7-Day Around the Lake Paddle and Hike Excursion
All-inclusive; including airport pick-up and drop-off
SUMMARY
Explore the newest paddle destination. It is a one-of-a-kind adventure paddle around beautiful Lake Atitlán. Nestled in the western highlands of Guatemala, this caldera lake is surrounded by 10,000 foot volcanoes.The rich Mayan culture is evident from the pesaderos who fish the lake in their hand-hewn cayukas, to the farmers working coffee, maiz, and along the lakeshore.Experience a unique culture up close while you learn about the Maya way of life.

Our around-the-lake tour includes 50 miles of paddling over the course of five days. Each night will be spent in one of the Mayan villages, which are located on the shores of Lake Atitlán. You will see, interact, and experience Mayan culture up close and personal.

Each day will include 4-5 hours of paddling, with the balance of the day spend exploring the villages, hiking the remote mountains, climbing the 9,500 feet San Pedro volcano, swimming in the geothermal hot springs, or relaxing on the shore. A flat-water paddle, but the lake can have swells of up to three feet in the afternoon.

ITENERARY
Day 1: We meet you at the airport and prepare for our 2½ hour drive to Lake Atitlán. Our first sight of the lake is a breath taking overlook where we stop and take in the spectacular beauty of its surrounding 10,000 foot mountains. The road ends at Panajachel, where we transfer into our boat for a 15 minute ride to our hotel and Adventure Center. Orientation for the trip is done over dinner and a welcoming party.

Day 2: Our first day of paddling departs from our beachfront staging area. Start the day with our special blend of coffee and a light breakfast and begin our first leg of the excursion. This section of the lake’s shoreline has dramatic scenery, passing the villages of El Jaibalito and Tzununa. You paddle along rugged cliff faces filled with exotic plant and bird life. Take the opportunity to climb a cliff and jump into the crystal clear waters, or just enjoy a swim and sun. We pull into the bay and village of San Marcos and enjoy a full hearty breakfast. You have free time to explore before we paddle to our destination for the night, San Juan. We arrive around lunchtime, and the rest of the day is free for exploring, hiking, rock climbing, or relaxing. Our accommodations are at a simple and comfortable hotel with dinner in a local restaurant.

San Juan is a small village of 800 people and is home to several of the country’s most famous painters. We will visit the art gallery of Andrés Curruchiche who initiated a naïf art movement among the indigenous people. Other stops include weaving cooperatives, a medicinal and curative herb garden, and a re-forestation nursery. There is also an optional hike to Indian Nose Mountain, a sacred Maya site.

Day 3: Second day of paddling begins with a short half-hour paddle to the next village San Pedro. We have breakfast at a lovely open-air restaurant and prepare for a 2 hour paddle to Santiago. This morning we paddle around the base of the 10,000 ft. San Pedro volcano and into the bay of Santiago. Here we are nestled between 3 impressive volcanoes. The bay of Santiago is the largest bay on the lake and is a good place to explore on your own. Enjoy lunch at our hotel for the night, the Posado de Santiago, and use the rest of the day to explore the bay on you own, or take a tour of the village. Santiago Atitlán is the largest of the lakeside communities, and is noted for its worship of Maximón, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends. A visit to Maximón is an opportunity you should not miss.

Day 4: Breakfast at the Posado Santiago before putting in. We paddle around the base of the volcanoes El Tolimán and Atitlan, and to the remote fishing village of Cerro de Oro. Here we take a tour of the village and visit with local fisherman. You can choose to climb the Cerro del Oro mountain, a moderate hike or rock climb on the steep cliffs. Continue our day’s paddle where we finish around mid-day in San Lucas. Lunch at our hotel and the rest of the day is free for exploring, hiking, or relaxing. There is an optional tour to Finca Los Tarrales, a bird watchers paradise in a lower sub-tropical ecosystem; or to Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura; a permaculture institute.

Day 5: Paddle to San Antonio for breakfast and a quick exploration of the village, then on to Santa Catarina and the hot springs. There are several areas with geothermal hot springs where we can soak and swim. Lunch at our hotel and the rest of the day is free for exploring, hiking, rock climbing, or relaxing. Paddle back to the hot springs for another soak if you wish.

Day 6: Our last day of paddling takes us back to our starting point, Santa Cruz la Laguna. We paddle by Panajachel and finish our around-the-lake adventure with plenty of day to enjoy. A hike up the Pumpatin Canyon is available for those who have not had enough excitement. This is also our rock climbing base camp. Check out one of our many climbing routes, from beginner to expert. We round out the end of our adventure with a celebration dinner.

Day 7: A full breakfast is served before we prepare for our return trip to the airport in Guatemala City. If you have an early flight, we depart in the afternoon of the previous day and spend the last night in Antigua (30 minutes from the airport).
All-inclusive package: $990.00. Not including airfare.

Please contact us if you have any questions, reserve space or further information about our trips or other services..