Lake Atitlan, Guatemala...any travel tips?

Question

I plan to spend 2-4 weeks on Lago Attilan , Guatemala in October/November. Any do's or don'ts? thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Lake Atitlán is ringed by villages named after different Saints.  Be sure to visit all of them as they each offer a little different perspective of lake life.  Panajachel, the main town on the lake, offers an interesting market and different tourist venues.  If you have time, make plans to visit some of the surrounding volcanos.  Also, the Pacific coastlands are only a two hour drive away.  The drive can be fascinating as the flora and temps change as you decend from 5000 feet.  

Speaking of 5000 feet, you will burn much easier at this altitude.  Don't get caught without sunscreen if you plan a boat trip.  I got my worst burn ever by forgetting this little detail on a trip across the lake.  

This is lake is considered one of the most beautiful crater lakes in the world.  The advantage of staying on the North (Panajachel) side is the sunsets behind the volcanos can be spectacular.  Try to do most of your boat travels in the morning while the lake is calm.  The afternoon almost invariably brings up large afternoon waves, known locally as the Xocomil.  (We called it the Chocolate Milk in Spanglish as it can rile the lake up and hide the beautiful deep blue.)

(Late add-on comment after reading Dmaud's reply:  Atitlán is at 5000 feet, not in the jungle.  No alligators, no dengue, no jaguars.  The pepper spray may not be a bad idea, from the personal safety aspect.  Also, never drink the local water; stick with bottled/canned products and well cooked food.)

Answer 2

Do go to the small towns around the lake, dont stay just in Pana,.  There's a very good restaurant at the end of the main street, you'll see  the street because that's where all the action happens. They play live music and it's right on the lake.  They have great ceviches, which if you dont know, is seafood.  I love them.  Do not pay any boats in advance.  Some guys are sneaky and tell you they will take you to a different town and back and you have to pay them in advance and then they dont come back for you!!! I saw somebody that went through that, or maybe then they deny that you paid them in advance!! Just watch your back with those boat guys! Have fun !!

Answer 3

avoid sweets, and eat plenty of hot peppers.

The tradition of eating hot peppers in southern mexico and central america began with the fact that hot peppers keeps mosquitos at bay, as it makes your blood unsavory and toxic to them.  Hot peppers are, in fact, toxic to all creatures, except us.  If you avoid sweets, and eat hot peppers, it will work with your mosquito repelent.

If you are from north america take a first aid kit designed to deal with heat stroke, and another to deal with snake bites.  You may also want to take some mace with you, no, not because the locals are overly agressive, but because the central american jungle has many dangerous animals, and mace is far more effective than bullets.  Keep in mind, you won't be able to take a weapon, and even if  you could, you still have to have proficiency in its use.  Just because you have a gun that does not guarantee protection against an animal like a jaguar.  Animals can take pain from a bullet, but they can't stand pepper spray.

Pepper spray may even save your life.  Also, read up on any and all members of the crocodilian family; central america has all of them.  Alligators, crocodiles, cayman, they are all there.  Any safety tips as a "just in case" scenario, read up on them.  The guides there are familiar with the kinds of animals you will encounter, and likely its probably a resort deal so there is nothing to worry about.

However, if they tell you not to stray, do not stray.  The jungles of central america are the most dangerous in the world, its not like wildlife reserves in the U.S. were everything is carefuly managed and there are signs everywhere telling you were and were not to go.  Because of limited funds, they can't afford signs, so it is better to stay on assigned areas.  Stray from them at your own risk.

Vaccinate yourself against dengue, and all sorts of tropical diseases, as likely you have no imunity to them.  Also, be sure to pack anti-parasite pills just in case.  In tourist areas the water is clean where they tell you its safe to drink, but even then north american stomachs are much weaker than central american ones so you should be prepared.

hope that helps.