All-inclusive; including Antigua pick-up and drop-off
Summary
Two day excursion includes a visit to Santa Catarina Polopo, kayak tour along the rugged north shore, swim and cliff jump or rock climb (optional), hike the Maya Ruta thru Tzununa, El Jaibalito and Santa Cruz la Laguna. Also included are meals and one night accommodation. End your time on Lake Atitlán returning to Santa Catarina and a soak in the hot springs. This two-day trip offers you a great mix of activities from mild to extreme. You choose your level of participation. Your trip begins and ends in Antigua and includes all transportation, meals and lodging.

Itinerary Day 1: Pick up at your hotel at 8:00 a.m. and prepare for our two hour drive to Lake Atitlán.  Stop at a breath taking overlook of the caldera lake and take in the spectacular beauty of its surrounding 10,000 foot mountains. Arrive at Santa Catarina, on the east shore of Lake Atitlán.  This quant village has retained its local charm and offers an alternative to the busy streets of Panajachel.  It is the best village to view the centuries old back strap loom used to weave traditional traje clothing.

Here we change into swimsuits or similar clothing, and prepare for our paddle across the lake.  Our private boat will bring along backpacks and other gear for the second part of the day, so all you need is your camera, drinking water, and some sunscreen and hat.  If you desire less time in the kayak, you can ride in our support boat for as long as you like.

We paddle one hour west past Panajachel and along the shores of Santa Cruz la Laguna. Here we arrive for our lunch break at a beautiful lake-front restaurant where you will recharge your energy with a delicious meal. Cooked from scratch with the best local ingredients. Prepare for the second leg of the kayak excursion and hike.  The next section of the lake’s shoreline has the most dramatic scenery, passing the village of El Jaibalito and ending in 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.
You will have many up close encounters with Kaqchikel men who fish from hand-hewn cayukas as they have for centuries. 

You will feel privileged to share the lake with these proud fishermen who make Lake Atitlán so unique. We pull into the Bay of Tzununa approximately 1 hour later, and gear up for the next part of our adventure. The north shore of Lake Atitlan has no true road access, so you will be hiking along ancient paths that have been used by the Maya for centuries.  You will view villagers going about their daily life, encounter farmers tending their maiz and coffee fields, and see some of the most magnificent scenery in the world.  This rugged and remote section of Lake Atitlán has barely been touched by the outside world.  Our hike takes us several hundred feet above the ever-changing waters of Atitlán for breath taking views of the famous volcanoes. 

We end our hike in Santa Cruz la Laguna where you can put your feet up with a luxurious cocktail on our lake front deck, watching the sun go down. Now you will have the chance to relax in this gorgeous environmentally friendly resort. Use our extensive library, complimentary internet service, sauna, open air hot tub, or even arrange to wind down with a yoga class if you still have the energy. That evening, we will present you a gorgeous three course home made meal, illuminated by candlelight and our cozy fireplace. The next morning you can either get up to experience the sunrise from a kayak, or from between the covers of your comfy bed in your Lake view hillside cabin. The restaurant will serve you coffee and a delicious full breakfast.