Vibrant San Pedro la Laguna is the most popular backpacker destination on gorgeous Lake Atitlan. The lake is surrounded by volcanoes, including Volcan San Pedro itself which looms over its namesake town like a steadfast guardian.
One of the best destinations in Central America, Lake Atitlan welcomes a steady stream of travellers looking to check out many of the 13 different villages on the lake. However, most budget travellers end up basing themselves in lively San Pedro La Laguna because of the great value hotels, restaurants and Spanish schools. Of course, there are a few more luxurious options, too, just in case your shoestring days are behind you.
Our site includes affiliate links to products we recommend. If you use one to make a purchase, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
We’ve been spending a few months on Lake Atitlan every year since 2010 and even though we stay in an apartment over by San Marcos, we inevitably end up in San Pedro a few times every week to eat, drink and generally be merry.
What is San Pedro la Laguna known for?
San Pedro is definitely backpacker central on Lake Atitlan. With a wide range of cheap hotels, affordable restaurants and special bar nights, there are a lot of things to do without breaking the bank. It also has the most extensive transportation links outside of Panajachel.
Along with Panajachel, San Pedro is the best place on the lake to meet other backpackers, find affordable tours or learn Spanish. It also has a bustling market and a classic church, for those days when you’re not feeling up to another Gallo or three.
The 22 Best Things to Do in San Pedro la Laguna
One of the reasons San Pedro is so popular with backpackers is because there is so much to do. It is the village on Lake Atitlan where you will have the most options to keep you busy, regardless of whether you are interested in local culture or just looking for a friendly bar to unwind in.
1. Learn Spanish
San Pedro la Laguna is one of the best places in Central America to take Spanish classes. There are dozens of choices, from organized, highly recommended schools like Lake Atitlan Spanish School to private homestays where you take classes but also immerse yourself speaking Spanish with a local family.
The homestays are excellent value and can be a great and memorable cultural experience on their own. You get to experience local life and customs firsthand and usually get included in their day-to-day activities (such as cooking or shopping) to whatever extent you wish.
Of course, you also have the option of staying at a hotel on your own and simply taking as many (or few) classes as you want. Prices vary but many are as low $5/hr for private lessons.
2. Tour a Coffee Plantation
Guatemala is famous for its outstanding coffee, which is grown all over the Highlands. There are several different harvests per year, often staggered even within adjacent fields, so it should always be possible to see some of the coffee plantations at its best. Coffee plantation tours are a popular outing, most of them taking place on the plateaus up behind San Pedro and San Juan.
These tours will walk you through the production process, including planting, growing, harvesting, cleaning and drying, right on down to roasting the beans. And, of course, they almost always end with you enjoying a fabulous cup of local coffee on a terrace while enjoying spectacular views out over the lake. Café Las Cristalinas does tours and is also a popular digital nomad hangout.
3. Sunrise Hike to Rostro Maya
Most appropriately called Rostro Maya (Mayan Face) in the local Mayan dialect, but more commonly known as Indian Nose, this is one of the best viewpoints on the entire lake. Located on a tall point in the northwest corner of the lake, it provides a stunning look out over the lake, all three nearby volcanoes (San Pedro, Atitlan, Toliman) and, on a clear day, 5 more toward Antigua. If you’re lucky you may even see Volcan Fuego puffing smoke near Antigua.
While Indian Nose is a worthwhile viewpoint at any time, it is truly special at sunrise when you can watch the sun slowly and colourfully make its way up over the impressive line of volcanoes. There are two ways to reach it:
1) Via a steep, 1-hour climb from San Juan.
2) By hiring a guide and tuk tuk to drive you around past Santa Clara to a different trailhead, from where it is a short 30-45 minute walk to the viewpoint.
For a detailed description, check out:
The Nariz del Rostro Maya Sunrise Tour
4. Shop at the Local Market
San Pedro has one of the best and most vibrant local markets on Lake Atitlan. It is an entirely local market, where the Pedranos do their weekly grocery and supply shopping. So don’t expect a lot of souvenirs or Gallo beer t-shirts, but if you love narrow streets and rustic buildings crowded with stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to fish to woven baskets to drinkable coconuts, well, this is your kind of market.
Even though we usually stay near San Marcos we do at least half of our fruit and vegetable shopping in San Pedro. The market exists every day to some extent but is at its busiest and best on the weekend. Try to get there in the morning as many of the stalls start packing up around 1 pm. Also, keep in mind that San Pedro la Laguna is plastic-free so you will need to bring your own reusable bags.
The original market was right in the centre of town next to the school and church but has recently been replaced by a parking garage and moved WAY up the hill to the Bella Vista area near the football stadium. So it’s not as easily accessible now but is still worth the 10q tuk-tuk ride up the hill to check it out.
Or if you’re not as interested in heading all the way up and are just looking to pick up a few fruits or vegetables, a smaller version of the old market has popped up not far from the previous location, just follow the road up past the bank and around the curve, then it’s down a side alley.
5. Conquer Volcan San Pedro
Hiking to the summit of magnificent San Pedro volcano is a rite of passage for energetic visitors to Lake Atitlan, and one of the best hikes on Lake Atitlan. It is a fair bit of work but the payoff is more than worth it (on a clear day, anyway).
The San Pedro climb is around 10 kilometres (return) with 1,200 metres of elevation gain (which is a lot). Hiking times will vary considerably based on your fitness and determination but a typical average time would be 3 hours to reach the top and about 1.5 hours to get back down.
You may also want to check out our list of the 16 Best Lake Atitlan Photo Spots
The volcano is part of a protected park and all visitors must pay a 100Q entrance fee ($13), but that amount includes a guide. You don’t have to go with a guide (we usually don’t now that we’ve done it a few times) but if it is your first time we would recommend it. It is also important to check the latest situation as there have been reports of robberies on the trail, a problem which seems to come and go throughout the year.
6. Get Out on the Lake on a Paddleboard or Kayak
The lake is the big highlight of all Lake Atitlan villages so you should definitely take the chance to get out on the water. Cruising across the calm, morning waters in a kayak or on a paddleboard offers a completely different perspective.
As we mentioned earlier, the waves tend to pick up in the afternoon so the earlier the better, and always keep a close watch for boats. San Pedro Paddle is a good place to rent paddleboards and several lakefront hotels and restaurants have kayaks.
Los Elementos in Santa Cruz also runs one of the best all-day adventure tours that includes kayaking, swimming, hiking, rock climbing, cliff jumping (optional, obviously), archery, trampolines and, if you behave, even some time to relax with a view. This trip is very popular with families.
7. Shop for Local Handicrafts
While most people head to nearby San Juan for their handicraft shopping needs, San Pedro has plenty to choose from as well.
Head either way on the main street just up from the public dock and start browsing.
8. Find the Street Art
Many of the buildings in San Pedro (and the other villages) sport some fascinating murals and art.
The murals are spread out around the town, so just set aside some time to wander and keep your eyes peeled for the next great image.
9. Experience Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Semana Santa is a major celebration all over Latin America and Guatemala is no exception. San Pedro, in particular, is known for its massive Good Friday procession. One of the most unique features of Semana Santa on Lake Atitlan is the intricate creation of “alfombras” – colourful carpets made of dyed sawdust, sand and/or flowers – that decorate the street all the way along the processional route.
While each village has its own procession, the one in San Pedro on Good Friday is the largest and perhaps the loudest. Starting around 9 am it goes for a full 3 hours before making its way into the Church of St. Peter (San Pedro in Spanish, of course), the main church in town. It is loud, colourful, crowded and absolutely worth seeing.
10. Explore Lake Atitlan’s Villages
Every village on Lake Atitlan has its own character and at least one or two good reasons for a visit. If you are staying on the lake for a few weeks or more you should be able to explore them all one at a time. San Juan is known for its art and traditional clothing shops.
While San Marcos is a new age, hippie enclave, and both are very close to San Pedro. Santiago Atitlán is a bit further away and boats to it leave from its own dock but its an intriguing village.
There are also Tzununá, Jaibalito, Santa Cruz and Panajachel (Pana) further along on the other side of the lake.
In the southeast corner you’ll find the lesser known villages of Santa Catarina Palopo, San Antonio Palopo and San Lucas Toliman. If you are on a tighter timeline, or just want to check off a bunch in one fell swoop, you can book a private boat tour through one of the hotels or restaurants.
11. Take a Cooking Class
Located right in the main tourist area near the Panajachel dock, Mayan Kitchen offers cooking classes Monday to Saturday where you can choose which recipes you want to learn. Most classes run from 9 am to 12 or 1 pm, can be in Spanish or English and include a trip to the local market to shop for ingredients. There are authentic Guatemalan dishes, plus dessert and vegetarian choices, all of which go home with you at the end of the day.
12. Venture Out on a Pub Crawl
Probably the most fun of our many annual Atitlan traditions, spending an afternoon (and occasionally longer) bar hopping from village to village is a less wholesome but still authentically Guatemalan undertaking. We usually start at Sublime because of its good lake views and excellent food, then make our way to Alegre Pub, my personal favourite sports pub on the lake, where I’ve spent many an ill-advised morning watching Arsenal lose while putting back a litro or two of Gallo.
From there we usually mix it up, and there are far too many options to list them all, but El Barrio, Chile’s and Jakuu are good starting points, then we add a stop or two in San Juan and usually finish up at El Tul y Sol in San Marcos.
13. Try a Freshly Squeezed Juice
D’Juice is run by a group of Tz’utujil women who make fresh-squeezed fruit smoothies just down the street to the east from the main dock. They also sell some of the best bananas in town (I often pay the extra few Q for the good stuff).
An even cheaper, often more convenient option, is to get a freshly-squeezed orange juice from one of the young women selling from carts lining the main street up the hill from the dock.
14. Go for a Soak in Los Thermales
Los Thermales is a set of 5 small hot tubs/pools located in a small clearing behind Buddha bar. For a reasonable fee, you get access to the pools for a relaxing soak with a good view of the lake. You can even bring your own drinks. There is a basic outdoor shower and very basic toilet.
The small pools are filled up each time with new water. You need to book ahead or pop by to give them at least a half-hour notice.
15. Have a Coffee and Watch the Action
Café Tz’utujil is located right on the main, bustling intersection coming up from the Panajachel dock.
People who know about such things say their coffee is the best and it also happens to be a great place to while away an hour or two sipping your cup of joe and watching the chaos of the busiest street corner in town.
If you want a view of the lake and a bit more quiet then head to one of the many cafes along the shore. Sababa is always a good choice.
16. Visit the Main Square and the Church of St Peter
This large church is impressive on its own but it also happens to have the very pleasant, peaceful Parque Puerta Hermosa welcoming visitors just out front. There are some nice statues and a bit of green space to enjoy.
Tourists are welcome at the Spanish church services if you feel like further immersing yourself in the local culture.
17. Learn Weaving with a Women’s Cooperative
At the Atitlan Women Weavers Cooperative you can spend the day learning about traditional Guatemalan techniques for spinning cotton, dyeing string and weaving beautiful textiles. They provide all the materials and show you every step of the process from harvesting the cotton to the finished traje tipico (traditional dress) and traditional scarf.
You can even learn to weave your own place mat (about 4 hours) or scarf (about 8 hours). You can also buy a variety of traditional handicrafts made by local women.
18. Hit the Beach
One of the few actual sand beaches on Lake Atitlan can be found an easy, pleasant walk out of San Pedro toward Santiago Atitlan. Simply known as La Playa (The Beach), it won’t win any soft, white sand awards but it is longer than you’d expect, has great views of Volcanes Atitlan and Toliman and is almost never busy.
You can walk there from central San Pedro in less than an hour or take a tuk-tuk to the end of the road and walk about 20 minutes from there.
You can read more details on the hike in our Best Hikes on Lake Atitlan post.
19. Visit the Museo Tzunun’ Ya’
At this small museum you will see a short video then a tour of the four rooms. The english speaking tour guide provides information all about the geology and volcanology that shaped Lake Atitlan as well as a history of the area and traditional information such as the Mayan calendar. Well worth a look.
20. Take a Painting Class
You can take a painting class at one of the art galleries. Take the first right coming up from the dock. You’ll find it on the right in about 100 meters.
21. Check Out the San Pedro Mirador
At the top of the S-curve on the way to the football stadium from the local market you will find a great view over San Pedro. Right next to Casa Cubano.
You’ll get your heart rate up on the way but also get to see a part of San Pedro that few tourists do.
22. Watch a Game at Bellavista Football Stadium
A few years back they upgraded to this magnificent stadium located at the highest point of San Pedro. With nice bleachers, top quality turf and absurd views over the lake, it is worth stopping in to watch a local match for the experience alone.
Also, to keep the games going at night they have an impressive bank of lights visible from everywhere on the lake.
Where to Stay: San Pedro La Laguna Hotels
San Pedro is the top choice for most backpackers and it has the largest selection of cheap accommodation on Lake Atitlan.
Sababa Resort Atitlan
Sababa Resort Atitlan is an excellent high-end option with a bar, pool and palapas with amazing views over the water.
It is just far enough on the edge of town to be quiet but still be close to everything. You can enjoy your excellent included breakfast at a table by the pool with views of the lake.
But be aware that you have to pay in cash so plan ahead.
Check here for Sababa Resort Atitlan prices
Mikaso Hotel
Mikaso Hotel has a mix of private rooms and dorms with views over Lake Atitlan.
It has its own restaurant on the top floor and is very close to a wide choice of other restaurants as well.
It is on a quieter part of the lake so will be quieter than many other San Pedro hotels.
Check here for Mikaso Hotel prices
Hospedaje Lolita
Hospedaje Lolita is an economical option with private bathrooms, a view from the roof and a shared kitchen and lounge.
Relax in one of the hammocks when taking a break from seeing the town.
Check here for Hospedaje Lolita prices
For more ideas on where to stay around the lake, check out the Best Lake Atitlan Hotels: Where to Stay in Each Village
Where to Eat: San Pedro La Laguna Restaurants
San Pedro is full of great restaurants catering to a huge variety of palates and budgets. With many international options, loads of vegetarian choices and terrific local Guatemalan places, you will have no problem finding just what you’re craving in San Pedro. Here are just a few of our personal favourites:
Idea Connection
Don’t let the odd name fool you (it was once the main internet café in town), this is hands down the best Italian place in San Pedro.
Excellent pastas and other Italian specialties made by a pair of Italian expats that have been in Guatemala for decades. They also have a fantastic bakery.
The Fifth Dimension
This the best vegetarian place in town. Started by a British friend years ago, it is now owned and managed by the very local Guatemalan women who spent years there working as cooks and managers. The views from the top deck are outstanding.
Smokin’ Doug’s BBQ
For a very long time this was Smokin’ JOE’S BBQ but it was recently sold. However, we can confirm that the weekly BBQ will continue. A weekly tradition for many, offering excellent steaks, ribs and other carnivorous favourites, along with a great buffet of sides. It is a lot of food. There are also drinks, music and a pool to enjoy if you want to hang out and make a day of it.
The Alegre Pub
This pub is my favourite place to drink and/or watch sports. They also have a good selection of cheap, tasty bar food (I’m usually good for at least 4 or 5 Cajun chicken burgers per season). Thursday Pie day is particularly popular (British-style pies, with meat and stuff).
El Barrio
Barrio is a good place to drink, watch sports or eat. Or all three at the same time. Their weekend brunch options are delicious and great value. El Barrio has been a mainstay of our weekly routine for years (walk around the lake from San Marcos, load up on groceries at the market, then gorge ourselves on brunch).
Sublime
We think that Sublime has the best burgers in town, and they can be enjoyed on a nice deck overlooking the lake.
Hummus-Ya
Hummus-Ya is a good Israeli restaurant with delicious falafel.
Zoola
If you like to lounge while you eat then this is the place for you.
Where is San Pedro La Laguna?
Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Atitlan, in the Guatemalan Highlands, San Pedro is one of the most popular villages on the lake and is easily reached by public lancha (boat). It is also accessible by a rather rough road down from Santa Clara.
If you don’t have a lot of time to spend at Lake Atitlán but still want to enjoy the best bits, the most efficient way is to sign up for a full-day Lake Atitlan boat tour out of Panajachel. Along with enjoying the fabulous scenery all the way around the lake, this 6-hour tour includes stops in traditional Santiago Atitlán, gorgeous San Juan la Laguna and local coffee plantations and textile shops.
Lake Atitlan Map
Click the star to save this map to your Google Maps – then find it under Saved/Maps (mobile) or Your Places/Maps (desktop)
Quick Links
Here are some of our most popular Lake Atitlan posts to help you plan your trip to San Pedro la Laguna.
Best Yoga Retreats on Lake Atitlan
Best Places to Swim in Lake Atitlan
Best Day Trips from Lake Atitlan
Trip Planning Resources
Here is a list of the most important resources we use when planning our travels, all in one convenient spot. Full disclosure, when you use any of these links to reserve or sign up for something, we receive a small commission which is greatly appreciated. However, your price does not change and we have only included products and websites that we can honestly recommend.
- DuckDuckGo is now far and away the best search engine for travel planning. While Google still provides quick answers to a specific questions, the rest of the results are completely overrun by ads and big company sites with only vaguely related info. DuckDuckGo, on the other hand, still offers useful lists of firsthand articles and posts about potential destinations, perfect for planning your next trip.
- We book the majority of our hotels on Booking.com. With frequent stay discounts, thousands of reviews and free cancellation, it is very rare for us to have a bad hotel experience these days.
- Wise is by far the best international multicurrency bank account we’ve found. We can now send and receive money in half a dozen different currencies, convert to dozens more with no exchange premium and pay or withdraw local currencies. Highly recommended.
- When travelling we always get SIM cards with data for our phones. Local SIM cards are sometimes a bit cheaper but if you have a relatively new smartphone (iPhone XR or newer, Samsung S20 or newer) you can just buy an eSIM online, get a QR code by email and you’re good to go. After extensive research we have found that JetPac sim cards usually have the best coverage and prices.
- If you’re interested in local guided tours, including everything from city tours to cooking lessons to adventure activities, check out the huge range of options at Get Your Guide.
Summary
San Pedro la Laguna is the best choice on Lake Atitlan for backpackers looking to be in the heart of the action. While we prefer the better volcano views from the north side of the lake, San Pedro has the best variety of affordable accommodation and food choices, plus is nice and close to some of the best hikes on Lake Atitlan.
With a nice mix of local culture and tourist facilities, San Pedro is the ideal choice for those who are looking to stay busy and enjoy lots of social interaction during their visit to Lake Atitlan.
Other useful articles you may want to check out:
San Juan la Laguna: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Artistic Village
San Marcos la Laguna: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Spiritual Village
Pasajcap Rentals: Our Favourite Place to Stay on the Lake
Tzununa: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Holistic Village
Jaibalito: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Quietest Village
Santa Cruz la Laguna: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Village With the Best Views
Panajachel: Gateway to Stunning Lake Atitlan
Santa Catarina Palopo: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Most Colourful Village
San Antonio Palopo: A Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Pottery Village
San Lucas Toliman: Guide to Lake Atitlan’s Secret Village
Santiago Atitlan: Guide to an Authentic Mayan Town
Best Yoga Retreats on Lake Atitlan
Climbing Volcan Atitlan Guatemala
