Lake Atitlan - A Circuit of The World's Most Beautiful Lake

Few of us can claim to have investigated Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, the place Lonely Planet travel guides describe as "The closest thing to Eden on Earth." However, in the absence of a spin around the lake, this article can give you an idea of the wonders of one of the most beautiful parts of the planet. Use it to assist you when choosing your next vacation, or at least to fake some good travel stories when chatting with your friends!

Getting there
Easy to access, the lake is about a two and a half hour drive from Guatemala City or Antigua. Most arrive at the lake in the main town, Panajachel and stay in a hotel there or take a boat to other hotels on the lake. Getting to Panajachel is easy, and can be organised through a tour operator offering a door-to-door services between Panajachel and Antigua or Guatemala City.

Showered in rainbows
Held in place 1560 meters (5100 ft.) above sea level by a natural dam of volcanoes makes for an ideal climate. It's never uncomfortably cold or hot. The rainy season lasts from May to October, but the sun does shine some almost every day. The word "atitlan" is a Mayan word that translates as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors" and in the wet season you are sure to see a few colourful arches rising gracefully above the lake.

Visit lakeside towns by boat
There is no road that encircles the lake, so visitors will have to settle for the next best option; taking a boat across the smooth waters to any one of the towns that sit on its banks. There are 11 communities around Lake Atitlan (including Panajachel) and visitors will have a variety of locations and experiences to choose from. Munching on hummus in Moonfish cafe in the hippy retreat of San Marcos or partying until the early hours in San Pedro, Lake Atitlan will have something to keep you entertained. If you want to get to grips with the language, numerous Spanish schools are based in San Pedro for you to choose from.

Visiting the volcanoes
Lake Atitlan is the result of land collapse following volcanic activity 84,000 years ago, and since then volcanic activity in the region has build three impressive volcanoes that dominate the skyline around the lake. All can be visited from the towns surrounding the lake.

The tallest of the three volcanoes, Atitlan, dominates the stunning lake with which it shares its name. Atitlan's summit takes about 8 hours to reach; the reward is a breathtaking view of the world's most beautiful lake and Guatemala's Pacific coast. Perhaps the most frequently photographed of all Guatemala's volcanoes, San Pedro's beautiful cone seems to rise from the waters of Lake Atitlan. The hike to the top takes about 4 hours, and while visitors will not get great views due to heavy vegetation on the summit, the crater serves as a refuge for rarely encountered species of plants and animals. Along with Atitlan and San Pedro that form the natural dam holding in Lake Atitlan, Toliman, the third volcano, has its own delights to offer. A small group of rare Horned Guans survives in the forest near the summit and hikers should plan on camping out for a good chance of sighting the birds.

Getting to know the locals
The lake basin supports a wide range of agricultural products, including coffee, that provide well for the largely indigenous population living around the area. Mayan cultural tradition is still strong, and many locals will be seen in traditional dress. Numerous humanitarian organisations, based out of the main centres of Panajachel and San Pedro, allow visitors who want to commit a couple of weeks to visiting communities and assisting in various projects.

However you want to get to know Lake Atitlan, you will be surrounded by the awe inspiring vistas that have left an undeniable impression on travellers over the centuries. With the ease of transport access from the big centres of Guatemala City and Antigua to help you get to one of the most beautiful places in the world, what are you waiting for?

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

Antigua - The Incredible Moving City of Guatemala

Moving cities are normally reserved for fairy tales; castles in the sky and mythical kingdoms. The last place you'd expect to find such a place would be Antigua in Guatemala, but once you arrive it's not difficult to believe.

Walking down cobbled streets in the chill of the early morning, the sunlight brings alive the colours in the colonial city walls. A mist lies blanketing the lower slopes of the imposing Volcan de Agua that rises above Antigua to the south. Passing churches and grand plazas, you'll suddenly find yourself staring at the crumbling remains of once-mighty buildings, gracefully collapsing between restaurants, hotels and businesses. Words fail to describe the magic of the town.

Its difficult to believe that this sprawling cocktail of influences could have moved location like a travelling circus, but La Antigua Guatemala (or just Antigua for short) has found it difficult to settle in the same place.

Moved by the locals
The first of Antigua's big moves was for social reasons. Originally founded as the capital in 1524 on the site of a Kakchikel-Maya city (now called Iximche), severel Kakchikel uprisings forced the Spanish to consider a relocation.

Moved by the gods
The next location for the capital was deemed to be Valley of Alotenango (Rio Guacalate). The city was formally established on November 22, 1527. Things didn't last long there however, because on 11th September 1541 the site was destroyed by a devastating mudslide from the local volcano.

The golden years
So far spited by the indigenous population and now higher powers, the Spanish persevered. The Panchoy Valley was the next spot picked by the authorities and on March 10th 1543 the current location of Antigua was established. For the next 200 years the city functioned as the centre of government for the Spanish colony of Guatemala, reaching its estimated peak of population at around 60,000, until the next big shakeup.

The capital leaves, Antigua stays
Shakeup it literally was, an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit Antigua on September 29, 1717. 3000 buildings were destroyed and the government gave serious consideration to moving its base of operations. This decision was made for them in 1773 when the Santa Maria earthquakes destroyed most of the town and the government made the decision to abandon the Panchoy Valley for the safer Valley of the Shrine, where present day Guatemala City stands. Antigua was left deserted with a few hangers-on, adopting the name of La Antigua thanks to its once illustrious glory days as the capital city.

What's left
Antigua may not have ascended to the same hights as in its glory days (the population now is estimated at 35,000) but visitors can still get a sense of the diverse influences that the city has picked up over its years of transience and change. Anyone in town during Semana Santa can witness the incredible processions through streets covered with elaborate and beautiful carpets predominantly made from dyed sawdust, flowers and even fruits and vegetables. Anyone keen to learn Spanish in an immersion environment will also be spoilt for choice, with a wide variety of language schools spread around the city; students and their teachers can often be seen wandering the streets or sitting in cafes conversing over a cup of coffee.

Thousands of travellers that come to Antigua fall in love with its colonial charm and unique blend of old and new. If you are planning a trip to Latin America, make sure to include it on your itinerary and do it soon; you never know when it will get itchy feet and decide to move again...

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

Volcano Hunting In Guatemala - Hot Stuff

If geography classes never used to excite you, Guatemala will change all that. Sitting on the boundary between two tectonic plates, the country is host to over 30 volcanoes of all shapes, sizes and states of activity. If you ever wanted to see what the inside of our planet is like and what happens when it decides to make an appearence, Guatemala is for you. From the thrill seeking adrenaline junkies that want to stand next to flowing lava to those wanting to see the lush tree-covered volcanic slopes rising above the gorgeous Lake Atitlan, there's something for everyone.

Active volcanoes - Bubbling Hot
If you want to feel like you're inside a National Geographic Channel episode, you couldn't go wrong with a visit to the following active volcanoes.

1) Pacaya
Pacaya is an active volcano located within easy reach, just 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Guatemala City. A short hike brings visitors to the summit, where they can observe eruptions of ash and lava at close range. Some even return with stories of how walking over the upper slopes melted the soles of their shoes...

2) Fuego
Constantly spewing small ash clouds, this monstrous volcano's last major eruption occurred in 1974. To hike up barren slope is grueling, and most visitors will be content to admire Fuego's beauty from the safety of Antigua's cobblestone streets.

3) Santiaguito
The most dangerous volcano in Central America, Santiaguito first erupted on Volcano Santa Maria's southern flank in 1922. It constantly spews spectacular ash clouds and lava, and may be safely observed from nearby Santa Maria's summit. The hike to the top of Santa Maria takes about 4 hours and camping on the summit is recommended, to witness a spectacular nighttime lava show from Santiaguito below.

Dormant volcanoes - Keeping Us Guessing
They can't promise booming gas eruptions or spewing lava, but these volcanoes are just as impressive to visit.

1) Acatenango
Acatenango's last eruption was in 1972, so you can climb all the way to the summit without dodging lava flows. One of the most beautiful and varied hikes availble, you'll pass through entirely different ecosystems on the way to the summit. First farmland, then cloud forest followed by high alpine forest and finally the volcanic zone to the very summit.

2) Agua
Looming over the pretty colonial town of Antigua, a climb up this volcano is recommended for spectacular views. Hiking time is about 5 hours from Santa Maria de Jesus, or 2 hours from the end of road that climbs partway to the top.

3) Atitlan
The tallest of the three volcanoes dominating the stunning lake with which it shares its name, Atitlan's summit takes about 8 hours to reach; the reward is a breathtaking view of the world's most beautiful lake and Guatemala's Pacific coast.

Extinct volcanoes - Just Big Hills
Their glory days as unstoppable forces of nature may be gone, but the volcanoes left by ancient activity still have plenty to offer the visitor, especially in the way of flora and fauna left undisturbed by any activity.

1) San Pedro
Perhaps the most frequently photographed of all Guatemala's volcanoes, San Pedro's beautiful cone seems to rise from the waters of Lake Atitlan. The hike to the top takes about 4 hours, and while visitors will not get great views due heavy vegetation on the summit, the crater serves as refuge for rarely encountered species of plants and animals.

2) Toliman
One of the three volcanoes, along with Atitlan and San Pedro, that forms the natural dam holding in Lake Atitlan, Toliman has its own delights to offer. A small group of rare Horned Guans survives in the forest near the summit and hikers should plan on camping out for a good chance of sighting the birds.

3) Cerro de Oro
A smaller volcano on the south side of Lake Atitlan provides an interesting mix of geography and history, having once contained a Mayan fortress in its crater.

Getting to know the varied and spectacular geography of Guatemala will undoubtedly be an adventure, but that doesn't mean you should take unneccessary risks. If the lure of the active volcanoes should take your fancy, ensure that you book a tour with a reputable and responsible agency that provides you with a professional guide. This way you'll make sure that you will have nothing but incredible memories and photos of some of the most incredible and unique experiences that Latin America has to offer.

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America