What to do and see in Lake Atitlan, Western Highlands: The Best Free Things to do

August 12, 2021 Rebbecca Marino

Discover the best top things to do in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala including Casa Flor Ixcaco, Jenna's Galeria, Galeria Imox, TinteMaya, Manos Crucenas Artisan Store, Atitlan Women Weavers, Multicolores, Lago de Atitlan, San Antonio Palopo, Santa Catarina Palopo Church.
Restaurants in Lake Atitlan

1. Casa Flor Ixcaco

Calle Principal Zona 1, San Juan la Laguna 07017 Guatemala +502 5822 7541 [email protected] http://www.woven-gt.com
Excellent
82%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 128 reviews

Casa Flor Ixcaco

Casa Flor Ixcaco is San Juan's only Weaving Cooperative that dedicates itself to perserving the skill of spinning natural cotton thread. The products are made by 20 local women using mayan methods that were passed down for many generations. The products are 100 % natural and handmade. Visitors learn more about the spinning and dying process in a demonstration and can sign up for weaving and dyeing classes.

Reviewed By 178nienkeb - Leiden, The Netherlands

This beautiful shop is a home for woman to do their labor with dedication and authenticity. For generations these woman are making the most fine products out of cotton. The passion for their job you can tell from the bright colors and creativity you find in the original hand-made products. They give you a class/demonstration about the whole process from the cotton to the product. By selling the products they support the woman in the village and by that way they protect the art of handmade clothes with natural products. I recommend this place for families, groups and couples. You can buy products (good souvenirs for people back home, or just for yourself) and you can ask for a demonstration were you pay for. I definitely go back if I get the chance.

2. Jenna's Galeria

Avenida Rancho Grande, Panajachel 07010 Guatemala +502 5458 1984 [email protected]
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 9 reviews

Jenna's Galeria

3. Galeria Imox

Calle 4-46 6ta, San Juan la Laguna 07017 Guatemala +502 5310 8235 [email protected] http://arteimox.wordpress.com
Excellent
92%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 49 reviews

Galeria Imox

La Galería Imox lo que desea trasmitir nuestra cultura maya y tradiciones, tambien vendemos puro arte todo lo que pintamos es relacionado a nuestra cultura maya, a los protectores mayas, somos 5 artistas, cada artista tiene diferente estilo técnica y tendencia de arte, y también explicamos el calendario maya a cada visitante cobramos la explicación. Para que conoscan que cada persona, tiene un nawal o protector maya con su fecha de nacimiento podrás conocer su protector maya sus caracteristicas de cada persona, sus profesiones, y su cruz maya explicamos a cada visitante para que nos sirve en nuestra vida que debemos hacer y lo que no tenemos que hacer en nuestra vida el Calendario maya personal. Todas las personas estan asombrados por lo exacto del libro maya todo lo que dice es muy acertado lo que nos trasmite en nuestra vida, es muy sagrado. Los mayas utilizaron este conocimiento y lo aplicaron en su vida diario, si desea conocer a fondo visite la Galería Imox en San Juan La Laguna.

Reviewed By maryangelchapman - London, Canada

We visited during a free tour of the town. Juan explained the Mayan calendar and showed me my birth sign and what it meant. He took the time to explain painting techniques and was so friendly. I love the painting I bought and was so glad to have met the artist.

4. TinteMaya

San Juan la Laguna 07017 Guatemala +502 5101 9423 [email protected] http://facebook.com/tintemaya
Excellent
93%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 44 reviews

TinteMaya

Women Weaving Better Lives TinteMaya is comprised of 25 artisan women from San Juan La Laguna, a small community by Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, who are working together to promote these values: Equal opportunities for women. The local culture in Guatemala does not offer many economic opportunities for women, leaving the men in control over the family’s finances. TinteMaya enables each individual woman to transform her weaving skills into an economic opportunity and allow the work to be done at home while still taking care of the family. The sale of each product ensures a fair wage to the woman or women who made it; with this money, they can make spending decisions and contribute to the wellbeing of their children. Every purchase pushes gender equality and independence in the right direction. Ecological Sustainability. The use of plant dyes promotes local biodiversity and plant health, minimizes water pollution and creates organic waste for fertilizer. In order to divert waste, Tinte Maya uses recycled material in some weavings by harvesting thread from used sweaters and other sustainable techniques.

Reviewed By oliviassaurman

My friend and I had the pleasure of learning and connecting with these beautiful women over two days. Our first day was spent with Amalia, who taught us about the natural dying process taken to create the beautiful textiles you see all over Guatemala. We hand picked sacatina leaves and cinnamon leaves to create our dye baths, which yielded a beautiful blue and a deep red wine color. We mixed these with achote to create a beautiful mix of colors to dye our pants with. On the next day we returned to participate in the weaving workshop offered by Tintemaya. This was equally an incredible experience. I spent time learning how to weave a bag while my friend worked on a scarf. If you’re traveling around Lake Atitlan I highly recommend stopping by San Juan to participate in this beautiful experience offered by Tintemaya. I feel so lucky to have been able to learn from these women.

5. Manos Crucenas Artisan Store

CECAP Building, Calle Principal CECAP Building, Santa Cruz La Laguna 07014 Guatemala +502 3684 1670 [email protected] http://www.amigosdesantacruz.org/artisan-store/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 18 reviews

Manos Crucenas Artisan Store

Manos Cruceñas Artisan Store stocks woven, beaded, crocheted, and ironwork products made by indigenous artisans from the Santa Cruz community. Browse products made by artisans earning fair wages while enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Atitlan. You can shop in the retail store, buy wholesale and design your own products made by local artisans, or take one of the beading or weaving courses. The store is located below Café Sabor Cruceño and makes an ideal day trip from anywhere on Lake Atitlan. All proceeds support the community of Santa Cruz La Laguna through the local nonprofit Amigos de Santa Cruz which runs education and economic empowerment programs.

Reviewed By Lorne29 - Claremont, United States

The small store is one part of the Amigos de Santa Cruz non-profit organization. Local townspeople use Amigos looms and other tools to create their crafts. The staffers are very friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable. I purchased a couple of simple bags that included the town's very pretty individual tribal (?) pattern.

6. Atitlan Women Weavers

Betwen Hostel Fe and Casa Blanca, San Pedro La Laguna Guatemala +502 5824 7440 [email protected] http://Atitlanwomenweavers.com
Excellent
91%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 11 reviews

Atitlan Women Weavers

Are you looking to experience Guatemala in an authentic and personal way? Step inside the culture of the Mayan women and experince the art of weaving visit with local women who love to share their art. Learn how hand spun-cotton, local dyes and the back-strap-loom weaving which keep the textiles 100% local. Experince the culture first hand and let us share our culture with you! Come and enjoy this unique experience, and together we can support indigenous women artisans around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Reviewed By hisume - Washington DC, United States

As a single guy traveling alone, I haven’t the faintest idea how to weave anything. But these ladies changed my mind. They offer weaving classes for scarves and table runners and I chose to make a scarf. They let me pick out the colors and patters and we set to work. The entire family was there taking turns keeping an eagle eye if I made any mistakes and gently correcting. Even though their English wasn’t too good, they were excellent teachers. The entire process was about 6 hours (you can spilt into multiple days if you’d like). In the end, I have a scarf that I will truest treasure. For less than 40USD, this was totally worth it! Also, the trip advisor map is wrong. Use google maps to find it- it’s on the main gringo street to the west of the docks about 3-4 minutes.

7. Multicolores

Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 14 reviews

Multicolores

Multicolores is a non-profit association of Mayan women artists who design and create hooked rugs and embroidered art. Working with 9 groups of women in 7 communities in the Guatemalan Highlands, Multicolores offers creative education, fair pay, and health and leadership programs to artists. Visit Multicolores’ headquarters to shop our exclusive gallery of contemporary textile art.

8. Lago de Atitlan

Guatemala
Excellent
73%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 761 reviews

Lago de Atitlan

Reviewed By chrisaT9240NB - London, United Kingdom

Really enjoyed being here and visiting villages. Stayed near sleepy Santa Catarina de Palopo but had bumpy boat rides to Santiago de Atitlan, San Juan and San Pedro. Each of the villages were different, and vibrant with colours, lurking volcanoes, goods for sale and fun visits, San Juan, Picturesque and arty, Santiago, interesting and San Pedro commercialised for backpackers, at least near lakeside

9. San Antonio Palopo

Guatemala
Excellent
47%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 36 reviews

San Antonio Palopo

10. Santa Catarina Palopo Church

Santa Catarina Palopo Guatemala
Excellent
44%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 39 reviews

Santa Catarina Palopo Church

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