Panajachel, Lago Atitlan Friday 2nd October

We drove the steep hill into Panajachel to our hotel.

It has its own parrot in reception, a very tame and talkative bird which is not averse to sharing out breakfast.

Then it was down to the docks to pick up a boat. We were going on a cruise across the lake. it is an endorheic lake meaning that it receives water from various rivers that flow into it but it doesn't have an outlet. A volcano formed here about 11 million years ago and in a dramatic eruption about 84,000 years ago it blew its top off leaving a deep crater which has since filled with water and is surrounded by three separate volcanoes.

The lake is Central Americas deepest but each source gives a different depth, an average of over 300m, up to 340m deep, over 380m deep and one source claiming the deepest at 600m...undoubtedly it is deep but no one can agree or provide an authoritative depth. 

Our first stop was San Juan at teh far end of the lake.

Tuk tuks awaiting hire at the docks at Sn Juan.

The indiginous people are descended from the Mayas and have preserved much of their local culture and their dress, both for women and men.

Our guide took us to several locations, the frst being a women's weaving co-operative where we were shown how they dye and weave their clothe.,

Then a medicinal plant garden and had the various plants described and which is used for what ailment.

Then on to a coffee museum or a coffee shop where the bean drying process and roasting was explained over a cup of coffee. Then past a 16th century church with a large extension built in 2013 just behind it and to one side.

There is no road around the lake but every lake community is linked by boat which is preferable to the road journey which is always back up the steep slopes, then through the mountains and then back down the slope into the next village...a long and tortuous journey and hence the preference for boat links. A local colourful bus.

Finally a visit to a local studio on the main street leading to San Juan's port.

The paintings were in bright primary colours and stood out as distinctive.

Then it was a short journey to Santiago Atitlán and home to Maximon, a local Mayan diety. His story is interesting albeit a little bizarre and I will leave it to you to check the internet. Unfortunately he moves house every year and this year he was over 6kms away from the centre of town. It was a long way, expensive to get there and we didn't have much time so we didn't get to see it so had lunch and returned to Panajachel.