The Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule is one of the most often asked questions by travelers to Guatemala and Lake Atitlan. A topic we have posted about often, still confusion remains for Travelers to understand how Boat Schedule operates around Lake Atitlan.
Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule Villages
First Facts about getting around Lake Atitlan. There are 11 towns and villages around Lake Atitlan. Among these 11, there are 5 destinations that truly stand out from the rest. They are Panajachel, San Pedro, San Juan, Santiago, and Santa Catarina.
Google Maps shows roads around the Lake, we do not advise renting a car for your vacation, because in fact, you cannot drive around the entire lake and if you tried from Panajachel to Santiago the trip might take you two hours. By Boat from Panajachel about 25 minutes.
The Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule is simple to understand, boat Service begins from San Pedro to Panajachel leaving at 5:30 am and arriving in Pana at 6:00 am. The same boat leaves Pana at 6:05 am back to San Pedro. That is considered the direct boat. All boats leave from this boat dock Public Tzanjuyú Boat Dock, Ferry, Panajachel. Use Google Maps to find the location.
From Panajachel to the villages of Santa Cruz and the villages including San Marcos, I call the village boat run as this boat stops at all the villages along the route including San Juan and finally arrives at San Pedro to start the same run back to Panajachel.
Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule Santiago and San Lucas Toliman
This Boat Service is from a different Dock in Panajachel, the dock is at the end of the main street called, Rancho Grande. The boats start running between Panajachel and Santiago at 7:00 am boat services stop at 6:30.
For San Lucas Toliman there is a limited daily Schedule. For information about this boat service from San Lucas Tolimán to Panajachel you can contact Marco Sulugui. 502-5596-2671 or 502-5718-7916.
Felipe Sulugui Diaz provides Lake Atitlan Boat Service between San Lucas Tolimán, San Antonio Palopó, and Panajachel. There is no set schedule for this boat service. We have used Felipe a number of times from San Lucas Tolimán and San Antonio Palopó. The cost is Q30 one-way for the trip.
You can email Felipe at serviciodelanchasulugui@gmail.com.
502-5176-8608 or 502-5420-6160.
Are the boats safe and are the captains experienced?
I have lived on Lake Atitlan for many years and know many of the boat captains and owners. They take great pride in the services provided, you will note this with the different colors of boats and most captains wear a shirt with the words Captain, most speak English and also provide guide services.
For first-time travelers to Lake Atitlan try and avoid those on the streets offering boat services and tours. Go directly to the boat docks, this will ensure the quality of service and no hustles on prices. Boat Service from Pana across the Lake should cost you Q30 or $3.86 at most.
Complaints you may have read online about Lake Atitlan Boat Services.
We live on a Lake surrounded by Volcanoes and boats are the primary method of transport around Lake Atitlan. In reading most of the complaints online, I feel the complaints were more from individuals who felt they were still in New York City if you get my point.
The last and final point or most asked question is what time does the boat service end? 7:00 PM period no options. Meaning if your flight arrives after 3:00 PM in Guatemala City and you need to take a boat to one of the villages, you most likely will not make it.