A day in San Juan La Laguna

San Juan La Laguna is a beautifully preserved village on the southern shore of Lake Aititlán. The easiest way to get to San Juan La Laguna from Panajachel is by boat to San Pedro La Laguna and from there take a five minute ride in a tuk tuk.

It’s a very peaceful town. Unlike most of the other hamlets and towns around the lake, it’s noticeably clean. The town has a civic pride and many of the buildings have had intricate murals painted on them. It certainly is a quaint place.

The language spoken by the majority of the locals is Tzutujil. The people of San Juan La Laguna have chosen to keep the traditions and lifestyle of their ancestors, and when you see the colourful clothing of the locals, you’ll know that these styles have been worn for generations.

What to do in San Juan La Laguna

It’s well worth visiting one of the women’s co-operatives, where you can see the ladies weaving their tejidos in the same manner as have done for many centuries. One of the most known is Casa Flor Ixcaco.

Also worth visiting is the Alma de Colores, which is an inclusive workshop for people with disabilities. They work in five areas: handicrafts, sewing ,needlework, a bakery, and an organic garden. They also have a diner and coffee shop.

The most popular restaurant in San Juan La Laguna is Cafe El Artesano. We are talking cured meat and cheese platters and a bottle of house wine! Unfortunately, it’s only open Monday to Friday from 12-3PM.

San Juan La Laguna has several sacred sites that you can visit, including Nimaj’ay or Casa Grande – a Mayan ceremonial center where rituals are performed that Mayan priests and spiritual leaders use to communicate with the sacred spirits of the place – as well as others like Coxolab’aj and El Encanto de Relaj’mam, which is also known as St. Simon’s Cave (la Cueva de San Simón).

 

From San Juan La Laguna

From San Juan La Laguna, you can embark on various activities such as kayaking, swimming, walking or biking any of its renowned routes through the mountains. One of the most popular hikes is to the “Indian Nose” national park. It costs Q50 and depending on you takes around 3 and a half hours.

Do try to make time to visit San Juan La Laguna, it’s well worth it!