While staying in Santa Cruz, you’ll be in the perfect spot for delicious meals all day long. You’ll have a daily budget of 135 Quetzales, which you can split however you like between meals and smoothies (alcoholic drinks are not included).
Most likely, you’ll choose to join the dinners, which are a bit harder to find than lunch. Dinners at Iguana are 65 Quetzales, leaving you with 70 Quetzales to spend on other meals of your choice. If you spend more than your budget, the additional cost will be charged to your tab, which can be paid at check-out.
We will pick you up at 8 am on Monday morning and drop you off around lunchtime in Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, where our guide will welcome you. Hop on the lancha and experience the lake atmosphere right away. After a 20-minute boat ride, you will arrive at Santa Cruz, where the first thing you will see is Iguana Perdida.
After settling in, you will be taken to get familiar with your surroundings. Santa Cruz’s Iguana Perdida Hostel is a welcoming home to numerous friendly guides. Upon your arrival, one of them will take you on a tour of the picturesque steep and winding streets of Santa Cruz, showing you important points of interest, such as the ATM, pharmacy, and grocery store. The guides will be available to point out or show you anything you wish to see.
Whether you choose to take your Spanish lessons right by the lake or back in Panajachel, each lesson will consist of two 45-minute sessions (usually scheduled between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm). Licensed teachers from the indigenous community will deliver the tuition, tailored to suit all levels – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The classes are designed to help you interact and immerse yourself in the local community, and enjoy the experience of being in a Spanish-speaking country. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to learn some of their native tongue
Guatemalan cuisine is a fusion of Spanish and indigenous Mayan flavors, with a variety of spices, herbs, and tropical fruits used in cooking. Some popular Guatemalan dishes include Pepián, a meat and vegetable stew flavored with pumpkin seeds and spices, and Chiles Rellenos, a dish made of stuffed chili peppers. You can also try traditional street food like tostadas, tacos, and pupusas, which are all made with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor. Additionally, coffee is an important part of Guatemalan culture and is known for its high quality, rich flavor, and distinct aroma. You will get a super local Cooking Class starting at 10 and finishing at 2 – Lunch included.
In Santa Cruz, our Volunteering Days are designed to give back to the local community by engaging in activities such as repainting and maintenance of the elementary school, providing basic English classes for children, organizing sports and games, and participating in recycling and conservation work around the lake and the surrounding landscape.
We encourage all participants to bring items from home to donate to the local schools and children, as it is greatly appreciated by the community and a wonderful way to start thinking about volunteering and making a difference before embarking on the trip.
As some of these projects may require physical labor, we recommend that you bring gloves with you to be prepared to get your hands dirty and actively participate.
Drifting across the waters of Lake Atitlan, surrounded by panoramic views of multiple volcanoes, is a truly unique experience. From your vantage point on a paddleboard or kayak, you can take in the stunning vistas of the renowned volcanoes and gaze back towards Santa Cruz, creating unrivaled views.
Additionally, there is no better place to relax and unwind than in the calm and tranquil scenery of Lake Atitlan.
The kajak or Paddle board can be rented for one hour per session.
Indian Nose, or La Nariz del Indio, is one of the most spectacular hikes in Lake Atitlan. It is a vantage point on the northwestern part of Lake Atitlan and overlooks much of the volcanic crater lake. Situated at about 2,200 meters high.
On a good day, you can see up to 8 volcanoes of Guatemala, but even the views will amaze you on a day without incredible weather. The geological features of Lake Atitlan can be fully appreciated from the top of Indian Nose.