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San Pedro la Laguna is located in Guatemala. It is a laid back small town located across Lake Atitlán from Panajachel. The major mochilero hub.
[edit] Get in
If arriving by bus, you will be dropped off in the center of town, next to the market. Most hotels are located near the lake so you'll need to make your way downhill to find the hotels. When arriving in San Pedro by boat, you'll be greeted by people offering you hotels, kayaks, horseback rides, taxis and drugs. This can be a bit intimidating and overwhelming, but these people are not dangerous, just trying to make a living. If you get them to lead you to a hotel, the hotel owner normally pays them a commission based on the number of people who arrive and stay. Some hotels don't pay them a commission so the they will try to get you to go to a hotel that does. They also ask for a tip. The streets and trails in San Pedro can be confusing to a newcomer, and it helps to have some help. If you want to avoid the touts by the Panajachel dock, you can also ask a fellow tourist or in one of the stores or restaurants nearby, most of them will be happy to tell you how to get to your hotel. The TukTuk (taxi) drivers will try to get you to go to the Hotel San Francisco, which is the furthest away from the main dock. There is no need to take a taxi to your hotel. All hotels take 1-10 minutes to walk to from the main dock. If you take the first left after getting off the dock, there are a lot of hotels along that road. After walking a couple of minutes, just past a tienda, there is a small alley on your right with a lot of signs for restaurants, bars and hotels (you'll notice signs for ZooLa and Al Suave). This is the way to the "main trail", where most tourists are; it widens after the first stretch, follow the paving. At Al Suave, make a right for Trippy's, or a left for Jarachik, Buddha and El Barrio bars, hot tubs, and other attractions.
[edit] By bus
- From Antigua: There are 2 shuttle-bus companies that go directly to San Pedro from Antigua. One charges 60Q and the other 70Q. They take about 3 hours, including a 15 minute rest break at a petrol station for food, drink, and to use the restroom. This is the the most convenient way to get to San Pedro, there is no need to take a boat from Panajachel. There are excellent views of Lake Atitlan from the mountain road approaching San Pedro. Tickets are available at the travel agency across the street from the Black Cat Hostel in Antigua, and perhaps from other agencies -- ask. To go by chicken bus, first go to Chimaltenango, then look for buses towards Xela/Quetzaltenango. Get off at the turnoff to San Pedro, Kilometro 148, where there are minibuses and chicken buses that go the rest of the way.
- From Guatemala City: Direct buses from the center of Guatemala City are provided by three San Pedro companies: Transportes Mendez, Veloz San Pedrana and Transportes Wendy. Buses leave at 11am (Wendy), 11:30am (Mendez), 12:00pm (Pedrana), 12:30pm (Pedrana), 2:00pm (Mendez) and 4:00pm (Mendez) and pass along 20a Calle between 4a and 5a Avenida, Zona 1. The 4 hour journey to San Pedro costs 25Q (approx. $3.50).
[edit] By boat
- By boat from Panajachel: 15Q for locals or people from Mexico or Central America. 25Q for people from Europe, U.S.A., Australia, etc. (Some travellers are offended by the higher price based on race and suggest complaining to Inguat; others accept it as a reflection of different poverty levels.)
[edit] Get around
Getting around San Pedro La Laguna is initially confusing for new arrivals.
Avoid walking the trails around the lake, tourists have been robbed at gunpoint, some female tourists have been raped. To enjoy the great views around the lake, use the village guides as the foliage can be dense and the route can be tricky to find. Ask around to assess the current situation and enjoy the stunning vista!
San Pedro la Laguna has began to establish itself as another language school center around the Atitlán Lake as the beautiful location drawing more and more students each year. Quality of instruction is varied so you might want to shop around. Some to check are Corazon Maya, Casa Rosario, Cooperativa and San Pedro Spanish School.
Private lessons are also available at reasonable rates. Jennifer, a qualified local teacher, has an office located just past Buddha Bar on the main trail, and comes highly recommended.
- Kayak rentals available on the far east side of town, on the lakeshore. A pleasant way to explore the lake. 2Q/hour or 25Q/day.
- Free Movies (various locations)
-Allegre Pub (located at the main intersection by the Pana dock) shows movies nightly at 7:30pm on the rooftop terrace
-Amadaeus (on the main road, down from Allegre if heading to the main trail) shows movies nightly at 5:30pm and 7:30pm
-D´Noz (by the Pana dock) shows movies nightly at 8:30pm. Closed Sunday.
-Bistro Nueve Sol (main trail, past El Barrio heading to the Santiago dock) shows movies and documentaries nightly at 7:30pm. Closed Sunday.
- Casa Suenos (up the road to the market from the Panajachel dock). This locally owned shop has jewelery, clothing, and hand-crafted leather goods. If you have time to wait (3-5 days), you can commission a custom-made pair of sandals or moccasins for about Q250.
- D'NOZ: Offers a delicious menu nightly with everything from caesar salad to spicy tofu curry. They have a free movie every night. Arrive early, and get your order in before the crowd. D'NOZ is located by the dock next to Nick's.
- Cafe Luna Azul: a little bit west of the Panajachel dock. Great lakeside location with a good place for swimming and tanning. Try the chocolate fudge cake!
- Nick's Place: it's by the Panajachel dock. Probably the most popular place in town due to its great location. Meals are reasonably priced!
- The Buddha:[1] Located in San Pedro's hip, 'Otro Lado' a mere 5 minute walk from the main dock. Extremely good Asian & gourmet local dishes at very reasonable prices in an astoundingly beautiful setting. It's a three story bar, restaurant, lounge, cinema & cabaret with an amazing fusion of local and faraway exotic. Great place for traveler's to mingle with each other & locals over a game of pool.
- Jarachik: Jarachik is a Hostel and a restaurant. Good food here. Every night (weather permitting) there is a bonfire in the garden / restaurant area. Great food at backpackers prices. Jarachik is worth finding on the path between the Pana and the Santiago docks.
- <drink name="Alegre Pub" alt="" address="Panajachel dock" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">British pub that also serves good food. Free movies on the roof at 7:30PM.</drink>
- <drink name="Nick's Place" directions="Just Left of the Panajachel dock">See under Eat.</drink>
- <drink name="Shanti Shanti" directions="100m from the Panajachel dock">Inexpensive place to chill; good view of the lake.</drink>
- Jarachik Happy Hour 4PM-6PM and 9PM-close. Nightly drink and food specials. Friendly place and a backpacker hangout for afternoon drinks.
- <drink name="The Buddha">Free pool table, dart board, Free large screen movies in second floor lounge/cinema, Hookah Pipes, three floors. Happy Hour from 12PM-5PM and 8PM-9PM.</drink>
- El Barrio, (on the main trail, past Jarachik and Buddha, across from Hotel El Amancer Sakari) open 5pm to 1am. El Barrio has a nightly happy hour from 5PM-8PM, Tequila Tuesday and Whisky Wednesday specials. Great burgers.
Basic accommodation is easily found when you arrive as you will likely be approached at the dock. Average pricing is 15 Q. Some specific places include:
- Trippy's Hostel, 7 avenida, zone 2, San Pedro la Laguna, (Email: mailto:richmunchies@yahoo.com). A communal, home-style hostel in San Pedro. Laid back owners, beautiful garden, mini-horseshoe pit, amazing kitchen! $2-$5 dorm beds and rooms available. This is a bit of a party place, so if you want quiet, head elsewhere.
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- Casa Elena is located after Nick's Place. Clean room with twin beds on the lakeshore. Owned and operated by a friendly Maya family. Relatively basic accommodations and a frat-house atmosphere.
- Jarachik is located along the "main trail", a walkway that starts about 250 m left of the Pana dock. Dutch-owned Jarachik offers inexpensive dorms and rooms (Q25 dorm, Q50/75 private w/bathroom, Q75/100 private rooftop room w/bathroom), a rooftop terrace to chill on, the best inexpensive food in town and a bonfire every night when there is no rain. The hostel offers clean rooms at better prices than in Guate. Jarachik is both backpacker and family friendly. Just across the path is a great internet cafe. Jarachik also has the monthly publication "Xela Who", a guide to San Pedro and Xela (aka Quetzaltenango). Check it out for an accurate guide to what's happening in both towns.
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[edit] Get out
The best way to get to Antigua is to take a minibus. There is one that leaves from in front of Casa Verde every day at 9:30Am. It costs 70 Q and takes about 3 hours, including a 15 minute restroom break. With a group you might negotiate the price till 50Q. It is best to buy your ticket the day before you leave, at Casa Verde, the green building near the main dock. (Tel: 58379092) There is a travel agency inside. They use newer Toyota minibuses.
This is cheaper and faster than paying 20Q to get to Panajachel, and then 70Q to get from Panajachel to Antigua.
The cheapest way to get in/out are the buses leaving to Xela Monday till Saturday mornings at 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 7, 8:00 and 11 am across the street from the Catholic church downtown (top of the hill) for Q35, or to Guate (Guatemala City) other hours starting from 5AM. Heading south you can change as soon as you reach the interamericana.
[edit] Contact
[edit] Free wifi
- Mikaso hotel is quite expensive, considering it's way off the beaten path closer to the Santiago dock than most of the other places listed, but the coffee is only 5Q a cup and you can use the wifi free on their terrazza overlooking the lake. SSID: "default"
- D'NOZ, a bar next to Nick's Place near the Embarcadero, its signal is reachable from most surrounding restaurants. SSID: "DNOZ"
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