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.
The word "atitlan" is translated from Maya as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors" and accordingly you will understand why so many people have been drawn to this magical lake for hundreds of years. Panajachel alone is an 800-year-old town home to mostly Cachikel Maya and an increasing number foreigners from every corner of the globe, all coming together to soak up a piece of that serenity and originality that this place provides.
You'll visit the following villages: San Juan La Laguna stands as a serene, artistic contrast to the busier lakeside towns, centered deeply in Tz'utujil Maya pride and community-led tourism. Renowned for its vibrant street murals and weaving cooperatives, the village remains dedicated to ancestral traditions like natural dyeing and backstrap looming. While it draws travelers seeking a meaningful cultural exchange, it maintains a quiet, conservative atmosphere where local life revolves around art, medicinal gardens, and the cultivation of coffee on the surrounding hillsides. A short walk up from the docks reveals a town that has masterfully balanced modern visitors with a fierce preservation of its indigenous identity.
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.