quickly see a few different attractions like the shrine to Maximo, the main church which is both Catholic and Mayan, and a viewpoint lookout of the town. As it was a hot day and the town has a higher elevation, it would have been hard to see all those points by foot so worth paying for the tuk tuk. The tuk tuk driver explained the history of the church and the civil war which was very interesting to hear about. We then were taken back to Panajachel. The boat back was going again the current, so it was choppier. This obviously cannot be helped and did not bother me but maybe something to note if you do suffer from sea sickness. Once back in Panajachel we were picked back up by our morning driver to return to our Antigua accomodation. If you are not sure whether this tour is worth it, it 100% is! Getting to see the best of the Lake so quickly is amazing when you don’t have time on your side.

I was hesitant, as I’m a...

Alexandra_J, Apr 2024

I was hesitant, as I’m a woman over 60 traveling solo. I felt safe from second one and became friendly with my 7 companions. It was a fun day filled with lovely sights

Great tour!

Brianna_J, Apr 2024

Great trip and great food. Our tour guide Lydia was very knowledgeable and patient throughout the day.

Nice day trip to Lake Atitlan

Margaret_R, Apr 2024

We had a great time on the Lake Atitlan day trip. We went on April 5 and were picked up in Antigua early in the morning. Our driver was very professional and kind, I wish I got his name. We arrived in Panajachel around 8:40 and had a quick breakfast and then met up with the group tour. Our guide was Nicolas and we took boats to the 3 cities. In Santiago we opted for the tuk tuk tour that went to Maximo and a few other places which were interesting. San Juan was beautiful. We didn't get to see much of San Pedro because my husband wanted to take a tuk tuk to the Mirador. We opted to spend an extra night on Lake Atitlan and were happy to get the same driver back the next day at noon. Ideally it would be great to spend more time in the area but if you don't have alot of vacation days I would definitively do this day trip again.

Colorful

Viche_T, Apr 2024

Great experience. A LOT of walking but wasn’t a problem for me but for anyone who it may be def reconsider. Included touring three different islands around the lake and time to eat and shop.

Beautiful places, very rushed tour

Kostadin_P, Apr 2024

The transportation was on time, and communication great, we had split between English and Spanish speaking groups which made it easier for everyone. The tour goes very fast and its pushed, there is really no time for enjoyment. We spent half of the time learning about how the chocolate is made and how the cotton cloths are made, they need to cut that in half and let people explore and enjoy the cities on the lake. The lake and the cities are amazing, definitely worth to visit the, but next time I would do it on my own, since the tour was very rushed.

Rushed

Michelle_G, Apr 2024

It felt very rushed. Most of the time was spent eating and not really looking around the city and exploring. We had like 20-30 minutes to actually explore in each city. The boat ride was a lot of fun. Solo traveler friendly.

The tour if you don’t have a lot of time

Samu994, Mar 2024

The tour was good, they pick me up at my hostel early in the morning (5:30 am), the transport is comfortable, the route was long from Antigua - Panajachel, 3 hours. The restaurant for breakfast is excellent, very affordable and delicious food, I mentioned this because they food is not include but they chose the restaurants, of course they are not mandatory but in order to complete the schedule they suggested to remain all together. We spend an hour and half in San Juan, enjoy a chocolate making history and process and also a fabric making, really instructive, beautiful culture. My only disappointment was the restaurant for the lunch, the place is nice but the food is not good and is quite expensive for the quality provided. They took care of my mom (70 years old) and try to make the best for she to enjoy as the rest of us. Really good tour if you don’t have to much Time, after San Juan we spend only 15 minutes in San Pedro and about 2 hours in Santiago including the lunch time. As I said if you don’t have much time this is the tour, but I definitely recommend to spend more time in Panajachel it is just stunning and the locals are beautiful people.

If you are short on time, this tour is highly recommended

Katy_R, Mar 2024

This was a fast paced way to see the lake and a couple of the towns that surround it. We only had one spare day in our Guatemalan itinerary, and this was perfect. Next time we come back, we will spend more time at the lake.

Sales Pitch Rather than Tour

Brandy_A, Mar 2024

I was very excited to experience Lake Atitlán with this day trip because I didn’t have time to visit longer. However, it’s a short time in three ports full of shopping experiences. I have been to 100 chocolate presentations and weaving demos. It’s the same keychains and penny souvenirs. The guide put me in the bilingual group and all the other English speakers got their own tour. He would have an expansive Spanish explanation of a spot and then a short English summary. I’m not sure his English was proficient because he told me at one point the Copán Ruins in Honduras were not Mayans, and I had just been there. So strange. He also continuously lost other visitors because he moved quickly and was on his cell phone much of the time as we walked. At one point, in a crowded shopping area, there was an old woman falling to the ground and he led us to step over her and continue walking. Then, at the end of the day, it began to rain heavily for the boat ride home. He didn’t offer any support as we tried to get out of the rain as the boat was speeding back, he just told us to “sit down” as it was hurting badly. We could have stopped the boat, moved people under the cover, and continued on more safely. Lastly, I was the first picked up at 5:20AM and as such expected to be first dropped off. I was the last, dropped off at 7:45PM. It was just a long, disappointing day. I feel like it was a constant sales pitch from the restaurants we were forced to eat at (couldn’t we have chosen so we weren’t all bombarding one place?), to the people rushing the docks asking for $5 magnets and keychains, to the areas taken. I wish we had learned about the area, the culture, and seen the beauty it offers.

Great tour!

Gennie_B, Mar 2024

Great tour! The tour guides were amazing! My partner and I mistakenly heard one of the times to meet up incorrectly, and they made sure to wait for us before we move on to the next town. Very professional, informative, and created a fun experience!

Great trip!

Sandra_K, Mar 2024

Luis was an amazing guide. I did see the max for this tour was 16 and that would have been a nightmare. There were five of us in the van so we could stretch out and we probably could have had four more comfortably but no more than that. Moving around the different cities and eating and shopping would have taken much longer and I think we honestly did so much it was really worth it.

See the Beauty of Guatemala

Noel_V, Mar 2024

Must do tour. Driver picked me up on-time. Was able to see the beauty of Guatemala during the ride from the hotel to the lake. The lake itself is astonishing and the towns we visited surrounding the lake each have their own character. Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Logistics and timing of the activities were top notch. I had a great time. Highly recommend.

The Shops at Lake Atitlan

Mefter_C, Mar 2024

The most memorable part of this tour was the markets and shops in the area. We were able to find many gifts for friends and family as well as handmade items for myself that we would not be able to find anywhere else. The vendors in that area were accommodating for us and always open to negotiation. The time that we got in the market was just enough to get everything we wanted and needed.

Wonderful lake atitlan tour

Dinesh_G, Mar 2024

Beautiful view of lake. Village tour. People with colorful dresses. Nice food.guide and driver were professional.they accomplished to pick me from not listed hotel.great value for money compared to other sites..highly recommend.

Beutifull

Kathy_Z, Mar 2024

The experience was super good, Lake Atlitan was spectacular, our guides Azucena and Nicolas A1, the entire tour was well run, we met three towns and had time to explore it. I recommend it.

Great Tour

Cassie_G, Feb 2024

This tour exceeded my expectations. We got to see all of the popular villages around Lake Atitlan in one day, but it didn’t feel rushed. In fact, I felt like I was able to really experience Lake Atitlan because we did so much. There was a chocolate making demonstration, a textile demonstration, a walking tour and a boat ride. It was a really great experience, and I would highly recommend if you want to see Lake Atitlan but don’t have much time.

Do not recommend

Jenisis_W, Feb 2024

Not a good tour. The ride from Antigua to the lake was 2 hours. The bus was packed with everyone shoulder to shoulder very uncomfortable ride there and back. When on the boat the it was going so fast people were literally coming out of their seats and slamming back down on their butts with no concern for safety or injuries. We on got 20 minutes free time in San Juan. 20 minutes total in San Pedro and we had to eat where they wanted us to eat in Santiago with 20 minutes free time.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

HI Jenisis. We are sorry for your bad experience. In our defense, this is why we have this tour as a collective shuttle, this means, that you share the van, and you are under a determined schedule. Lake Atitlan has a very choppy water effect on certain days. This is nature that takes over, our boat drivers are experienced and have lived there all of their life, they value their life such as the passengers life. Regarding the time and place to eat, again as we mention before, you are on a collective service, we need to have everybody in a group, so we can manage our times.

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