Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lake Atitlán is surrounded by a number of smaller villages, each with its own distinct feel.
Across the lake, only San Pedro La Laguna rivals Panajachel in popularity. The other vil-
lages remain fairly quiet, though tourism has become a significant presence in almost all
of them. Heading east of Panajachel along the lakeshore, the first village of note is Santa
Catarina Palopó.
FivekilometerseastofPanajachelisthequaintlakesidevillageofSantaCatarinaPalopó,a
collection of adobe houses with tin and thatched roofs built into the surrounding hillsides.
The streets near the church and the road leading to the lakeside are excellent places to pick
up some of the colorful textiles and handicrafts produced here. Many of the villagers still
sport the traditional attire.
As elsewhere on Lake Atitlán, many well-to-do Guatemalans (and increasingly, foreign-
ers) have bought property and built houses on the slopes just outside of town.
Accommodations and Food
Santa Catarina is the site of a few moderate to high-end hotels offering some of the lake's
best accommodations. On the road between Panajachel and Santa Catarina, and under
the same ownership as Antigua's Mesón Panza Verde,
Casa B'alam Ya
(tel. 7832-2925,
www.panzaverde.com
,
$150-400d)encompassestwovillas.Thefirstofthesehastwobed-
rooms, a hot tub, a spacious kitchen, and a deck fronting the lake. The smaller junior villa
has one bedroom, a deck, and a kitchen. There are kayaks for guests' use. You can arrange
for a local chef to cook your meals or have the kitchen stocked with everything you need
to cook your own. Just off the street leading from town to the lakeshore, the 36-room
Villa
Santa Catarina
(tel. 7762-1291 or 7762-2827,
www.villasdeguatemala.com
,
$68-104 d)
has attractive rooms and junior suites with gorgeous lake views, tile floors, TV, hot-water
private bathroom, telephone, and some rooms with ceiling fans. There are lovely antique
furnishings throughout the property, a swimming pool and the excellent
Restaurante Las
Playas
(7A.M.-10P.M.daily),servingGuatemalanandinternationaldishesinanattractive
diningroomoverlookingtheswimmingpool.Mealpricesareinthe$5-10range.Alongthe
road leading out of town toward neighboring San Antonio Palopó,
Tzam Poc Resort
(tel.
7762-2680,
www.atitlan.com/tzampoc.htm
,
$85-170 d) has accommodations varying from
standard and deluxe rooms in Mediterranean-style, thatched-roof villas to an entire, fully
furnished villa for $400-1,000 per night. The beautiful rooms are nicely decorated. The re-
sort's centerpiece is an exquisite infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking the lake below.
There are tropical gardens throughout. Other amenities include a tropical lounge, sauna,
