Date: 22/01/2013 à 23/01/2013

Path: We follow the Panamerican west of Guatemala City, e tomamos o desvio na altura da cidade de Patzicia para uma estrada local que leva direto à Panajachel.

Lake Atitlan – Guatemala

Imagine an intense day. Less than 24 hours, wake up from our accommodation in fire station, take a boat and visited four pueblos around the gigantic and beautiful Lake Atitlan. Besides the scenery of the lake and the surrounding volcanoes, a cultura local também chama atenção e completa a experiência nesta jóia da Guatemala.

O Lago de Atitlán

We went to Guatemala City in the middle of the afternoon, after lunch and after a few hours on the road we were already in the town of Panajachel, main gateway for visitors of Lake Atitlán. After a tour of the city to look for somewhere to spend the night, just dropping in a somewhat unusual place: the Fire Department. Dormíssemos parking allowed in without much problem, and still could use their bathroom, ótimo negócio.

Hard road to get to Panajachel

But beautiful views accompany the road

Next day, would do an island tour. Tour companies offer a ride by speedboat, stopping at some people located in the vicinity of the island. There are several small towns that are scattered around the 126 km ² of Atitlán and offer a bit of Mayan culture still remaining to tourists. A day, recommended to visit between 3 or 4 two people, para que se possa curtir um pouco do visual e também conhecer o que as cidades tem a oferecer.

The volcano Atitlán lies next to the pond

The first view of the lake is stunning. First, by size, second by its beauty. No wonder it is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Three volcanoes give a special charm to the landscape: o Atitlán, Tolimán and the San Pedro. Latter, say they have ceased their volcanic activity thousands of years ago, while the other two remain active, ainda que a última erupção do Atitlán tenha acontecido em 1853.

The first view of the volcano

View of the city of Santa Cruz la Laguna

The first stop was the village of Santa Cruz la Laguna. Small town, crescendo that seems to be fast in recent years. We had the impression that tourism is taking over the region and the village grows around it. We take a tuc tuc- (those same kind of India!) to climb to the center. After watching the local children playing in the playground, and pass the little church in the central square, climbed to the mirador for a panoramic view over the lake. Belo visual.

Ride-on tuc tuc

Children enjoying the playground in the square

Model photo embarrassed to

Many children still wear clothes typical day-to-day

Stop at the viewpoint of the city

The next was the village of San Marcos La Laguna, supposedly the best place for a swim in the lake. Not everyone who faced the icy water, since the temperature outside the water was not the most attractive. Who does not swam, went for a walk in the city. The place is WELL quiet and tourists aproveitam to relax in lodge à glass do Lago. We climbed the hill and on the way found a mixture of customs. Some ladies went with traditional clothes, while the younger has lavished brand clothes (of doubtful authenticity) e smartphones.

Rumo à San Marcos

Tradition and modernity

We followed the tour with our boatman, this time left us in San Juan, our stop longest and perhaps the most interesting. Again, a battalion of tuc-tucs esperam os viajantes que descem no píer. We decided to talk to one of them, we offered a tour throughout the city. E este foi muito interessante.

The TUC-tucs

We passed the coffee cooperative, where we learn a little about how this activity works in the region, famous for exporting this product to the rest of the world. We were able to show them a coffee and we conclude that, although good, are well over our Brazilian coffee!

Gabriel proving Guatemalan coffee

Another activity is strong in the city crafts. By streets, spread several murals of Juan Francisco Guzman, famous artist in the region. His paintings are true pieces of art, depicting the landscapes and local realities. In his gallery, vimos alguns gringos comprando vários para levar para casa.

Art in the streets is common in San Juan…

…and also galleries

We also had the opportunity to meet a cooperative crafts, where we chatted with a nice lady, that goes for years their experience to younger. The colors of the fabrics are drawn naturally, from leaves and fruit essences. O trabalho é bastante interessante.

Many colors in handicrafts

All colors from nature

How to color fabrics in a few steps

The last stop on the island was in San Pedro. Our time was very short, and we could not know more than the restaurant across the lake where we had lunch. The city seemed more tourist and Bell, being filled with restaurants and bars on Main Street. We had lunch and ran back to the boat, before the boatman decidisse in leaving for the same (and he really was about to do!).

Streets of San Pedro

San Pedro's big city on the lake

We left the Lake Atitlán delighted with its beauty and all that absorb the people around. It was our last day in Guatemala. Seguimos viagem rumo à desconhecida El Salvador.

Time to return to Tanajura

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