Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shopping
Colorful textiles, wooden animals, beadwork jewelry, leather belts and paintings are pro-
duced and sold at workshops along the street leading up from the dock. For contemporary
bags, clothing and accessories with Tz'utujil elements, check out the Cojolya Association
of Maya Women Weavers (
Click here
)
, whose shop displays woven items designed by the
association's American founder, Candis E Krummel.
Orientation
From the dock, a path leads up to the main shopping street, Calle Principal. About 500m
up from the dock, turn left past the Restaurant El Pescador to arrive at the central plaza
and, behind it, the Catholic church.
Information
You'll find a lot of fascinating information about Santiago, in English, at
Asotur (
Click here
)
, just up from the dock on the left side, can provide information
about accommodations, tours, transport, etc.
There's a Cajero 5B ATM at
Banrural
(
8:30am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat)
, a block south of
the plaza.
The
Nuevo Hospitalito Atitlán
( 7721-7683;
www.hospitalitoatitlan.org
;
Canton Ch'utch'aj)
, on the way
out of town toward San Lucas Tolimán, is a modern hospital staffed by English-speaking
doctors and American volunteers.
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
The road between Santiago and San Pedro La Laguna has a certain notoriety for bandits,
carjackers, kidnappers etc. Proatur, the security branch of the tourist board, recommends
taking a ferry between the towns instead.
Getting There & Away
Boats leave hourly for San Pedro La Laguna (Q20, 30 minutes). Pickups to Cerro de Oro
and San Lucas Tolimán depart from in front of the market. Buses to Guatemala City (Q40,
3½ hours) leave every half hour from 3am to 6am, then hourly until 3pm, from the main
plaza.
