Here we go now on our way to Atitlan Lake, a must see in Guatemala. It is our second stop in Guatemala.
Below is the detailed map of the journey from Antigua, including the boat trip that we will do later in the afternoon to reach the small town of San Pedro La Laguna.
We embark in a chicken bus (there were not chicken) to reach Panajachel, the most popular city of the lake. Not really popular by its beauty or its Maya roots, but more because it is conveniently located on the shore of the lake with direct boat access to the other villages located on the rim of what used to be before a volcano caldera.
During our bus journey, we didn’t have chicken but got some excellent empanadas that a local was selling in the bus. Salty or sweet one, they were excellent, and I can write now that we have completed our trip around the world, they were the best!!
So to be sure you don’t miss them if you are travelling between Antigua to Panajachel (the other around works too), here some details about the chicken bus, and the seller:
First a picture of the good man and myself (thanks Caroline)
Best empanadas of the world in the bus between Antigua and Panajachek, on the shore of Atitlan Lake.
Next, below are the photos of the company we used to book our bus tickets to Panajachel. By the way they were the cheapest in town.
In the bus, people looked at us quite strangely. Kids!
Finally arrived at Panajachel, we found an hostel and leave it to book our flight from DF in Mexico to Yucatan state either in Merida. It is 10.30am and we spend the whole morning and beginning of afternoon trying to pay for the flights… We end up giving up as we realize that you need a Mexican credit card to buy them. Thanks to Caroline friend, Pedro from Mexico, we manage to book and purchase our flight a few days later.
After a late lunch on the shore of Atitlan Lake, we take a boat to reach San Pedro la Laguna, as it was already too late to reach Santiago Atitlan, supposely the best town around the lake. The lake is surrounded by three volcanos:
- Volcan San Pedro
- Volcan Toliman &
- Volcan Atitlan
Around the lake, you can meet with the Maya descant. And the best way to get from one side to the other is by boat.. Forget the car..
The volcano San Pedro, hidden by the clouds.
It is now too late to reach Santagio Atitlan, so take the the boat to San Pedro La Laguna. Not a really beautiful place.. But it does remind us that life is not always easy in that part of the world.
Below, a few pictures of San Pedro:
Not sure what is the main problem, but it looks like Jesus is the only solution…
We are back to the Lake shore on the next morning but only for a quick breakfast before taking the bus back to Guatemala city. The waiter is unable to get a good picture of both of us with the volcanos behind, so Caroline is today the lucky one.
Big breakfast for Caroline in front of the two volcanos
Time to go and leave this beautiful scenery we wish had more time to discover (next time)…
Next morning, much better weather. We can see San Pedro volcano on the right and Volcano Atitlan on the left.
We will get a bus back to Antigua, then Guatemala City where we will catch up a night bus to our next destination…
Talk you soon,
Jacques&Caro
Tagged: amerique centrale, antigua, bus local, chicken bus, guatemala, Lake Atitlan, Panajachel
Ça fait plaisir de retrouver notre site favori
Cela doit être difficile pour toi d’écrire sur un pays verdoyant à partir de ton désert de la péninsule arabe !
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Bises