About Lake Atitlan

   Lake Atitlan was formed in an immense volcanic explosion 85,000 years ago. Like Pompeii and Mt. St. Helen, volcanic pressure was released with devastating results.

The steep sides of the crater continue deep underwater.

   However the explosion here was much more destructive. The explosion at Mt. St. Helen released 2 cu. kilometers of rock and ash, Pompeii blew out 6 cu. kilometers. Atitlan discharged over 180 cu. kilometers of hot ash and rock.

It drops off all the way to sea level on the back side of the volcanos.

It is probably a hundred meters to the bottom of the lake directly under this fisherman.

   An immense hole was left in the earth's crust, leading to Atitlan being one of the world's deepest lakes.

   Tens of thousands of years later three volcanos grew on the southern shore. 85,000 years ago it must have been horrendous. Everything died for thousands of kilometers around. An uglier sight is hard to imagine.

   It is intriguing to think that out of such horror came the splendor we see today.

About Panajachel

   Panajachel is about 150 kilometers from Guatemala City (about a 2½ drive) at an altitude of 1560 mt. The combination of latitude and altitude makes for an ideal climate year round.

A young girl in the native dress of the village of Sacualpa. Mayan traders from every corner of Guatemala come to Panajachel to sell their handicrafts.

   Pana, as the locals call it, offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxurious hotels to very economical hostels. There are many good restaurants, again with a wide range of prices, and the night life is great. Internet cafes are plentiful and cheap.

Students enjoying the
view at the Sunset Cafe.

A woman from San Juan
Sacatepecez visiting Pana.

   Best of all, Panajachel is in the heart of the Mayan world. The famous market of Chichicastenango is about a 45 minute drive away. Villages around the lake are predominantly Mayan and largely untouched by the modern world.

   Pana has a strange and wonderful blend of people living here. Mayans, Ladinos and foreigners make up the permanent population. Few world travelers come to Guatemala without spending time here. It truly is an international town.