Known as the gateway to Lake Atitlán, there are lots of things to do in Panajachel, or ‘Pana’ as locals lovingly know it. Panajachel is one of the most popular towns to stay in while visiting Lake Atitlán, and in my humble opinion, the best town to stay in on the Lake.
We stayed in an apartment in Panajachel for a month, and in that time, we experienced everything we possibly could (in Pana and beyond). If there’s a restaurant or activity to try in Panajachel, chances are, we have done it!
Panajachel is the gateway to Lake Atitlan because it’s the most accessible from Antigua and Guatemala City – rather, it’s the only main town accessible by road. To get to all the others, you will have to arrive in Panajachel and jump on a lancha boat to cross the lake.
Panajachel is well-suited for tourists on both short and long stays because of the amazing food and drink options, beautiful views, great range of accommodation, solid infrastructure, and ativities to do. I’ll get into these and more Panajachel things to do below!
The Best Things to Do in Panajachel
During my month here, I got used to strolling down Calle Santander, visiting the local market, and slowly ranking my favorite restaurants as I tried them all (more on that in my guide to Panajachel restaurants… a lot more).
It really is a great place to base for a while (and a solid digital nomad spot), but it’s also a fun and vibrant town to spend the day wandering through shops and dipping your toes in the water.
I felt that, while Pana is the ‘tourist gateway’ to Lake Atitlan and full of travel agencies, it’s really not too touristy. Panajachel is a great mix of locals/indigenous Mayans and foreigners, and always bustling. It actually felt more local on the day-to-day than some of the other towns in Lake Atitlan, but with plenty of infrastructure and things you need at your fingertips.
While this article focuses solely on Panajachel, I have given my true opinions on each of the 12 towns dotting Lake Atitlan in my article about the best towns on the Lake here if you are tossing up where to stay and where to visit. And now, the best things to do in Panajachel!
Watch the Sunset
I’m a bit of a sunset aficionado (hence the name of my blog), and I think the angle of the three volcanoes from Panajachel is one of the best on the lake. The sun sets right between all three volcanoes, and there’s no evening that the sunset is not completely magical.
Head down to the water to watch the sunset, or find your way to one of the restaurants on the water (which do tend to be more touristy). Sunset is the busiest time of the day down on the water as everyone comes down to enjoy the view.
Calle Santander – Shopping Street
Calle Santander is probably the best shopping street in all of Lake Atitlan! Here you will find every kind of Mayan craft and Guatemalan souvenir you can think of. I did find that souvenirs tend to be a bit more pricey in Panajachel than other towns on the lake – probably because people always stop here first.
Some of the coolest things I recommend looking for are: leather belts or leather bags with Mayan patterns, linen shirts/pants, Mayan print jackets (there are a few places with really cool ones), leather shoes, and tons of jewelry.
Three Villages Tour
If you only have a short amount of time, I recommend doing the 3 Villages Tour of Lake Atitlan. Similar tours are sold in a lot of different agencies around Guatemala and Panajachel, and even has a popular tour running from Antigua for those who want to experience Panajachel, San Pedro, San Juan, and San Antonio in one day.
I ended up doing the tour I linked above on my first weekend in Pana, except obviously from Panajachel and not Antigua. But you can organize similar tours from travel agencies in town. Whichever way you organize this tour, I recommend doing it!
Spanish Lessons
Panajachel is a great place to learn Spanish! Guatemala, and specifically Lake Atitlan, is famous for having great options for affordable Spanish courses. Eliot and I did 2 weeks of courses for 3 hours each day, and LOVED it – we progressed our knowledge very quickly and the teachers were great!
I think we paid $150 per week, which felt like a steal for one-on-one courses 3 hours a day. Our Spanish school was Jabel Tinamit and I recommend it fully! But I know there are a few other Spanish schools in Panajachel and in San Pedro too.
Tierra Linda Hike
There aren’t many popular hikes in Panajachel, although there are quite a few (barely maintained) trails going up various mountains above the city. One of the best hikes to do here that’s a bit easier to follow is the Tierra Linda Hike.
To be honest, I do recommend going with a group for this one because trailheads are impossible to find around here. Luckily, Selina Panajachel organizes multiple Tierra Linda hikes each week. Even if you don’t stay there, you can still join their social activities, and this hike is offered for $10. Just walk in, ask for their weekly schedule, and join the whatsapp group (that’s what we did).
Swim at the Beach
Yes, there are beaches near Pana that you can swim in! But I would NOT recommend swimming anywhere near the city center. I’m not sure if our favorite beach actually has a name or not, but all you have to do is walk through the town towards the water, and turn left when you hit water.
You’ll make your way through more markets, eventually cross a stream (there will be a small makeshift bridge), and find a path along the water on the other side (Playa Jucanya on the map). Walk along this path for 10-15 minutes until the beach looks appetizing to you! You will see people swimming after about 5 minutes walking, but my favorite is the very last beach where the path ends.
Check out the Local Municipal Market
Near Panajachel Park and behind the main church, you will find the local market, or Mercado municipal. This is the b est place to get super fresh fruit and veggies straight from the farm, and a whole array of other random stuff I couldn’t even predict. If you are cooking, a combination of this market and a supermarket nearby should have you covered.
Explore Colorful Streets
I just love the street art in Panajachel. Everything is vibrant and colorful, with murals just adding the the vibe. In the town of eternal spring, there seem to always be flower in bloom, new murals being painted (there’s even a dedicated spraypaint shop near crossroads), and even colorful traditional outfits being worn. It’s lovely to just explore the little streets and take photos.
Museo Lacustre de Atitlan
Located right in the center of Panajachel, this fascinating museum outlines the history of Lake Atitlan all the way back to the formation of the volcanoes. It has a big focus on geographic/volcanic history and how it intertwined with Mayan history, including a whole section about a ‘forgotten city’ underneath the lake! Ooo!
Sunset ATV Tour
This is definitely the most popular organized tour in Panajachel, and it’s SOOOO FUN. You basically drive ATV’s around for 4 hours from Panajachel through the smaller villages of Santa Catarina Palopó and San Antonio Palopó, which both give a totally different vibe of what Lake Atitlan is like.
You experience local crafts like weaving, chocolate making, and pottery while romping around on 4 wheels, ending with the sunset over the water. What could be better?
Paragliding
Panajachel has the absolutely AWESOME feature that you can go paragliding from a perfect hill right above it – one of the most adventurous things to do in Panajachel for sure. I would watch the paragliders all the time from the rooftop at my airbnb, flying over the city with the most epic view of the Lake and volcanoes imaginable.
There are a few companies that do it, and you can easily sign up from some travel agency shops in town. You can also sign up through Selina or online through Selina. I think RealWorld Paragliding is the best-known.
Rent a Motorcycle
There are a couple of agencies in Pana where you can rent a scooter or a motorcycle. Being used to Bali, we initially wanted to rent a scooter for our whole time here… that is, until we realized how walkable Panajachel is and how much pricier the bikes are here! I think the standard is about the equivalent of $40USD per day.
However, we wanted an adventure weekend and Eliot wanted to use his new motorcycle license, so we rented a dirtbike to make a lap of the lake over the course of a weekend. It was a HUGE ADVENTURE (I do not recommend driving around the whole lake if you just got your license… hint: HILLS).
It was tons of fun though and I absolutely adored seeing the lake from all angles and driving through villages that no tourists make it to. So if you are feeling adventurous, try it out!
Iglesia San Francisco
This is the main church in Panajachel. It has absolutely beautiful colonial architecture from the early 1500’s, and the square in front of the church hosts most of the town’s events and get-together’s. I would know, I lived one block away and was awoken by fireworks and church bells on too many mornings to count during Christmas season!!
Panajachel Waterfall (Cascada de Solola)
About 5 minutes up the hill from Panajachel towards Solola, there’s a beautiful and HUGE waterfall! It’s worth checking out. While up there, check out the stunning Ente Restaurant for some of the most epic view/food combos ever.
Take a Mayan Cooking Class
Taking a Mayan cooking class is a must-do while in Lake Atitlan. There are a lot of options for this in all villages around the lake, but this Mayan cooking class leaves from Panajachel and gives you the run-down on some classic Mayan dishes in just 4 hours.
Yoga at Selina Beach Bar
Selina has a beach bar (a very instagrammable one, at that) and offers yoga every morning at 8. It’s free for people staying at Selina but costs $5 for everyone else. It’s the best way to start the day!
The Atitlán Nature Reserve
Just a few minutes around the bend from central Panajachel is the Atitlan Nature Reserve. Come here to immerse yourself in Guatemalan nature for an afternoon! Check out waterfalls, walk suspension bridges, explore some hiking trails, try out some zip lines, and see butterflies, coatis, and spider monkeys in the wild!
Grab Some Street Food
You can get a lot of street food in Pana, from fried chicken to corn elotes to tacos to fruit with tajin. My absolute favorite was the latter – I must have grabbed a papaya with tajin and lime every time I walked down the street!
Kayak + SUP
Kayaking and SUP’ing are popular all over Lake Atitlan! There are a lot of local agencies and waterfront rental places where you can grab a kayak for the day. If you are a bit more apprehensive or want to go with a group (that also adds in some cliff jumps, hiking, and adventures around the lake) book a kayaking tour from Panajachel.
Indian Nose Sunrise Hike from Panajachel
If you don’t have time to go and spend some time in San Pedro to do some hiking, it’s definitely worth doing a tour from Panajachel. You can’t really come to one of the most beautiful volcanic lakes in the world and not do a hike or two!
We stayed the weekend in San Pedro and hiked up Volcan San Pedro, which was HARD but super fun. I heard so much about the Indian Nose sunrise hike from a lot of travelers I met, though – it’s one of the best experiences on the lake!
Drink the BEST Coffee
Guatemala has some of the best coffee in the WORLD! Unlike Colombia, which exports most of its first-grade coffee, you can get the good stuff right here in the cafes of Panajachel.
Eliot and I were in coffee HEAVEN after living in Melbouren for so long and spending a few months drinking garbage coffee in the USA! Anyway, here are our favorite cafes:
Crossroads Cafe + Crossroads Cafe Jardin
Crossroads was our local spot – we had a coffee here on most of our breaks from Spanish school and got to know the barista, Byron. The coffee here is simply perfection. Crossroads has a fascinating story which you can flip through in a picture book, and you can check out the roasting room in the back.
We recommend a cortado – a little froth, but just enough to still taste the coffee. I also the the Cafe Ixhil’s here, which have Mayan spices. The original crossroads is great, and their “crossroads Jardin” garden location is more spacious and laptop-friendly.
Cafe Loco
A simply delectable coffee stop on the main street of Calle Santander. I’ve tried a few of their coffees and the’re all fabulous.
Cafeína
This cafe was literally downstairs from our airbnb, so we got to know the barista Jorge very well. Everything is great here, from the coffees to the sweet crepes (to die for), but my favorite creative option here is the espresso matcha iced coffee.
Flor de Cafe
This is such a cool hidden gem in Panajachel! Flor de Cafe is part of Jardines del Lago hotel, so you may not stumble upon it without thinking you’re going onto private property. Just ask for the cafe and prepare to be amazed!
Not only is the view STUNNING here (we saw a wedding accidentally), but the coffee options are incredible and fresh, too! We tried a chemex and a flat white here and they were on point (as well as the cute atmosphere).
Nativo + 80’s Coffee
These are two more epic coffee shops to keep your eye out for.
Coworking
If you are doing digital nomad life in Panajackel, there are plenty of places to cowork! We worked from out airbnb and rooftop as well as these venues:
- Selina: Selina has an actual coworking space you can pay a daily rate to access, but we usually just headed to the cafe for a meal and a drink and stayed a few hours each time.
- Little Spoon: This is a super cute brunch spot with some western comforts and great wifi. HEad to the rooftop for my favorite view.
- Humaya Restaurante: I loved working from here, by the courtyard inside the historic Casa Cakchiquel. More on the food below!
- Crossroads Jardin: This Crossroads location has more space in a beautiful garden with wifi!
- Delhi 6: We worked from here a few times after a delicious Indian meal
- Cafe Moka: They have decent snackish foods and Nescafe (not proper) coffee, but a nice atmosphere looking out over the main street and wifi.
Try An Amazing Variety of Foods at Great Restaurants
Panajachel has the best variety of high quality and fresh food on the Lake! There are so many restaurants to recommend that I had to create a separate post.
Head to the link above to read about each restaurant, or use the shortlist below.
Best Restaurants in Panajachel: Circus Bar, Guajimbo’s, Tuscani, Delhi 6, Deli Jasmin, Humaya Restaurante at Casa Cakchiquel, The Little Spoon, Azul Rosa
Cheaper meals on-the-go: Famous Shucos, Taquero Mucho, Restaurante Mexicano la Michoacana, Mister Jon’s
Best Bars: Azul Rosa, Selina Beach Bar, Restaurante Atlantis (for salsa) and a few other bars in the same block
Massage + Nails at Exhale Body & Mind Spa
We tried a couple of massage places while in Panajachel, and Exhale was by far the best! Go for a mani/pedi or a foot massage – they are great at what they do!
Walk/Run to Santa Catarina Palopó
The next town over from Panajachel, Santa Catarina Palopó, is only about a 20-40 minute walk/run away, People run between the two towns daily and it’s safe to do. It’s an absolutely beautiful route with lots of views over the whole lake and tons of photo ops. The ton itself is small but cute and a fun morning adventure.
Mayan Ceremony at the Sacred Caves
To immerse yourself into Mayan culture, head to an actual Mayan Ceremony taking place in the ‘sacred caves’ near the nature reserve. I heard about this tour quite a lot while in Pana, and I must admit that I was skeptical about how touristy and performance it may be.
But in the end, I heard great reviews from people who went, that it felt authentic and allowed a deeper look into Mayan Culture. And hey, by paying to see their culture in action you help to keep it alive!
Where to Stay in Panajachel
I recommend first and foremost to stay at Selina Panajachel if you want a social hotel/hostel- Selina properties are ALWAYS a good bet because they have options from hostel dorm beds to small private rooms to bigger suites.
The Selina here is very social, with a daily schedule of activities (including walking tours, hikes, yoga, social events, music) and even a whatsapp group. Athough we stayed in an apartment, we were here a lot.
If you are looking for a well-located and comfy vacation rental apartment, this is the one we stayed in. The rooftop is unbelievable – I was there daily! It’s perfect for 2 people (but has bed space for more), with a reclining couch, Netflix, a huge TV, all the kitchen necessities, and even a weekly cleaning. The host can help with organizing anything, too.
Venture Across the Lake
The last thing you must do in Panajachel is explore other parts of the lake, too! My favorite towns on Lake Atitlan (click to read my whole post) besides Pana are San Pedro, San Marcos, and San Juan.
Hope you enjoyed these things to do in Panajachel! If you have any questions, comment below or DM me on Instagram.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.