Santiago de Atitlan
A twenty five minute boat trip from Panjachel, Santiago de Atitlan, is a world away from many of the more popular towns that the tourists head to around the lake. It’s not full of restaurants and bars like Panajachel, not a mind and body retreat like San Marcos, and is not a place to lose yourself like San Pedro. Maybe that’s why I have always been drawn to San Marcos.
In Santiago, not only do most women wear their traditional traje, but so do the men- Wearing stripped trousers cut to the knee, stripped shirts and cowboy hats, they are quite a sight. It’s wonderful to see a unique living tradition in a world of sameness!
As you walk from the dock up through the town there are many little galleries selling some striking paintings. Santiago has a history of producing some fine local artists. Juan Sisay from the 1950s was famed in both the US and Europe and spawned many more artists. Enchanting intricate hand carved wooden ornaments from leftover pieces of mahogany, teak and cypress woods can also be bought. My wife bought me a saxophone!
Santiago Apostle church and Maximón
You should’t visit Santiago de Atitlan without firstly the beautiful white washed Santiago Apostle church set within a courtyard built by the Franciscans in 16th Century. It is here that Father Stanley Francis Rother a priest from the US was murdered during the civil war in 1981. Secondly, you really should visit the house of Maximón-The liquor drinking, cigar smoking saint. As Maximón moves house each year ask a tuc-tuc driver to take you and remember to make an offering-I suggest a small bottle of rum or a packet of cigarettes in exchange for his favour!
For food options, without doubt I would head to the Posada de Santiago
https://www.posadadesantiagoatitlan.com/
For accommodation, Hotel Bambu.
The wonderful photos in this article were taken by Napo Sojuel. I would like to share his terrific video of birding in Santiago Atitlan.
