With phrases like cultural immersion and spiritual awareness along with longest nightly happy hour being tossed around it’s easy to think that San Pedro on the shores of Lake Atitlan is just another backpacker hot spot. Well, it is, but don’t be too quick to judge.
If there is one thing I have realised over my travels is that each experience is what you make of it.
On The Shores Of Lake Atitlan
Sure San Pedro is home of plenty of Spanish schools, (where from the tales of other travellers can be just another place to hang out and meet people rather than actually study) and also be dotted with so many bars playing the latest in pirated movies it may sound like a town many would stay away from.
Yet, there is also the chance to go exploring through the coffee plantations, hike up the San Pedro volcano and kayak around the lake. Maybe not the most cultural of activities, but they are defiantly some great ways to explore the area.
Besides, if you work on the road San Pedro has more Wi-Fi hot spots than I’ve seen in a long time. What’s better than sitting in a little café overlooking the lake and typing away? Beats the office any day if you ask me.
Colourful Bracelets For Sale
Before we arrived here, I had the image of a Guatemalan version of Phi Phi Island in Thailand- from what I had read it seemed like such a party town, where drugs would be offered to you at every corner and full of loud drunken travellers.
I’m yet to see any of that.
Sure, we don’t stay out too late. But from what we’ve done, many other people are just happy to chill at a bar with a few drinks and chat to others. What’s wrong with that?
I like the small streets, the local ladies selling chocolate cake each day and the cozy cafes to sit in the sun.
It’s easy to pass the time just relaxing and reading your book or watching the many hummingbirds hover around the colourful gardens.
Whatever you decide to do here, don’t take all the common catchphrases to heart and be disappointed when you have a cultural immersion experience. Just head to San Pedro and relax….God knows that’s what everyone else does here.
Read our own review where to stay San Pedro.
Register for our monthly newsletter & it's yours FREE!
Looks gorgeous!!!
It really is gorgeous. We ended up staying near Lake Atitlan for 3 weeks and we originally were going to stay for 3 days!