The rumors are true: Lake Atitlán is stunning. It’s been a peaceful, relaxing retreat for a week of writing and reading, and I may even have snuck a high-altitude dive or two in as well. Those following along on Instagram know I split my eight nights here between the lakeside villages of Santa Cruz, San Pedro, and San Marcos.

This week I kind of reached a turning point in this trip where I looked ahead and really started to plot out the final moves that will bring me all the way back to the US in early May (see the rough outline of my 2015 plans here!). As of yesterday, I’m two weeks into my time in Guatemala with two more to go before I meet my family in Belize — one of the most highly anticipated moments of this entire trip! Once I see them off, I have just a few weeks before I need to get myself to La Ceiba, Honduras, where I can catch a direct flight to Grand Cayman. I still have some flights to book and final decisions to make, but it’s kind of crazy to think how quickly it’s going by.

This week is mostly going to be a work one for me, with a fun reunion with my Guatemala City-based friends next weekend to look forward to! For now, here’s a preview of what I got up to over the last one.

Photo A

Santa Cruz, Lake Atitlan, GuatemalaWelcome to Lake Atitlán

Photo B

Santa Cruz, Lake Atitlan, GuatemalaWalking the Santa Cruz shoreline

Photo C

Iguana Perdida, Santa Cruz, Lake AtitlanA first: a toilet appearing in Photo of the Week

Photo D

Lake Atitlan GuatemalaBetter not get sick of volcano views

Photo E

Signs from San Pedro, Lake AtitlanSigns from a now-underwater restaurant in San Pedro

Photo F

Diving in Lake AtitlanDiving in Lake Atitlán

Which photo is your favorite?

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52 Comments...
  • Jason
    March 15 2015

    C, with F as my runner-up. Awesome that you went diving there!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It was cooooold! Can’t wait to share more.

  • Ashley
    March 15 2015

    Photo A! It looks like such a serene spot.

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Santa Cruz was definitely my favorite of the lakeside villages, for views like this one!

  • Love A! Are those for anyone to use, or part of a hotel? Either way, that photo makes me want to be there!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      I believe it was part of Casa Rosa, which was next door to Iguana Perdida where I stayed. Gorgeous to stroll past!

  • Sarah
    March 15 2015

    definitely A!
    makes me want to be jump into that lake right away

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Other than diving, I actually never did! A little too chilly for my tastes 🙂

  • Andrea
    March 15 2015

    Photo C! I am in love with the bright colours and narrative of the image!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It was one of the coolest murals I’ve ever seen… and I loved the location 🙂

  • Melanie Fontaine
    March 15 2015

    My favorite is Picture B! I love the close up of the plant!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Thanks Melanie! I’m always drawn to patterns like that.

  • Katie
    March 15 2015

    Photo D – I miss that view!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Definitely doesn’t get old!

  • Marie @ Marie Away
    March 15 2015

    Great week for photos!
    I have to go with A, it just looks like it should be a tourism ad!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It almost didn’t seem real to my eyes. So beautiful!

  • Photo A! It makes me want to be IN the photo!!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      I feel ya! I was quite tempted to lounge there…

  • Emily
    March 15 2015

    Wow… Not sure I can pick this week! It all looks absolutely stunning (even that toilet, haha). Seems like an awesome place to get some work done. 🙂

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It was! Very relaxing and inspiring!

  • Miquel
    March 15 2015

    I’m jumping on the A bandwagon. So pretty!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Can’t go wrong with a gorgeous daybed in front of a volcano, it seems!

  • Justine
    March 15 2015

    Photos A and D…there’s no way I could get sick of those volcano views. Seeing Lago Atitlan brings back so many memories. I’d love to go back!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It definitely does seem to keep luring people back. I’ve heard so many raves!

  • becky hutner
    March 16 2015

    E! Why is the restaurant now underwater?

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      The lake keeps rising! I also explored an underwater hotel while diving…

  • Rekha Devarapalli
    March 16 2015

    Photo C 😀

    A first…liking a toilet pic 😉

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Haha, hard to resist right!

  • I could never get sick of volcano views! I vote for D.

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      I definitely didn’t, not in eight days!

  • Steve
    March 16 2015

    I am choosing Photo C. I love the colourful loo.

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Made me smile every morning while I brushed my teeth 🙂

  • Jenia
    March 16 2015

    Photo A — I want to be there right this second 🙂

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Definitely the reader favorite this week!

  • Gemma Two Scots
    March 16 2015

    A- looks like a welcoming paradise!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It was indeed. The lake was just what I needed.

  • Serendipity Tess
    March 16 2015

    That’s a no-brainer! Photo C of course 😀 Gotta love a good toilet photo…errrrr…?

    Can’t wait to head over to the other side as of June!!!! Whoop Whoop!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Nice! You’ll love it here, I’m sure.

  • julie
    March 16 2015

    photo A!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      Winning by a mile 🙂

  • Chris
    March 16 2015

    Photo F for me!

    This was our (Sarah & myself) 2nd dive experience after we did our open water, so we were a little nervous.

    Once in the water however, it was all so easy, and we had a great time indeed 😉

    So glad you got to do it!

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      I’m glad I did too — got to try high altitude diving for the first time!

      • Chris
        March 16 2015

        Got any dives planned for Belize?

        • Alex
          March 17 2015

          Indeed! Definitely planning to head out around the Cayes!

  • Marni
    March 16 2015

    Photo A. Based on that picture alone, that’s the only place I think I want to be right now! It just looks so serene.

    • Alex
      March 16 2015

      It was gorgeous! It reminded me of a desktop screensaver when I saw it 🙂

  • Camels & Chocolate
    March 16 2015

    Lake Atitlan was gorgeous, but sadly it was the only area in Guatemala I truly cared for. Hope your experience is different!

    • Alex
      March 17 2015

      Heading to the beach this weekend, hoping to find some bliss there 🙂

  • Kiara Gallop
    March 16 2015

    I just totally love the fact that a toilet has made its way into Photo of the Week (albeit a beautifully decorated one) so I’m going for that one!

    • Alex
      March 17 2015

      Haha I like your logic — and hey, I also spent a birthday in Arequipa 🙂 A super fun one!

  • Rashaad
    March 22 2015

    I choose photo C – because I love colorful artwork.

    • Alex
      March 23 2015

      I’ve been snapping photos of a lot of it since I arrived here! Not buying much, however… if only I could carry it all!

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