How to Spend 1 Day in San Pedro La Laguna

As one of Lake Atitlán’s largest villages, San Pedro La Laguna makes an excellent base from which to explore the region. If you’ve only got one day, you can still see some San Pedro highlights before dedicating the rest of the day to hiking, ziplining, or kayaking. Here’s how to make the most of 24 hours in San Pedro La Laguna.

Morning: Enjoy the Lake

Spend your first morning exploring San Pedro La Laguna on foot. Stroll through the center, admire the church, and browse the local market stalls. Then, enjoy a leisurely coffee and breakfast in one of the cafés that overlook Lago Atitlán.

After a quiet breakfast, take to the water in a kayak in the company of a local guide. Kayak excursions typically involve hotel pickup and drop-off, and stop by Las Cristalinas beach.

Afternoon: Explore the Surrounds

After a laidback morning, spend the afternoon enjoying the landscapes surrounding the lake. Choose between a hiking excursion to the nearby San Pedro Volcano and Indian Nose Mountain, or go for a fun zipline adventure if you have kids in tow. Culture fans can try a weaving workshop with a local collective while fitness fanatics should can enrol in a yoga class. 

Alternatively, explore the surrounding villages—which encompass the hippie-hangout of San Marcos and the weaving hotspot of Santiago Atitlán—on foot or during a horseback riding tour.  

Evening: Grab Dinner and Drinks

After an activity-packed day, relax with dinner and drinks at a restaurant overlooking the lake. Choose from Guatemalan fare, falafel wraps, authentic Italian cuisine, and more. Don’t forget to snap photos of the dramatic volcano silhouettes as the sun sets.

If you’re still bursting with energy, consider taking a self-guided bar crawl through some of San Pedro’s most popular late-night hangouts—as one of Guatemala’s top backpacker destinations, there are quizzes, happy hours, and more most nights of the week.