Panajachel is nestled in the highlands of Guatemala at an altitude of 5,240 feet (1,500m). Located on the shores of Lake Atitlan Panajachel is the gateway to access the other towns along the shores of lake Atitaln by boats. Panajachel has a population of approximately 11,000 people. Panajachel is a mixture of local Guatemalans and foreigners from around the world. The town has a range of hotels, from backpacker dives and boutique hotels, to luxury hotels with beautiful gardens and pools. Bars and restaurants line the streets along with handcrafted Guatemalan souvenir shops carrying a variety of products from wood carved masks and beaded jewelry to paintings and weavings. Daytime activities include Paragliding, Zip Lining, Kayaking, Dirtbiking Wakeboarding, Scuba Diving, Swimming and Hiking. Other less physical activities are the extensive meditation, massage, art, cooking and spiritual healing classes that can be found around the shores of Lake Atitlan.

“The most beautiful lake in the world,” is what Aldous Huxley said about Lake Atitlán. The Mayan translation of Atitlán is, “the place where the rainbow gets its colors.” Located in the highlands of Guatemala at 5000 feet above sea level it is only an hour and half drive to the Pacific Ocean. The lake is 54 square miles on the surface and has depths of up to 1100 feet. Three volcanoes surround the lake, Toliman, Atitlán and San Pedro. The formation of Lake Atitlán is said to be from a collapsed caldera from over a million years ago. Underwater discoveries of Mayan ruins have been found, the locations called Sambaj and Chiutinamit. Along the shores of Santa Catarina and San Antonio, hot springs can be found in the water. Small Mayan Indian villages reside along the Atitlans shores, mostly of the Tz’utujil and Kaqchikel origin. A lot of the indigenous people grow Coffee, Corn, avocados, onion and pitaya (dragon fruit) in the region.