Where We Be
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| Hotel Atitlan Gardens is on the outskirts of Pana and offers a perfect half-day excursion with a delightful lunch and flowers galore |
| Panajachel on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala |
| Our purported goal was a hot springs we'd heard about at breakfast. Eventually we found a walled-off "pool" right on the lake with a trickle of hot water coming in. Was this it? Who knows! But we took a dip anyway! Afterwards we found a colectivo (shared pickup) to take us up the steep hill out of town for 5Q (~65¢) pp. |
| We began our visit with two relaxing days at Jenna's B&B with its octagonal yurt-like rooms and fine lake views. This was our well-earned break after tackling Acatenango Volcano. |
| We barely left the premises! Jenna's is located outside of Pana, about a five-minute tuk-tuk ride away, so we mostly enjoyed the terrific views from our balcony and ate at the on-site restaurant. |
| This was definitely more of a luxury stay than we're accustomed to, what with the private balcony, rainhead shower, and jetted tub with a view |
| We did make one foray to the nearby town of Santa Catarina, about half an hour away on foot from Jenna's B&B. This village is right on the lake has colorful blue buildings and a relaxed vibe. It's slightly off the tourist map and fun to explore. |
Lake Atitlan is a beautiful lake set in the midst
of the Guatemalan highlands where the scenery
is soothing and the climate close to perfect.
Some expats spend a lifetime here and we can
understand why, but we only had five days for
our visit and we started off intentionally slowly
after our grueling climb of Acatenango Volcano.
We were ready for a rest, and we found just the
place for it at Jenna's B&B. Here we could stare
out at the lake from our private balcony (or
jetted tub!) and do absolutely nothing quite
happily for hours on end. We did somehow
manage to find time for the included breakfast
each morning and the not included but oh-so-
tasty dinner each night at the on-site restaurant.
After two days of luxuriating we moved to the
town of Panajachel itself (Pana for short) and
picked up our touring pace just a bit -- but not
too much. We toured the lake by ferry on one
day (see next page) and explored the fabulous
gardens of Hotel Atitlan on another. The lake-
side gardens are not to be missed. A short tuk-
tuk ride will get you there, and the ~$10 cost of
entry can be applied to whatever you eat or
drink at the restaurant -- so it's the perfect
excuse to have a delicious lunch by the lake
while also getting to tour some superb gardens.
of the Guatemalan highlands where the scenery
is soothing and the climate close to perfect.
Some expats spend a lifetime here and we can
understand why, but we only had five days for
our visit and we started off intentionally slowly
after our grueling climb of Acatenango Volcano.
We were ready for a rest, and we found just the
place for it at Jenna's B&B. Here we could stare
out at the lake from our private balcony (or
jetted tub!) and do absolutely nothing quite
happily for hours on end. We did somehow
manage to find time for the included breakfast
each morning and the not included but oh-so-
tasty dinner each night at the on-site restaurant.
After two days of luxuriating we moved to the
town of Panajachel itself (Pana for short) and
picked up our touring pace just a bit -- but not
too much. We toured the lake by ferry on one
day (see next page) and explored the fabulous
gardens of Hotel Atitlan on another. The lake-
side gardens are not to be missed. A short tuk-
tuk ride will get you there, and the ~$10 cost of
entry can be applied to whatever you eat or
drink at the restaurant -- so it's the perfect
excuse to have a delicious lunch by the lake
while also getting to tour some superb gardens.
| Robin color coordinates with the flowers |
| We explored the lovely gardens both before and after lunch, making for a pleasant half day |
| And the food is good. We had delicious black bean soup, sauteed veggies with rice, a papusa (not shown), and strawberries and cream for dessert, all for just 155 Q (5 Q over our entry price). |
| Don't miss these lakeside gardens on the outskirts of Pana. A tuk-tuk will get you there for 20 Q (~$3). Entry is 75 Q (~$10) each, but as noted, this can be applied to whatever you eat or drink at the restaurant. |
| We stayed at Posada de los Volcanes right on Calle Santander, just a block or two from the lake. Some say Pana is too busy for their taste but we found it relatively quiet when we visited in April. |
| Santa Catarina |
| Panajachel |
| A helicopter landed while we were there, dropping off a family of four who sat down for a quick poolside lunch! |
| The gardens are extensive and well maintained. We predict this will be a highlight of your visit to Panajachel. |
| Hotel Atitlan Gardens are deservedly the #1 thing to do in Panajachel per Trip Advisor |
| Ceramic Mayan heads mounted on a wall make for some pretty unique flower pots |
| Hotel Atitlan Gardens |
| It's just a short walk from the hotel to the lake. This is a BIG lake -- with some 50 square miles (130 sq km) of surface area. |
| We spent our other three days in Pana itself. This is the main street, Calle Santander. Pana has lots of restaurant options and is THE central transit point for both ferries and shuttles. |
| The restaurant is al fresco and offers fine food in a natural setting. The included full breakfast is over-the-top good. |
| Jenna's B&B |
| We could be in Italy right now, somewhere near Lake Como, with views like these |