Your Travel Experience with Bamba
Start your tour to Lake Atitlan by heading to the public beach of Panajachel, where you'll find the ferry company called Santa Fe. Present your physical ticket to board the boat that will take you to the first village.
In San Juan, take the opportunity to visit cooperatives specializing in natural and textile inks at the lagoon. You'll have 1 hour to explore and enjoy this unique place on your own.
Then you go back on the same boat to San Pedro la Laguna, where you can visit the market and enjoy the panoramic view of the town.
Pedro La Laguna Much like Panajachel has a large population of bohemian tourists and ex-pats, however the indigenous people of the town still preserve their original ways of life and wear traditional dress, remain very conservative and practice the same style of subsistence agriculture that their ancestors practiced years ago. Just outside of town coffee crops are cultivated on the mountain side and hard working farmers hike up and back on a daily basis to tend to their crops. Walk uphill towards the town center (away from the docks) and you will see a whole different side to this popular lakeside village.
And then take the boat to Santiago Atitlan.
Santiago Atitlán Is the largest of the communities around the lake with a population of over 32,000, 95% of which are indigenous Tz’utujils. Traditionally, it is fishing and farming town; it is also known for the manufacture of cayucos, wooden canoes. Directly from the dock, the main street leads visitors up to the main square where there is a vibrant and very lively indoor/outdoor marketplace where street hawkers target "gringos" as they wander by looking for good deals on original locally made souvenirs. Santiago is also home to a very interesting Maya/Catholic sacred statue called Maximon (also known as San Simon by the Spanish and Rilaj Maam by the Maya). All Guatemalan people worship this deity and go to him to ask for blessings or give offerings. During "Semana Santa" (Holy Week) in March/April, the statue is paraded around town and celebrations are held to worship this Guatemalan god. If you can, catch a glimpse of this interesting and very unique local custom.
To finish, take the boat and return to Panajachel. Find your way to your hotel.