Ringed by rugged green ridgelines, towering volcanoes and twelve indigenous villages, the sparkling deep blue Lake Atitlan is truly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. After breakfast at your lakeside accommodation, board a "lancha" for an hour long ride to the village of San Juan La Laguna. San Juan La Laguna is a traditional Mayan community where locals speak Tz'utujil, one of 23 indigenous Mayan dialects in Guatemala. Closely related to the larger Kaqchikel and K'iche native tongues, Tz'utujil has about 84,000 native speakers today, concentrated in the southern corner of Lake Atitlan. Spanish is a distant second language for many in the community, so practice your Tz'utujil phrases! (Here's a primer: thank you — malty-ush; good morning—sack-iri; how are you – uutz-aawach).
Explore the town with your guide, making sure to stop at the women's weaving cooperative to learn traditional weaving and dying methods used by the Maya for many generations. Depending on your interests, you may also visit a medicinal plant and natural products cooperative. Learn about the unusual gifts and rituals offered by local people in hopes of bringing good luck when visiting
the Mayan-Catholic deity, San Simon. There is an optional easy hike above the village through the coffee fields to a lookout point over the lake with spectacular views of San Pedro volcano. Your guide will share his knowledge of the volcanoes surrounding Lake Atitlan and how the lake was formed. Return to the hotel to relax before dinner. Overnight at
Hotel Atitlan.