Footpaths under avocado trees, yoga decks over the water, and a rocky headland where you can swim and leap into the lake.
San Marcos La Laguna is a small Kaqchikel village on the north-west shore, where the lower lanes have filled with yoga and meditation retreats, vegetarian cafés and guesthouses in gardens.
There are no roads through the lower village, only footpaths, so it's peaceful by day and very quiet at night. If you want to rest, this is the village for sleeping.
Ten minutes' walk west of the dock, the Cerro Tzankujil nature reserve covers a rocky headland. Trails lead through the trees to wooden platforms and rocks for swimming in the clear water, and one platform about 12 metres high for those who want to jump.
The reserve charges a small entry fee in cash and closes at four in the afternoon.
An easy San Marcos day.
Land at San Marcos dock and walk up the main path through the gardens.
Walk west to the reserve and follow the trail to the swimming rocks.
Swim from the low rocks, or climb to the high platform if you're confident.
Eat at one of the cafés in the lanes behind the shore.
Join a drop-in class, or just read by the water until the last boats.
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Public boats from Panajachel stop at San Marcos; tuk-tuks and pickups connect along the road to San Juan and San Pedro.
Bring enough cash from Panajachel or San Pedro; don't count on an ATM here.
Paths are unlit at night; carry a torch if you're out after dark.
Lake Atitlán practical notes →Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences.
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