San Juan La Laguna combines travel across Lake Atitlán with murals and cultural themes in its streets. From Panajachel, taking a boat across the lake is the most common way to reach the town. Schedules and travel conditions vary; check the connection for your travel day. Once there, you can choose between viewpoints, street art and insights into textile craftsmanship.
Views of the Lake and Town
Mirador Kaqasiiwaan is a park and viewpoint in the municipality of San Juan La Laguna. From there, you can see Lake Atitlán and the town. The walk to the viewpoint takes about 25 minutes; this approximate walking time can help you plan your day.
From Rostro Maya, you can also see the lake, as well as the San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes, and the peaks of the Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes. The descriptions of the views differ: Mirador Kaqasiiwaan focuses on the lake and town, while from Rostro Maya you can take in several volcanoes and peaks.
Murals and Art Around Town
Hats hang along Calle de los Sombreros, in the heart of San Juan La Laguna. There are also works of art, including murals hand-painted by local artists. Museo a Cielo Abierto consists of large-scale murals on various streets around town. Their subjects tell the stories of people who have distinguished themselves through their work in San Juan La Laguna.
One mural at Museo a Cielo Abierto depicts the youth group Tz’utuj Q’ajom. Their traditional Maya music brings joy to local people and visitors. On the shore of Lake Atitlán, Paseo de las Artes also features artistic and cultural works. The town is therefore home to different forms of artistic expression: murals in the streets and works along the lakeshore.
Textile Craftsmanship, Cooperative and Local History
Some women’s textile associations offer tours that demonstrate the plants used to make natural dyes and the dyeing of cotton yarn. The focus is both on the plants used for the colors and on how they are applied in the dyeing process. Those interested in textile craftsmanship can gain insights into the materials and methods.
The La Voz Que Clama en el Desierto cooperative was founded in November 1979 by a group of men and women in the Maya Tzutujil town of San Juan La Laguna. The cooperative’s café serves visitors 100% organic coffee. Check before your trip whether the café is currently operating.
The Catholic church in the heart of town also reflects its architectural development: it has an old stone façade and was rebuilt as the population grew. This offers a different focus from the large-scale murals: here, architecture and local history take center stage.
World of Mayan Bees focuses on native stingless bee species. They are described there as endangered in light of global and social impacts and the spread of foreign bees; their conservation status may change.
Discover more destinations: Sololá, Tzununa, Cerro de Oro, Panajachel, San Antonio Palopó, Santiago Atitlán, San Pedro La Laguna, San Lucas Tolimán.
Go to the overview of the wider region: Sololá.
