You have a full day to explore San Juan – the “Swiss village” of Lake Atitlan – and will meet several local families. Learn how their lives changed through experiential tourism, plus how the village embraced its culture and created an artistic Maya hub.
Known for its colorful street art and bustling markets, San Juan is a vibrant village in Lake Atitlan home to many famous artists. The village has over 40 public murals depicting important elements of Guatemalan culture and your guide will explain the meaning behind each one, including the Mayan story of creation, the development of mathematics, and the 5000-year-old calendar.
This Lake Atitlan village walking tour takes you to art galleries, a woman’s weaving cooperative with demonstrations of how the beautiful fabrics are made, a coffee farm, a local Guatemalan school and library, and a medicinal plant garden operated by the midwives of San Juan – natural soaps, teas, and shampoos are made on the premises. You’ll be given samples of each plant and an explanation of its curative powers.
