Hi, my husband and I are planning a trip to Guatemla in Jan. for 6 weeks. We would like to stay on Lake Atitlan for awhile and then move on to other parts of the country. We would like your advice on an inexpensive house or apt. with kitchen around the lake. We are pretty low key people.

Thank you in advance for your help. Linda & Greg

I am going to Guatemala in two weeks for a family vacation and was thinking of staying somewhere on Lake Atitlan for Thanksgiving. I have visted several times many years ago (mid-90's) and stayed at Hotel Atitlan each time. Some of my relatives who live in Guatemala are telling me that the lake is really polluted. I don't want to skip Atitlan on this trip because it is my husband's first visit to Guatemala, but if the lake is really not the beautiful place I remember, maybe our time would be better spent somewhere else.

Is the pollution from Panajachel so significant that is ruining all of Lake Atitlan? Are the small villages across the lake cleaner?

I've read about the recent pollution issue, but I can't imagine that it's not still a beautiful sight.

Yes, Atitlan is still a very beautiful place. I would just skip the water sports.

Thanks DonCraig and BZ_Sailor. I will keep Lake Atitlan on my itinerary. Although I do enjoy water sports, I am most interested in the views at Lake Atitlan. I can't wait for my husband to see the sunset there!

You might check for rentals around San Marcos or San Pedro. Both villages have plenty of gringos and tourists, but not as frantic as Pana. Some friends of mine just finished renting a place in San Marcos for 5 months.