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San Marcos La Laguna, Lake Atitlan

 

San Marcos La Laguna is a beautiful Kaqchikel Mayan village of about 2000 people, on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, Central America. The lake is considered by some (Aldous Huxley included) to be the most beautiful lake in the world. There is a warm climate all year round and the lake has deep, cool waters which are surrounded by volcanoes.

Whilst San Marcos is a small village it is a delightful place, with small winding paths, which weave through the coffee trees and jocotes. It has become is a haven for healers, artists and musicians from all over the world and its fame is also spreading as Central America's premier "New Age" village, attracting many people wishing to investigate the healing modalities offered here.

There are several ACCOMMODATIONS options in San Marcos la Laguna. Prices range from Q25 ($3.5) for a basic room to Q600 ($80) for a luxury suite. In high season it's advisable to make reservations.

 

 

 

 

Getting to The Holistic Centre?

There are daily flights from many cities in the United States to Guatemala City, the country's capital, with many connecting flights from European cities and the rest of the world. Guatemala is easily accessible by land from Mexico and other Central American countries and there are many long haul bus services available.

There is a direct tourist “shuttle” service to San Marcos La Laguna from Antigua or from Guatemala city or other places along the route you could take the local “chicken bus” to either San Pedro La Laguna or Lake Atitlán's gateway town, Panajachel. San Marcos is approximately 1 hour from Panajachel by boat. The last boat leaves Pana at 7:30pm. San Marcos is about 4 hours from Guatemala City and 3 hours from Antigua by bus and boat.

There is also a San Marcos “department” or district on the pacific coast of Guatemala so please make sure you state you are coming to Lago Atitlán or San Marcos La Laguna or you will find yourself in a big city a long way away from us!

You can also reach us by road by taking junction 148 from the main highway that runs between Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Guatemala City. You will be directed to Santa Clara La Laguna, then just drive on to San Pablo La Laguna and on to San Marcos. It is about a 45 minute drive from the main highway to San Marcos La Laguna.

 

Facilities

San Marcos La Laguna is a small village, but there are a few small shops were it is possible to get all your basic supplies. Fruit and vegetables are widely available and there are several excellent restaurants should you prefer to eat out. There are a few Internet cafes in the village and a couple of hotels provide a telephone service for local and international calls. As there are no landlines here, calls are expensive. There are no banks in the village. You will need to bring money from Pana or San Pedro la Laguna. There is an A.T.M. cash machine in San Pedro, which is only 10 minutes away by boat. There are very few places that accept credit cards, Quetzals and Dollars cash are accepted at the Holistic Centre and a few other establishments may trade dollars cash for you. For the best exchange rates it is best to change your money at the bank before you arrive. We cannot accept Credit Cards or Travellers Cheques.