San Juan, Lake Atitlan Travel Guide

San Juan is unique amongst the other villages of Lake Atitlan for its incredible street art and murals of Maya culture. The art starts, coming from the dock, on Calle de las Sombrillas. The biggest concentration of artwork is on Calle del Cafe, Calle de los Sombreros, and inside the basketball court Cancha Municipal de Baloncesto con Techado. Still, you’ll find street art throughout the whole village. Separately, check out the town church, Iglesia Católica San Juan La Laguna. It’s interesting to see how the Maya practice both ancient traditions and those of the Catholic religion that took hold during the Spanish colonial period. The Mercado Municipal is also a great place to walk through. It’s full of life and color, with vendors spread across two floors. Finally, there’s the town’s viewpoint, Mirador Kaqasiiwaan. It’s a tiring uphill trek to get to the top. The view of the lake isn’t particularly picturesque, but the viewing platform is painted in beautiful murals. It gives you a chance to see the size of the lake from a bird’s eye view.

San Juan has weaving cooperatives that create handmade textiles using organic cotton, natural dyes, and the traditional backstrap loom. Casa Flor Ixcaco is a cooperative of 34 women. They offer demonstrations at their shop. Their textiles were the most expensive that I saw in town, but also the most stylish and modern. They come with information about how it was made, including the material, natural dye, and the amount of time that went into it. Casa del Tejido is another great collective. They offer a free demonstration and sell a large, diverse supply of traditional textiles. If you want to try artisanal weaving, TinteMaya is highly recommended for its multi-day dyeing and weaving courses and 3-hour workshops that cost about 250 Q. Lema Association also has a 3-hour scarf-making workshop for around 200 Q.

At Mundo de Abejas Mayas (World of Maya Bees), you can take a 20-minute tour for 25 Q in English or Spanish to learn about traditional Maya beekeeping and native Melipona bees and taste different kinds of honey. The shop has over 25 all-natural products made from ingredients like honey, wax, and pollen. San Juan also has a chocolate factory and shop, Licor Marrón Chocolate, where you can learn about cacao and traditional chocolate-making, do a bean-to-bar workshop, or enjoy homemade hot chocolate or cacao tea on their rooftop. For a private cooking class, the incredibly kind Esmeralda of Deleite Ancestral restaurant (more on Deleite Ancestral below) teaches traditional Maya cooking (in between cooking and running her restaurant and raising several kids!). You can reach her on WhatsApp at +502 5875 4092.

The lake basin is home to 236 bird species, including the native Resplendent Quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird, and the Horned Guan! More fun facts here. It’s an incredible destination for birdwatchers. If you enjoy nature, this is a great way to get away from the smog in the villages and out in the fresh air!

Nativo Coffee Shop is a great place for artisan coffee and breakfast. It has a nice ambiance and serves a mix of Guatemalan and international dishes, like eggs on avocado toast. La Farfalla, open from 9 AM to 5 PM, is a good place to go for their cheap, 30-40 Q menu of the day, which includes a vegetarian option. For a restaurant with a social mission, there is Alma de Colores, which employs disabled members of the community. It’s open for breakfast and lunch, offering a wide range of local and international dishes. The best place to go for dinner is Deleite Ancestral Experiencia Gastronomica Tz’utujil. It’s a restaurant with a lot of heart run by a family. They cook and serve traditional Maya meals with intimate service. You have to make a reservation and order in advance, and they’ll cater to any dietary restrictions or preferences.

San Juan’s best lakeside hotel is Eco Hotel Uxlabil Atitlan. For $70/night it has rooms with lake views, complimentary breakfast, and free use of kayaks. There’s a restaurant, sauna, and spa services. Between the lake and town center is Casa Argentina for about $25/night. It’s a family-run guesthouse with a rooftop terrace overlooking the lake, a shared kitchen, and laundry service. Chirris Hostel is in the center of town with dorm rooms for $10/night and private rooms for $20-30/night. This highly-rated hostel has a shared kitchen, tour desk, and terrace. Hotel Taa Tiin is a 7-minute walk from the center. Rooms are tastefully decorated and the free, traditional breakfast is great, but the hotel is overpriced at $115/night.

For those staying in San Juan, these are popular Lake Atitlan tours that conveniently depart from there!