Guidebook for Panajachel
Food Scene
House roasted prize winning Guatemalan coffee and delicious sweets homemade by the owner's wife - American owned.
17 locals recommend
Crossroads Cafe
Calle Del CampanarioHouse roasted prize winning Guatemalan coffee and delicious sweets homemade by the owner's wife - American owned.
This is a long standing establishment and favorite of locals for healthy, safe food in lovely garden setting. The German owner Miki makes a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items as well as great liquados. Also see her smaller location called Deli Jasmina closer to the center of town.
Deli Llama de Fuego
Calle SantanderThis is a long standing establishment and favorite of locals for healthy, safe food in lovely garden setting. The German owner Miki makes a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items as well as great liquados. Also see her smaller location called Deli Jasmina closer to the center of town.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is the best place to have drinks before dinner and watch the sunset. They have good nachos! And live music most evenings.
14 locals recommend
Sunset Cafe
Calle SantanderThis is the best place to have drinks before dinner and watch the sunset. They have good nachos! And live music most evenings.
This is a colorful classic establishment in Pana for over 30 years! They serve great pizza as well as have a full bar and music on weekends.
47 locals recommend
Circus Bar
Calle de Los ArbolesThis is a colorful classic establishment in Pana for over 30 years! They serve great pizza as well as have a full bar and music on weekends.
Parks & Nature
Has a special collection of butterflies in a tropical garden environment.
7 locals recommend
Mariposario Reserva De Atitlan
Has a special collection of butterflies in a tropical garden environment.
Lake Atitlan is the gem of the Western Highlands with 11 Mayan villages accessible by boat and three volcanoes looming above. I especially recommend the inexpensive all day boat trip that circles part of the lake and takes you to the 3 villages of San Pedro where you can sit along the lake and have breakfast, Santiago for the old church with handcarved saints, and San Antonio for the weaving. If you don't have time for that, boats can be taken across the lake to Santiago or to the nearby village of Santa Cruz. Just being on the lake is magical!
49 locals recommend
Lake Atitlan
405 Calle SantanderLake Atitlan is the gem of the Western Highlands with 11 Mayan villages accessible by boat and three volcanoes looming above. I especially recommend the inexpensive all day boat trip that circles part of the lake and takes you to the 3 villages of San Pedro where you can sit along the lake and have breakfast, Santiago for the old church with handcarved saints, and San Antonio for the weaving. If you don't have time for that, boats can be taken across the lake to Santiago or to the nearby village of Santa Cruz. Just being on the lake is magical!
Shopping
Calle Santander is the main shopping area with numerous very colorful shops selling handicrafts from all over Guatemala. You can entertain yourself there for hours and find special, inexpensive gifts for friends and family back home. Most of the local restaurants and banks are along this road.
14 locals recommend
Calle Santander
Calle SantanderCalle Santander is the main shopping area with numerous very colorful shops selling handicrafts from all over Guatemala. You can entertain yourself there for hours and find special, inexpensive gifts for friends and family back home. Most of the local restaurants and banks are along this road.
Sightseeing
Chichicastenango is a very famous purely Mayan village with a renown market with goods from all over the country on Thursdays and Sundays. Local travel agencies offer inexpensive day trips there. Be sure to go to the large old church to see woman swinging incense on the steps and making special offerings of candles and flowers inside.
9 locals recommend
Chichicastenango
Chichicastenango is a very famous purely Mayan village with a renown market with goods from all over the country on Thursdays and Sundays. Local travel agencies offer inexpensive day trips there. Be sure to go to the large old church to see woman swinging incense on the steps and making special offerings of candles and flowers inside.
Getting Around
I always recommend using the Atitrans shuttle service for traveling in Guatemala. The "chicken buses" are picturesque but very unsafe - don't take them except up to Solola for their market on Fridays. Atitrans has an office on Calle Santander and a website where you can book on line. They have been reliable and safe for the more than 25 years that I have used them. They may run a little late, but the will never forget to pick you up!
Atitrans
3-90 Calle SantanderI always recommend using the Atitrans shuttle service for traveling in Guatemala. The "chicken buses" are picturesque but very unsafe - don't take them except up to Solola for their market on Fridays. Atitrans has an office on Calle Santander and a website where you can book on line. They have been reliable and safe for the more than 25 years that I have used them. They may run a little late, but the will never forget to pick you up!