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Thinking of adding San Juan La Laguna to your Lake Atitlan itinerary? This guide will share everything you need to know to make the most of your time there.
If you’ve read my complete Lake Atitlan Travel Guide, you know that every town around the lake is completely unique. That’s one of the things I loved most about the area; each day trip feels like sampling a different flavor of Guatemalan and Maya culture. If I had to pick a favorite though, San Juan La Laguna would probably be it.
Like many of the Maya towns that ring the lake, this town is home to a Tz’utujil Maya community. Here you’ll see women walking the streets in traditional dress, colorful murals that depict themes of Maya life, and weaving cooperatives where local women create handmade bags and clothing using natural-dye traditions passed down through generations.
Something about San Juan La Laguna feels more locally rooted than some of the other destinations around the lake, perhaps in part because rules have historically restricted outsiders from purchasing land here, helping the community maintain stronger local ownership. But while the local vibe is strong, it still feels welcoming to visitors who’ve come to explore and learn about this colorful town.
Speaking of color: it’s everywhere here. Local artisans don’t hold back on using every shade of the rainbow, from the murals and hanging umbrellas that line the streets, to the patterns throughout their woven goods. This is definitely he place to pick up artisan goods and textiles to bring home as gifts to friends and family.
We spent our time here wandering the colorful streets, popping into weaving cooperatives, and stopping for coffee and chocolate. If I could do my trip to Lake Atitlan over again, I would definitely prioritize spending more time in San Juan.
In this guide, I’ll cover all the best things to do in San Juan La Laguna along with the basics you need to know to have an incredible visit to this corner of Lake Atitlan.
Don’t miss my other Guatemala guides to help you plan your trip:
- Lake Atitlan Travel Guide
- Best Things to do in Panajachel
- Guide to San Marcos La Laguna
- Antigua, Guatemala Guide for First-Timers
Best Things to Do in San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala
Ready to explore San Juan La Laguna? This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit including the best things to do, where to stay, and a few practical tips before you go.
Where Is San Juan La Laguna?
San Juan La Laguna sits on the southwestern shores of Lake Atitlan, next to San Pedro La Laguna, the lake’s “backpacker town”. You can easily take a tuk tuk between the two, which makes San Pedro and San Juan ideal towns to pair together for a day trip.
From Panajachel, the lake’s main transportation hub, the town is about nine miles away and best accessed by boat.
Antigua is about three hours away, while Guatemala City is reachable in around four hours.
Once you arrive, the main highlights of the town can be explored on foot.
How to Get to San Juan La Laguna
If you’re coming from Antigua or Guatemala City, booking a shared or private shuttle is one of the best options for getting to Lake Atitlan. Transport typically drops you off in Panajachel, the lake’s main transportation hub, then from there you’ll need to hop on a lancha (public boat) to continue onto San Juan La Laguna.
The boat ride from Panajachel roughly takes about 30-40 minutes, depending on the boat and lake conditions.
If you’re traveling to San Juan La Laguna as a day trip from the other towns around the lake, you’ll likely need to take a lancha and prices/departure times will change depending on your starting point.
Fair warning: there’s nothing fancy about the lanchas in Lake Atitlan, so manage expectations. Departure/arrival times also run on a pretty loose schedule, so give yourself plenty of time to get to town with a flexible timeline.
Is San Juan La Laguna Safe?
San Juan is one of the quieter, more laid-back towns around Lake Atitlan, and most of the area’s visitors can safely explore on foot. That said, the same common-sense rules apply anywhere you travel. Keep your valuables close or lock them away, avoid walking around late at night and alone, and always use a reputable guide for hikes and tours.
Where to Stay in San Juan La Laguna
I’ll be honest with you – accommodation options in San Juan are pretty slim if you’re looking for something more elevated. Personally, I wouldn’t choose to stay here overnight, since there are more beautiful, higher-end options just a short boat ride away in towns like San Marcos, Santa Cruz, or Panajachel.
If you don’t mind going with something pretty basic though, then there are plenty of options for really affordable prices. Plus, the benefit of staying in San Juan is easier access to spending more time here and the opportunity to have a very local experience. Search all San Juan La Laguna hotels here.
Where I Would Stay:
If you do want to stay overnight, Casa Don Cristobal is the hotel I’d recommend. It’s one of the only more elevated boutique hotels in town. My second pick would be Hotel Villa Luna, which is marketed as a 4-star with 24-hour front desk and newer accommodations.
For nicer stays on the lake, I’d point you toward San Marcos La Laguna (check out my full guide to San Marcos) or Panajachel for a convenient home base. You can also browse my full Lake Atitlan Airbnb wishlist for more unique home rentals around the lake.
If you want to stay close to San Juan La Laguna but not actually in town, you may want to consider booking a hotel in San Pedro, which is just a 10 minute tuk tuk ride away.
Quick Tips Before Visiting San Juan La Laguna
- Have cash on hand. Many smaller shops, cooperatives, and tuk tuks are cash-only. While there are ATMs in town, it’s a safer bet to grab cash before arriving in San Juan in one of the bigger towns.
- Don’t forget your camera. You’ll have tons of opportunities for photogenic moments around town, from painted murals to hanging textiles.
- Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. Some streets are steep and uneven, particularly heading uphill from the lake. It’s helpful to have good shoes, especially if you want to walk up to the Mirador viewpoint.
- Ask before photographing people. Many of the women weaving or selling textiles are happy to chat, but it’s respectful to ask first, especially when taking a photo that includes them.
- Time your last lancha back appropriately. If you’re day-tripping in from another town, double check the last boat time before you get too deep into an afternoon of shopping as you don’t want to get stuck overnight.
- Brush up on your Spanish. Even a few basic phrases go a long way outside the more touristy parts of the lake.
What To Do In San Juan La Laguna
Explore the Colorful Street Art and Murals
A major part of San Juan La Laguna’s charm is how much color and art there is everywhere. The streets themselves are attractions honestly, with large-scale murals found scattered on walls throughout town; the town even calls itself an “open-air museum” for this reason.
Walking uphill from the docks, you’ll immediately run into the town’s famous Umbrella Street covered in umbrellas in rainbow hues, and you’ll undoubtedly want to poke your head inside many of the galleries tucked throughout town.
Give yourself time to wander without a specific end point in mind and see what you stumble across, but here’s a list of highlights worth seeking out below. PS—There are many, many more murals in town than I’ve listed here, but they’re a bit difficult to pinpoint with exact locations—part of the fun anyway is stumbling on them yourself!
If you’d prefer to walk through town with a local guide, you can join this highly-rated walking tour.
Calle de las Sombrillas / Umbrella Street
This is the colorful stretch of the town you’ve probably seen on Instagram. One of the most recognizable spots in San Juan and a great one for photos with umbrellas hanging overhead in bright colors.
Where to find it: Calle Chi Nima Ya’, essentially right off the waterfront/boat-arrival area. If you arrive in San Juan by lancha, this is the easiest colorful street to find and is essentially your gateway into town.
Calle de los Sombreros
A street adorned with murals and colorful hats that hang overhead, this is another must-see for photos in town.
Where to find it: 5ta Avenida, in the center of town. It’s farther inland than Umbrella Street but still only a short walk.
Calle de los Hexagonos
Another decorative corridor featuring brightly colored hexagonal pieces that hover overhead as you stroll.
Where to find it: Calle al Estadio Municipal, close to the central plaza/municipal sports area. It also connects naturally into the Calle de los Sombreros area.
Galeria de Arte Chiya
This family-run gallery is famous for showcasing Maya Naïve oil paintings, particularly by married Tz’utujil Maya artists Angelina Quic Ixtamer and Antonio Coché Mendoza, who are significant artists in the area. Angelina Quic Ixtamer’s style is quite unique, showcasing a “bird’s eye view” style depicting themes of local life including agriculture, produce, coffee harvesting and weaving.
Where to find it: Calle Chi Nima Ya, San Juan La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala
Calle del Cafe
A street featuring murals that depict the traditions of coffee production, an important part of San Juan’s local economy.
Where to find it: In central San Juan within the same compact walking area as the other decorated streets. It’s indexed directly as “Calle del Café” on maps.
Diego Pérez Méndez mural
Located on Calle de los Sombreros, this mural depicts Don Diego Pérez Méndez, San Juan’s mayor between 1972-1974.
Where to find it: This mural can be found right on Calle de los Sombreros.
Visit a Women’s Weaving Cooperative
If you only have time for one cultural experience in San Juan, I’d make it a visit to one of the town’s women-led weaving cooperatives. Here, they showcase the artisan traditions that are important in Tz’utujil culture and you’ll see women working with traditional techniques and using natural dyes made from bark, flowers, plants, seeds, and other natural materials.
The cooperatives often have an area for education where you can learn about the process and then another area where you can shop handmade goods.
I bought a few pieces from Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Cooperative and I loved that the tags attached to each piece show the name and photo of the woman who made it as well as how long it took to complete. Those pieces are now some of my most treasured souvenirs from my travels and decorate our home.
A few different cooperatives and associations worth checking out during your time in San Juan:
One thing to keep in mind: I wouldn’t bargain here the way you might at a typical market. You’re buying directly from the women who made these pieces, and the price reflects the time and work that goes into each unique creation.
Tour the Lake by ATV
For a more adventurous way to see the area, book an ATV tour that loops through the countryside surrounding the lake, passing scenic viewpoints, and small villages along the way. A fun change of pace from tuk tuk’ing and boating between towns.
This tour also includes a visit up to the Mirador Kaqasiiwaan viewpoint as well as a stop at Mundo de Abejas Mayas, so you can kill a few birds with one stone.
Chocolate Making Tour at Licor Marron
We joined a tour at Licor Marrón last-minute as walk-ins and got the chance to see a quick demonstration of cacao/chocolate production in action. Chocolate was once a dominant crop in Guatemala but has since been overtaken by coffee as a major export. However, it still might be the most delicious of the country’s exports.
The small, family-run and Maya-owned shop walks you through everything from roasting cacao beans to hand-grinding them into chocolate. And of course the best part was the chance to sample their products at the end.
Their shop is massive with chocolates in so many unique infusions like orange, coffee, cinnamon, and even some liquor-infused options like Ron Zacapa. If you’re looking for authentic gifts to bring home to friends, this is a good one.
Just don’t do what I did and stock up on chocolate to bring home, only to leave it to melt in the sun. Oops!
Take a Coffee Tour
Coffee is one of the most important exports from the region, and if you have time in your itinerary, you can spend some time in San Juan learning about the production process.
La Voz, a coffee cooperative founded by a few families in the 1970s, offers walking tours as a way to educate visitors about where their coffee actually comes from.
If you’re short on time, you can also combine a few experiences into one with this coffee, chocolate, and textile tour.
Hike up to Mirador Kaqasiiwaan
The Indian Nose hike is probably the most popular in Lake Atitlan, but if you want a great viewpoint without committing to a sunrise expedition, Mirador Kaqasiiwaan is a great option.
It’s a pretty easy walk up from town that takes around 20–30 minutes and includes roughly 300 steps. The payoff is a wide-open panoramic view over Lake Atitlán and the surrounding volcanoes from a colorful hand-painted viewing platform.
The trail has a Q30 entrance fee, and you’ll pass a few vendors on the way up. Once you reach the top, there are also a couple of spots where you can grab something to eat with a view.
I’d go earlier in the day if you can. The climb isn’t particularly long, but the beating sun can make those steps feel a lot harder than they look.
Reserve Lunch at Deleite Ancestral Experiencia
Dining at Deleite Ancestral Experienca is the one thing I wish we booked ahead of time. Run by a local family, this restaurant offers traditional Tz’utujil food through an immersive dining experience, and from everything I’ve seen, it looks like one of the most unique dining experiences you can have in Lake Atitlan.
You must make a reservation ahead of time, typically through WhatsApp, and they can accommodate dietary preferences. For my next trip to the lake, this is at the top of my list.
Contact them via Whatsapp: +502 5875 4092
Coffee at Cafe Esencia
One of my favorite things to do in any country, but especially in Guatemala, is watch local life go by from the perch of a great cafe. My friend, Natalie, and I visited Cafe Esencia off a recommendation, which sits right around the corner from the main drag in San Juan.
Not only does it have some of the best reviews of any cafe in San Juan, but it has great patio views of the hustle and bustle of the street. Here, you’ll witness tuk tuks flying by, local women in traditional dress, and families heading off to the market. We chatted up the owner who was really sweet and enjoyed sitting here for awhile with a coffee in hand.
Walk Through the Mercado Municipal
I like checking out local markets when I travel, and walking through San Juan’s municipal market gives you a glimpse into daily life in town. It’s situated right at the top of the hill after departing from the boat docks, and you’ll find fresh produce, snacks and everyday goods.
It’s a nice contrast to the artisan shops and tourist-oriented streets and it’s a quick walk-through. No need to spend a ton of time here, but at least walk through and take a look to get a better understanding of local life in San Juan.
Hike to the Indian Nose Summit
Also known as El Rostro Maya, the Indian Nose hike is the most famous sunrise hike on the lake and San Juan La Laguna is one of the main jumping-off points for the hike. Most guided tours pick up guests from San Juan, San Pedro, or San Marcos before shuttling everyone to the trailhead in Santa Clara for the shorter more popular route to the summit.
Whichever route you choose, hire a trusted local guide or join a tour to hike this summit as there are safety concerns on the trail if you go alone.
Don’t forget: It gets cold at the top before sunrise even though you’re in tropical weather most of the time, so layer up.
Here are some top rated tours that I’d recommend booking for your Indian Nose hike:
Mundo de Abejas Mayas
A local bee sanctuary/conservation project that focuses on native stingless bees, the Mundo de Abejas Mayas is a nice quick stop that packs a lot into about an hour-long experience.
Guests are led through a short guided tour that educates around the importance of bee conservation and their importance to the local ecosystem. Then the best part: a honey tasting of their in-house made products.
If you still have time after prioritizing that town’s art scene and weaving cooperatives, then this is a nice next stop to learn about one of San Juan’s locally preserved traditions.
Take Day Trips to Other Towns Around Lake Atitlan
Part of what makes San Juan so easy to include in a Lake Atitlan itinerary is how well it pairs with nearby towns.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to some of my other favorite towns around Lake Atitlan:
- San Pedro La Laguna – A 10 minute tuk tuk ride from San Juan, known for having a social backpacker scene, nightlife, and a plethora of Spanish language schools.
- San Marcos La Laguna – The lake’s wellness hub with plenty of yoga studios, cacao ceremonies, and esoteric wellness experiences. Don’t miss the Cerro Tzankujil nature reserve while here.
- Santa Cruz La Laguna – A quieter scenic town with lakefront boutique hotels and water activities like kayaking and diving.
- Santa Catarina Palopó – Small and super picturesque, Santa Catarina Palopo is known for its colorful blue and turquoise painted homes, traditional designs, and artisan workshops.
- Santiago Atitlán – An important area for Tz’utujil Maya culture around the lake where you’ll find lots of indigenous crafting and culture, and the famous Maya folk/spiritual figure, Maximón.
- Panajachel – Atitlan’s main hub and one of the easiest places around the lake to find ATMs, restaurants, shops, and supplies. Don’t skip out on the best things to do in Panajachel when planning your trip to the lake.
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Booking Accommodations:
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