​LAKE ATITLAN

Hello, ​Lake Atitlan.


Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala and about a 2 hour bus ride from Antigua, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by dozen of small towns.

Panajachel is popular with travelers and a good entry point, while San Pedro La Laguna has a reputation as a major backpacker hub and the "less party, more meditation" village of San Marcos are off-the-beaten track. 

Do note that it’s quite difficult to travel between the different villages at night since the public boat service​ ends around 6pm.

Lake Atitlan is a combination of scenic beauty, a relaxed atmosphere, easily accessible Mayan culture, and a good tourist infrastructure.

Women digital nomads should dress conservatively and avoid wandering around alone after dark. You will most likely experience cat-calls while walking down the street, just look straight and don't acknowledge.

There are towns that are safer than others. For example, Panajachel and San Marcos might be safer. Take a tuk-tuk or walk with a male friend after dark. During the day, it is generally safe to wander around as a woman alone, just don't go wandering down sketchy alleys.

If you are traveling between towns (i.e between Panajachel to San Marcos), it is safest to go via boat, or lancha. Even the locals avoid driving on the roads connecting the towns due to armed robberies (especially the road between San Pedro and San Marcos) and landslides during the rainy season.

Lake Atitlan is a popular destination for digital nomads, some who plan on staying for a couple of days but end up staying for months. Wifi is very likely to be slow or at best decent (most hotels, restaurants and house rentals offer 2MB to 5MB download speeds), and connections may not be reliable.

Note that power cuts (yup - no internet) can be a problem during the rainy season. Skype calls are generally poor, and cell phone speeds varies greatly depending on your location.

When choosing a SIM card, Tigo has the best cell coverage across the lake.

Not every village on the lake has an ATM so make sure you have plenty of cash. ​You can withdraw money at San Marcos, San Pedro and Panajachel.

The dry and peak season is from November to April, and mornings and nights are cooler - you'll need a sweater and long trousers. The wet season is from May to October, when it rains mostly in the afternoons and evenings.

  • ​Low Cost Of Living
  • ​Many Foreigners And Growing Digital Nomad Community
  • ​Small Town Vibe
  • ​Slow Internet​
  • ​Not LGBTQ Friendly
  • ​Not Many Things To Do
  • Power Cuts ​On Rainy Days
  • ​Not Every Village Has An ATM

Recommended Co-Working Spaces In ​Lake Atitlan


SELINA ATITLAN

Digital Nomad-Friendly Cafes

CAFE ATITLAN

​San Pedro La Laguna

SABABA RESTAURANT

San Pedro La Laguna

​Access This Guide Inside Of Facebook Messenger

​Ready to start exploring ​Lake Atitlan? Click the button below to access this guide for free with the first-ever digital nomad city guide Facebook Messenger chat bot.

​The Only Digital Nomad

Membership You’ll Need

​Get access to ​exclusive WDN discounts ​to your favorite digital nomad tools and services.

Women Digital Nomads © 2019  

​Women Digital Nomads is a Chrys Media company.

Social Proof