LAKE ATITLÁN (AND SAN PEDRO LA LAGUNA)
Lake Atitlán is a volcanic crater lake (with no outlet) nearly a mile above sea level in the western part of Guatemala. It is surrounded by volcanic peaks and numerous scenic small towns (including where I stayed, San Pedro la Laguna). When I was there in October (2008), the rainy season was still occurring, thus it was very green (and cloudy) for a lot of dark hues.

This is Part I of the Lake Atitlán/San Pedro la Laguna pics (mostly lake level and urban pics). For pics in the countryside above San Pedro la Laguna and on Volcán San Pedro, go to Part II.

View of Lake Atitlán from San Pedro la Laguna north towards the "Indian Nose"...



View of San Pedro la Laguna (and Lake Atitlán beyond it)...



Another view (San Marcos la Laguna is easily visible on the other side of the lake)...



View towards the open part of the lake (to the east) with rain in the distance...



Closeup of San Pedro from above...



Closeup of a part of the city center of San Pedro from above...



A cove of Lake Atitlán...



Willows (normally a temperate North American tree--but yet are native in parts of Guatemala) in the cove...



Volcán Toliman (with Volcán Atitlán behind it), viewed from a speedboat going across the lake...



This variety of velvet plant (Gynura sp.) was one of the most common plants growing in San Pedro (though they're native to Java, not Guatemala).



Downtown San Pedro la Laguna (with "Indian Nose" in the background)...



A jocote tree (Spondias purpurea) in fruit (these fruits were popular in all the markets--they had a slight mango flavor, except much less sweet and more bitter).



Lake Atitlán was at the upper limit of the coconut palm (typically a mile above sea level is the highest elevation that a coconut palm will grow--though not necessarily fruit). These weren't fruiting.





Chamaedorea palms (probably Chamaedorea lehmannii) in San Pedro la Laguna that appear to be native to the Lake Atitlán area....



A solitary Chamaedorea...



Possibly a different Chamaedorea species in woodlands (containing both native and cultivated trees) above San Pedro...



Corn plants (Dracaena fragrans, to the right) were extremely common in San Pedro la Laguna (often as tall hedges). Note that on the left is actually corn.



Bilingual school in San Pedro la Laguna (Tz'utujil is the native language there other than Spanish, used by the local Indians)...



Cemetery with a view of Volcán San Pedro...



Caskets in the cemetery (they're mostly stacked)...



View of Volcán San Pedro from San Pedro la Laguna...



All of the above pictures on this page were taken in October 2008 by Brandt Maxwell.

Return to the Guatemala Pics Page