'''San Pedro la Laguna''' is located in Guatemala. It is a laid back small town located across Lake Atitlan from Panajachel. The major mochilero hub.
Get in
If arriving by bus, you will be dropped off in the center of town, next to the market. Most hotels are located near the lake so you'll need to make your way downhill to find the hotels. When arriving in San Pedro by boat, you'll be greeted by people offering you hotels, kayaks, horseback rides, taxis and drugs. This can be a bit intimidating and overwhelming. If you get them to lead you to a hotel, the hotel owner normally pays them a commission based on the number of people who arrive and stay. Some hotels don't pay them a commission so the they will try to get you to go to a hotel that does. The price of the hotel room sometimes becomes more expensive if you let the tout follow you, because the owner has to pay him for supposedly bringing you to the hotel. They also ask for a large tip. If you want to avoid the touts by the Panajachel dock, you can also ask a fellow tourist or in one of the stores or restaurants nearby, most of them will be happy to tell you how to get to your hotel. The TukTuk (taxi) drivers will try to get you to go to the Hotel San Francisco, which is the furthest away from the main dock. There is no need to take a taxi to your hotel. All hotels take 1-10 minutes to walk to from the main dock. If you take the first left after getting off the dock, there are a lot of hotels along that road. After walking a couple of minutes, just past a tienda, there is a small alley on your right with a lot of signs for restaurants, bars and hotels (you'll notice signs for ZooLa and Al Suave). This is the way to the "main trail", where most tourists are; it widens after the first stretch, follow the paving. At Al Suave, make a left for Jarachik, Buddha and El Barrio bars, hot tubs, and other attractions.
By bus
'''From Antigua''': There are 2 shuttle-bus companies that go directly to San Pedro from Antigua. One charges 60Q and the other 70Q. They take about 3 hours, including a 15 minute rest break at a petrol station for food, drink, and to use the restroom. This is the the most convenient way to get to San Pedro, there is no need to take a boat from Panajachel. There are excellent views of Lake Atitlan from the mountain road approaching San Pedro. Tickets are available at the travel agency across the street from the Black Cat Hostel in Antigua, and perhaps from other agencies -- ask. To go by chicken bus, first go to Chimaltenango, then look for buses towards Xela/Quetzaltenango. Get off at the turnoff to San Pedro, Kilometro 148, where there are minibuses and chicken buses that go the rest of the way.
'''From Guatemala City''': Direct buses from the center of Guatemala City are provided by three San Pedro companies: Transportes Mendez, Veloz San Pedrana and Transportes Wendy. Buses leave at 11am (Wendy), 11:30am (Mendez), 12:00pm (Pedrana), 12:30pm (Pedrana), 2:00pm (Mendez) and 4:00pm (Mendez) and pass along 20a Calle between 4a and 5a Avenida, Zona 1. The 4 hour journey to San Pedro costs 25Q (approx. $3.50).
By boat
By boat from Panajachel: 10Q for Mayans and Latinos, 25Q for people with white skin
Get around
See
Avoid walking the trails around the lake, tourists have been robbed at gunpoint, some female tourists have been raped. To enjoy the great views around the lake, use the village guides as the foliage can be dense and the route can be tricky to find. Ask around to assess the current situation and enjoy the stunning vista!
Do
'''Spanish-Language School'''
San Pedro la Laguna has began to establish itself as another language school center around the Atitlan Lake as the beautiful location drawing more and more students each year. Quality of instruction is varied so you might want to shop around. Some to check are [http://www.corazonmaya.com/ Corazon Maya], [http://www.worldwide.edu/ci/guatemala/school/34415.html Casa Rosario], [http://cooperativeschoolsanpedro.com/ Cooperativa], [http://www.orbitaspanishschool.net Orbita] and [http://www.spanish-schools.com San Pedro Spanish School].
Private lessons are also available at reasonable rates. Jennifer, a qualified local teacher, has an office located just past Buddha Bar on the main trail, and comes highly recommended.
'''Kayak rentals''' available on the far east side of town, on the lakeshore. A pleasant way to explore the lake. 2Q/hour or 25Q/day. If you go down to the lake and try to rent one, they will usually try to charge you twice as much as it would cost if you bought from an agency.
'''Free Movies''' (various locations)
-'''Allegre Pub''' (located at the main intersection by the Pana dock) shows movies nightly at 7:30pm on the rooftop terrace
-'''Amadaeus''' (on the main road, down from Allegre if heading to the main trail) shows movies nightly at 5:30pm and 7:30pm
-'''D_LNoz''' (by the Pana dock) shows movies nightly at 8:30pm. Closed Sunday.
-'''Bistro Nueve Sol''' (main trail, past El Barrio heading to the Santiago dock) shows movies and documentaries nightly at 7:30pm. Closed Sunday.
Grant`s Motorcycle Rental. alle Gringo. p the very end. 0. Hire a bike from this rather eccentric expat Aussie and you can see the areas around the lake the best way possible. Take a ride around the lake to San Marcos but no further(apparently there`s bandits there sometimes) and out along the best paved and marked road in Guatemala towards Santiago(Once more it`s recomended to turn back when the road ends and it turns to dirt as there was a group of bandits operating there for a while). Grant will also runs group tours.
Buy
'''Casa Suenos''' (up the road to the market from the Panajachel dock). This locally owned shop has jewelery, clothing, and hand-crafted leather goods. If you have time to wait (3-5 days), you can commission a custom-made pair of sandals or moccasins for about Q250.
Eat
'''Cafe Luna Azul''': a little bit west of the Panajachel dock. Great lakeside location with a good place for swimming and tanning. Try the chocolate fudge cake!
'''Nick's Place''': it's by the Panajachel dock. Probably the most popular place in town due to its great location. Meals are reasonably priced!
'''The Buddha:'''[http://www.thebuddhaguatemala.com] Located in San Pedro's hip, 'Otro Lado' a mere 5 minute walk from the main dock. Extremely good Asian & gourmet local dishes at very reasonable prices in an astoundingly beautiful setting. It's a three story bar, restaurant, lounge, cinema & cabaret with an amazing fusion of local and faraway exotic. Great place for traveler's to mingle with each other & locals over a game of pool.
'''Jarachik:''' Jarachik is a Hostel and a restaurant. Good food here. Every night (weather permitting) there is a bonfire in the garden / restaurant area. Great food at backpackers prices. Jarachik is worth finding on the path between the Pana and the Santiago docks.
ZooLa. ath. atch for the red-lettered signs. ow to moderate" hours="9 AM to 9 PM, closed Monday. "Laid back" in Hebrew, offers one of the most comfortable places to lounge around with your friends while you enjoy good food and drink at reasonable prices. Has some Israeli items, including falafel, on the menu but the coffee is locally-grown and doesn't include the ground cardamom that you'll find in some middle eastern restaurants.
Drink
Alegre Pub. anajachel dock. British pub that also serves good food. Free movies on the roof at 7:30PM.
Nick's Place. ust Left of the Panajachel dock. See under '''Eat'''.
Shanti Shanti. 00m from the Panajachel dock. Inexpensive place to chill; good view of the lake.
'''Jarachik''' Happy Hour 4PM-6PM and 9PM-close. Nightly drink and food specials. Friendly place and a backpacker hangout for afternoon drinks.
The Buddha. Free pool table, dart board, Free large screen movies in second floor lounge/cinema, Hookah Pipes, three floors. Happy Hour from 12PM-5PM and 8PM-9PM.
'''El Barrio''', (on the main trail, past Jarachik and Buddha, across from Hotel El Amancer Sakari) open 5pm to 1am. El Barrio has a nightly happy hour from 5PM-8PM, Tequila Tuesday and Whisky Wednesday specials. Great burgers.
Sleep
Basic accommodation is easily found when you arrive as you will likely be approached at the dock. Average pricing is 15 Q. Some specific places include:
Hotel San Francisco. a avenida 2-32. 30-40. A popular location as some rooms have a kitchen and a bathroom, and the showers are warm (but not hot). Most rooms come with a great view of the lake and a balcony. This hotel is located on the other side of the hill but all the locals know where it is, so start asking around once you reach the top of the hill. Because the quality of the rooms vary, ask to see a few before committing. You can bargain for cheaper rates if you stay 2 or more nights, say that you will look at other hotels to get the best rate.
'''Casa Elena''' is located after Nick's Place. Clean room with twin beds on the lakeshore. Owned and operated by a friendly Maya family. Relatively basic accommodations and a frat-house atmosphere.
'''Jarachik''' is located along the "main trail", a walkway that starts about 250 m left of the Pana dock. Dutch-owned Jarachik offers inexpensive dorms and rooms (Q30 dorm, Q50/75 private w/bathroom, Q75/100 private rooftop room w/bathroom), a rooftop terrace to chill on, the best inexpensive food in town and a bonfire every night when there is no rain. The hostel offers clean rooms at better prices than in Guate. Jarachik is both backpacker and family friendly. Just across the path is a great internet cafe. Jarachik also has the monthly publication "Xela Who", a guide to San Pedro and Xela (aka Quetzaltenango). Check it out for an accurate guide to what's happening in both towns.
Hotel Paraiso. ath. 10-Q30. One of the cheapest places to stay, the dorm rooms adjoining the office are only Q10 per person if 2 or more share them (Q15 for an individual). The showers are connected with the 115VAC directly to the plumbing, so it is ''strongly recommended'' to turn off the breaker and take a cold shower, otherwise touching the valve handle or the shower head can can be deadly. The owner knows this, and if you mention it to him you might be asked to leave.
Hotel Ti-Kaaj. ain Path, near Santiago Atitlan dock, across from Picasso restaurant, near Nuevo Sol. ingle: 15Q, Double: 25Q. Hammocks, kitchen, warm showers, cats.
</sleep>
Mikaso Hotel. ear Santiago Atitlan dock. ttp://www.mikasohotel.com. Open to the world and willing to participate in the well-being of a developing
country, a Quebec family built Mikaso Hotel in 2004-2005. Mikaso Hotel offers
excellent cuisine and housing facilities in the safe and peaceful surroundings of
the Maya Highlands. Recommended by Ulysse Guide, a renowned travel book
published in Quebec, and by the 2008 Lonely Planet Guide, Mikaso_fs owners
wish to promote Mayan culture through the participation of the San Pedro
community. Mikaso Hotel provides 12rooms for 2, 3 or 4 persons, as well as a dormitory
for 8 persons. Each room has its own bathroom with shower and hot water. Meals presented as self-service are served on the terrace on the third floor.</sleep>
Get out
The best way to get to Antigua is to take a minibus. There is one that leaves from in front of Casa Verde every day at 9:30Am. It costs 70 Q and takes about 3 hours, including a 15 minute restroom break. With a group you might negotiate the price till 50Q. It is best to buy your ticket the day before you leave, at Casa Verde, the green building near the main dock. (Tel: 58379092) There is a travel agency inside. They use newer Toyota minibuses.
This is cheaper and faster than paying 25Q to take a boat to Panajachel, and then 70Q to get from Panajachel to Antigua.
The cheapest way to get in/out are the buses leaving to Xela Monday till Saturday mornings at 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 7, 8:00 and 11 am across the street from the Catholic church downtown (top of the hill) 20-30Q, or to Guate (Guatemala City) other hours starting from 5AM. Heading south you can change as soon as you reach the interamericana.
Contact
Free wifi
'''Mikaso''' hotel is quite expensive, considering it's way off the beaten path closer to the Santiago dock than most of the other places listed, but the coffee is only 5Q a cup and you can use the wifi free on their terrazza overlooking the lake. SSID: "default"