THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS - Guatemala - page 183

surround sound. It also has an extensive DVD collection of movie titles available for rent.
Complementing the audiovisual facilities is a full coffee bar.
SHOPPING
Pana is one of Guatemala's best places to shop for handicrafts with several stores along
Calle Santander. Stalls also line the street jam-packed with goods from wall to wall. Street
sellers expect you to bargain. Start at about half the asking price and work your way
up from there. There are some nice, though somewhat pricier, shops in the small Centro
Comercial Siquín on Calle Santander across the street from El Bistro.
RECREATION
The lake and mountainous surroundings afford a variety of recreational opportunities.
Panajachel's public beach is not, at the moment, suitable for swimming pending the re-
building of a water-treatment plant destroyed by Hurricane Stan in 2005. Some of the
beachesinneighboringtownsmakemuchbetterplacesforswimming,thoughmuchofthis
dependsonthepresenceofthelake'srecentlyexhibitedalgalgrowth.Keepinmindthewa-
ters of this highland mountain lake tend to be a bit chilly. They also tend to get a bit rough
in the afternoon because of the presence of a wind phenomenon known as the Xocomil. If
you stop to look closely, you'll see it blowing across the lake, turning the glassy-smooth
surface choppy in a matter of minutes. There are kayaks available for rent here.
Cycling
Hotel Utz-Jay (2-50 Calle 15 de Febrero, tel. [phone], www.hotelutzjay.com ) rents
mountainbikesandalsoorganizesmountain-bikingtripsontrailsaroundthelake.Antigua-
based Old Town Outfitters (5a Avenida Sur #12, Antigua, tel. [phone],
www.bikeguatemala.com ) runs a highly stimulating two-day Pedal and Paddle tour, drop-
ping you 2,000 vertical feet along 20-25 miles of single track followed by sea kayaking
across the lake for about four miles. You can add a third day of rock climbing and rap-
pelling or climb San Pedro Volcano. The two-day trip costs $175 or $250 for three days.
Hiking
Tolimán Excursions (Calle Santander 1-77, tel. [phone] or 7762-0334) offers guided
hikes up San Pedro Volcano across the lake, leaving early in the morning (6 A.M.) and
returning late afternoon around 6 P.M. The trip costs $39 per person including food, trans-
port, guide, and park entrance fee. The possibilities for hikes to surrounding towns and vil-
lages are virtually limitless, though you should never hike alone and always inquire about
the security situation with the local tourist office before heading out.