The Best Way to Spend 3 Days at Lake Atitlán

Most people wonder, “How long should I spend at Lake Atitlán?” We were there for a little over a month, and there was still plenty to do and see. The real question you should be asking yourself is how to prioritize your time and make the most of what time you do have to spend at the lake. Only have 3 days? This is the itinerary I would pass off to a friend who had limited time but wanted to get a good sense of what the lake has to offer.

If you want to have an amazing trip but feel overwhelmed with the planning, follow my itinerary and enjoy your time at the lake!

Quick Answer (TLDR):

Best for:

• First-timers in Guatemala
• Those who can’t commit to a full week and still want to experience what Lake Atitilan has to offer
• Those who love local experiences but also go to bed by 10pm and enjoy some pockets of scheduled downtime throughout the day

Base: San Pedro La Laguna or San Juan La Laguna

Day 1 - Arrive in San Pedro La Laguna

Day 2 - Explore San Juan La Laguna and do a pepian cooking class for lunch

Day 3 - Cafe with a view, and depart

❌ Skip: With limited time, I would save these for your next trip.

• Lake Atitlán Spanish School (at least a week needed)
• Weaving Class (requires almost a full day)
• Santiago Atitlán & Panajachel Day Trips

Day 1: Settle in & Explore San Pedro

8:30 am to 1:00 pm - Prepare for the best 3 days of your trip

Catch a shuttle from Antigua directly to San Pedro to avoid taking a lancha (boat) with your luggage to get to your accommodation. I don’t typically get car sick, but I was feeling it on those winding roads. I would take a Dramamine with a pastry before you head out!

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Arrive & Get lunch

Drop your bags off at your accommodation, go to the bathroom, stretch your legs, and head straight to Sababa for some lunch. If you are feeling breakfast-y, you can go for some delicious pastries and coffee. If you have a bigger appetite and are feeling more savory, get the hummus, taco schnitzel, and a frozen mint lemonade. Shit, that is a fresh AF feeling!

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Mayan Pottery Class

Take a digestion walk over to Atitlan Pottery and join their 3pm painting class. We took a class with Nicolas, and we really loved our experience. You get a ton of stories and knowledge about Maya culture and history. The best part of the painting class is that you get to take a small piece home with you as a beautiful souvenir. It was one of the most memorable experiences we had at the lake.

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Local Coffee Roaster & Freshen Up

If you need a little pick-me-up, get an afternoon coffee at Las Cristallinas, which is a local coffee roaster. You can’t come to Guatemala without experiencing their coffee, and this coffee shop roasts its coffee right in the shop. They do offer a tour, which is more of a hike through the coffee plantation. I would skip the tour, grab a coffee, and ask some questions about their coffee to learn more.

Get back to your hotel and freshen up before dinner!

6:30 pm - 10:00 pm - Drinks & Dinner

Pre-dinner drinks at Sublime are a must. If you don’t feel like venturing on to another place for dinner, get their wings and fries. You will be there early enough to snag a table with a view, which you will never get sick of.

If you want a really good meal, head a few doors down to Alma for Mediterranean food. No, it’s not Guatemalan food, but don’t worry, you will get some of that the next day. Get the spring chicken and hummus and share some wine with your traveling companion.

Day 2 - Explore San Juan La Laguna

8:00am to 9:30am - Calle de Las Sombrillas

Head down to the muelle (public dock) and catch your first lancha to San Juan. Check to see if they are selling return tickets back to San Pedro. Usually you save a few bucks if you can snag one of those. Be aware that the ticket is for one of the specific lancha companies, so you can’t use it for all of them. You might wait a bit longer, but ultimately it’s worth it to save a bit of money.

Take your time walking up La Calle de Las Sombrillas, exploring the shops, getting a coffee, looking at all the art, and soaking it all in. Today is about experiencing as many of the local vendors as you can.

9:30 am to 1:00 pm - Cooking Class

I hope you didn’t eat too heavy of a breakfast because you are in for a real treat if you book a pepian cooking class with Dina. You will start by walking to the local market to pick up all the ingredients. You will be overwhelmed with all the different spices, fresh produce, and buzzing energy in this place.

Dina will teach you all of the steps on how she makes Pepian. You will be in her family home, learning her recipe the way she learned it from her mother. You will leave with a heart full of warmth and a stomach full of delicious food. You can’t get more local and traditional than this.

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Explore San Juan

Take a digestion walk up to the weaving co-op not far from Dina’s house. If you had an extended trip, this is where I would recommend taking a full weaving class, but for now you can go to the co-op, where they will give you a demo of how they do backstrap weaving and how they dye the yarn. Please tip them for the short demonstration and shop all their amazing products. The money goes directly to local women who are supporting their families. I got this beautiful journal that I know I will carry with me everywhere.

Next, you are going to Xunah Kaab to learn about the stingless bees that are local to San Juan. You learn about the different types of bees and how their honeys have different healing properties. You don’t need a reservation; you can just show up and they will gather a group to do a tour. It runs about 15-20 minutes and ends with a tasting. My favorite was the cardamom honey that was insanely delicious. Shop their products to directly support the business. We went home with so many fun treats!

Lastly, you can walk through these two other iconic streets on your way back to the dock. Both of them have stunning murals along the walls and have plenty of cute shops to check out along the way.

La Calle de Los Sombreros & La Calle del Cafe

If you have time before the last lancha, grab a drink at one of the rooftop bars near the muelle and enjoy the view before heading back to San Pedro.

5:00pm to 6:30pm - Head back to San Pedro & Freshen Up

Yes, obviously I built time into the schedule to go back to the room and upload your Instagram pics and scroll on TikTok.

6:30pm to 10:00pm - Drinks & Dinner

If you are looking for a unique experience and craving ramen. There is a ramen spot called Tacoyaki Japan Ramen in San Pedro that serves 10 bowls a day, often selling out early. We walked up shortly before it was closing, and it was already sold out for the day. Check their hours and plan ahead of time to try this! Everything looked amazing.

If you just want nice lake views and decent food, there are several options. I have heard Restaurante Sabor & Vista has good food, and the views look stunning.

The ways I found my favorite spots to eat were by walking and seeing what was calling my name. Don’t be afraid to try something that isn’t on some popular “Best Eats” list. As the night starts to go on, you can find a ton of street food available as well for some quick bites. The general advice is to avoid restaurants that have pictures on their menu with people standing outside trying to get you to come in. Always check Google reviews, and lastly, let me know what you liked!

Day 3: Soak it all in

8:00am to 8:15am - Cry, but Then Get Out of Bed!

Yes, it will be hard to leave the lake, but let’s make the most of the last few hours you have. Shove everything into your backpack or suitcase, and let’s get on with our day.

8:30am to 9:30am - Sababa One Last Time

I am just being honest, but I would be at Sababa one last time for a coffee with a view and a pastry to kick-start my blood sugar spike for the day.

9:30am to 11:00am - Mosey and Bop Around

Enjoy walking by the lake and jumping into a few last souvenir shops. Before I leave a place, I really like to sit and soak it in with my journal, a quiet space, and some time to myself to reflect on my experience.

11:00am to 3:00pm - Shuttle Back to Antigua

Like we began, I would recommend finding a shuttle that picks you up in San Pedro. Otherwise you have to get a lancha over to Panajachel, which is about 45 minutes with all of your stuff on the roof of a small boat.

Where to stay

We stayed outside of San Marcos and felt limited in what we could experience from that part of the lake. If you stay in San Pedro, you will have access to more restaurants, and I believe shuttles are easy to San Pedro vs. San Juan. Otherwise, I really loved San Juan and would recommend staying there for longer stays. For a full breakdown of where to stay, check out Best Villages at Lake Atitlán.

Getting Around & What It Cost

TukTuk ~ 10Q per ride

Lanchas: ~25Q per ride

I break down everything you need to know about transportation to the lake, around the lake, and all the little things no one tells you in How to Get to and Around Lake Atitlán.

So, are 3 days enough?

Well, I believe if you follow this itinerary, you really get a good sense of the lake while enjoying the views, but it will probably feel a bit rushed. If you want to prioritize swimming and lounging by the lake, I would bake in another 1-2 days at least.

Have an amazing time, and let us know what you think of our 3-day itinerary!

Who This Guide Is For

First-timers in Guatemala, travelers who can't commit to a full week but still want a real sense of Lake Atitlán, and those who love local experiences but also want some scheduled downtime and an early bedtime.