Atitlan by Boat

"Huracan" - one of the many public boats called lanchas that service the villages around Lake Atitlan	The lanchas are cheap, but ask a local about the price before boarding then hand over exact change	The price varies depending on the distance traveled, but tourists should not pay inflated rates	The public boats are the best way to get around Lake Atitlan
Boats for villages on the north shore of the lake all the way to San Pedro leave from the west side of Panajachel	With no outlet, the lake level is currently very high, drowning some of the trees that were along the shore	Transboroador Maya El Atitlan, a vehicle transporter of Lake Atitlan	Cloud buildup behind Volcán Tolimán (3158m/10361ft) Lake Atitlan
La Riviera de Atitlán just to the west of Panajachel, the only highrises on Lake Atitlan	La Riviera de Atitlán - in German, this is called a "Bausünde" (architectural sin)	Leaving Panajachel westbound by lancha along the north shore of Lago de Atitlán	Lake Atitlán is large, measuring 50 square miles
Lake Atitlan was formed 84,000 years ago in the caldera of a giant ancient volcano	From its steep sides, the waters of Lake Atitlan plunge to a depth of 340m (1148 ft)	Laguna Lodge - one of many beautiful lakeside hotels accessible only by boat	Many of the places along the lakeshore have traditional thatched roofs
Set in the Guatemalan Highlands, the lake almost a mile above sea level	Santa Cruz La Laguna sitting well above the lakeshore	Colorful houses along the north shore of Lake Atitlan	A kayaker near Santa Cruz, Lago de Atitlán
The lakeshore by Santa Cruz De Laguna	Boathouse door painted with Atitlan Arts	Private villa with a beautiful garden near Santa Cruz	Volcán San Pedro (3020m/9908ft) is the oldest of the lake's three major volcanoes and has been dormant for around 40,000 years
A lancha prepares to dock at Santa Cruz La Laguna	The dock at Santa Cruz La Laguna, a good place to stop to see a less-touristy village	Hotel Islaverde, just to the west of the Santa Cruz dock	The cabins of Islaverde set precariously in a gully
Guatemala's rich and famous as well as many foreigners have property around Lake Atitlan	Dock with a thatched shelter at the base of a path leading up the hillside	La Casa del Mundo Hotel, Lago de Atitlán	The pretty cliffside Casa del Mundo Hotel, Jaibalito
They look like they have great lake views from their large terraces...I might need to try this place	Jaibalito, Guatemala	If don't want the busy scene of the major lake towns, these north shore resorts are a great idea	Club Ven Acá, Jaibalito, Lago de Atitlán
Another secluded guesthouse on the north shore of Lake Atitlan	Jaibalito, Lago de Atitlán	...couldn't find the name of this one...	Lakeside homes just to the west of Jaibalito
A large place near Jaibalito	It's sometimes difficult to decide if it's a small hotel or a large villa	From this view, it looks like there is a third summit between Tolíman and Volcan Atitlán	Villa with a view on the point just to the east of Tzununa
Villa with a view on the point just to the east of Tzununa	Stone garden along the lakeshore	Tzununa, Guatemala	The next hillside village comes into view - Tzununa, Guatemala
Bluff between Jaibalito and Tzununa, Lake Atitlan	A modernist villa on the shore of Lake Atitlan at Tzununa	Tzununa, Lago de Atitlán	Fisherman at Tzununa, Lago de Atitlán
The village of Tzununa on the hillside above Lake Atitlan	Bienvenidos a Tzununa, Guatemala - Lago de Atitlán	Getting closer to Volcán San Pedro	Young fisherman in a blank-built canoe, Tzununa, Lago de Atitlán
Volcán de Fuego, an active volcano to the east, blows off a puff of ash	A minor eruption of Volcán de Fuego (3763m/12,345ft)	If the level of the lake continues to rise, some of these guys may be in trouble	Modest lakeside home between Tzununa and San Marcos La Laguna
Lago de Atitlán between Tzununa and San Marcos La Laguna	Maybe a guesthouse, maybe not...	Nice place just east of San Marcos	Lancha headed for Panajachel
San Marcos La Laguna	Arriving at San Marcos La Laguna	Rocky outcropping that is part of a nature reserve next to San Marcos	San Pablo La Laguna
Quite the place under construction near San Pablo, perhaps a temple of some kind	From San Pablo, you finally can get a clear view of Volcán Atitlán (3535m/11,598ft)	The village of San Pedro comes into sight at the foot of its volcano	Continuing the tour around the lake, departing San Pedro La Laguna for Santiago Atitlán on the south side of the lake
San Pablo off in the distance	Santiago Atitlán is on a small bay on the south side of the lake at the foot of the twin volcanoes	The clouds are starting to build around Volcán Atitlán	A close look at Volcán San Pedro rising almost 4800 ft above the lake to its summit at 9908 ft
Pretty lakeside homes just to the north of Santiago Atitlán	A thatched house perhaps a bit too close to the lake given the rising water	Santiago Atitlán	Santiago Atitlán with its two volcanic peaks
The public dock at Santiago Atitlán	Departing Santiago Atitlán for the last leg of the journey across the lake back to Panajachel	The afternoon can make for a rough crossing to Panajachel	Arriving at Panajachel from Santiago Atitlán