Boats on Lake Atitlan Guatemala
Vagabond Journey Travel Vagabond Journey Photographs
I took the following pictures of the passenger boats of Lake Atitlan in the
spring of 2008. These are of the voyage from Panajachel to the village of
Santiago Atitlan on the other side of the lake.
This is the public boat dock in Panajachel, Guatemala. From here you can take boats to Santiago Atitlan, San Pedro, and other destinations on the Lago Atitlan.
The con-men who run the boat transportation racket on Lake Atitlan. They will try to rip you off if you are a foreigner. As of the spring of 2008, the price of a boat from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan is 10 quetzales for locals, 15 for foreigners who cross daily, and over 25 for tourists. Pay no more than 20 quetzales. When entering the dock area many men will come up to you and ask where you are going and try to take you over to a boat. If you merely talk to these guys, you are in their pocket, as they get paid 5 quetzales per foreigner that they net for a captain. Deal only with the captain of the boats, and hold your ground. The larger boats also tend to be a little cheaper. I received this information from a Peace Corp worker who cross this route daily.
Lady the Tramp riding in the cramped carriage of a Lake Atitlan boat. These crafts are filled to capacity with passengers.
Kids playing on the boat from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan.
Guatemalan kids on a Lake Atitlan boat.
Mayan women climbing out of the boat from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan.
Two different types of public boats on Lake Atitlan. The Santa Maria is an example of the larger crafts that tend to be a little cheaper than the smaller one in the foreground.
Local supply or fishing boats. There are not really roads to many of the homes and smaller villages on Lake Atitlan, so boat transport is often times the only way for people to get around.
Old Pepsi bottles in Guatemala.
Guatemalan woman doing daily work in Santiago Atitlan.