A Guatemalan Adventure: Unveiling Lake Atitlan's Charm and El Paredon's Relaxing Vibes

San Juan is less touristy than the other common villages on the Lake like San Pedro, Panajachel or San Marcos. For that reason, you get an authentic insight in the culture and in the afternoon, when the taxi boats stop to operate, you’ll find yourself just with a handful of tourists on the streets between the locals. You will see a lot of women in their traditional clothing and hear the Mayan language Tz'utujil. For me, it was the perfect base to explore the lake and the other villages around - the taxi boats bring you everywhere. It's also the perfect starting point to the sunrise hike to the Indian nose and really close to the San Pedro volcano hike.

You'll find nice cafés, restaurants, and a lot of artisanal shops near the docks. On the streets they often sell sliced up mango as a snack which only costs 5 Quetzales (under a dollar). And don't miss visiting the viewpoint in San Juan!

El Paredon is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beach life. I had the best time staying in Mellow Hostel, which also provides you with surf board and lessons, if you want to try out the surf (beginner friendly). The little beach town is very remote and except surfing, a mangrove tour, tanning and watching the absolutely stunning sunsets there is not much to do. Still, you will find some smaller cafés and restaurants in the town. Make sure to bring enough cash and everything else you need with you, since there is no big supermarket. In the area, where most of the hotels/hostels are, food is usually a bit pricier, but you can find cheaper options at the other end of the town. If you want to go out at night, almost every day of the week, one different hostel is hosting a party at their place.