Panajachel to San Pedro by Boat: What to Expect & Cost

Come find out how exactly to get from Panajachel to San Pedro la Laguna. I’ll let you know about taking a Lancha, what the prices are, how to avoid getting scammed, and more!

Now, without a doubt, Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. And you’ll likely want to explore all around, including between the two main towns around the Lake, from Panajachel to San Pedro la Laguna.

Both have quite a lot happening with the hustle and bustle of tourists, Spanish Schools, plenty of restaurants, and things to do.

I spent a couple of weeks here at Lake Atitlan and explored all around the lake and all the towns, including Panajachel and San Pedro. This was actually a route I’d do pretty frequently to meet up with friends.

Now, it’s surprisingly easy to do, thanks to the lanchas (water taxis). This means you don’t need to take an hour-long trip on those mountain windy roads.

However, for sure, there are some things worth knowing before you jump on a random boat. This includes the boat schedule, scams, what to expect, and more.

Where To Catch A Boat From In Panajachel

Panajachel is the main city around Lake Atitlan, and is usually the first stop for most people, with shuttles constantly arriving and departing.

It’s definitely worth spending a couple of days in Panajachel. It’s a lot more connected to civilisation than some of the other towns. Yes, power and flushing toilets!

You can find some awesome shopping on the main street of Calla Santander with plenty of cute cafes and restaurants.

You can catch the water taxi from the end of Calle del Embarcadero, just down the road from Selina.

If you’re taking a shuttle from Antigua or elsewhere in Guatemala, they’ll drop you off on this street, so you just need to walk a minute to the pier.

What’s A Lancha Boat & How Do They Work?

Now it may sound fancy to us English speakers, but Lancha is just Spanish for boat.

These boats act as water taxis all over the lake! Seriously, no matter where you are, you can head to the pier to catch one, or hostels will have a private dock where you can simply just flag one down. This makes life a lot easier as you don’t need to drag your luggage around.

Essentially, these boats are simply a fiberglass shell with rows of plastic benches. It isn’t comfortable in any way, though depending on how full the boat is, you may be able to spread out.

Generally, there’ll be two workers on each boat, one is the captain, and the other is an attendant, sorting out luggage, shouting village names, and taking payment.

On the sides of the boat, you’ll have plastic flaps that go down over the windows. Depending on the wind, waves, and the direction you’re traveling, it can get a little wet.

The Cost To Get To San Pedro La Laguna

It will cost you Q30 / $3.90 to travel from Panajachel to San Pedro la Laguna on the lancha. This is one of the farthest distances between towns on the lake and the most expensive ride you can take on a public boat.

Scams To Watch Out For

While we are on the subject of money, I’ll touch on scams. Well, not really scams, but a so called tourist tax. There’s a bit of a frosty atmosphere sometimes between the local community and travelers who’ve fallen in love with Lake Atitlan.

For example, you may get charged an extra 5Q / $0.60 to take the water taxi.

I’ve literally been laughed at by other travelers for paying the tourist rate, whereas they stood on the pier arguing to get a lower price. End of the day I’m lucky because this amount is minimal, but it has greater value to locals.

How Long Does It Take To Travel From Panajachel To San Pedro?

The boat trip from Panajachel to San Pedro takes around 30 minutes. As long as the boat is full enough, it’ll head straight through the middle of the Lake over to San Pedro.

Though if there aren’t enough passengers, it’s likely they’ll combine routes and stop in at the other town, like San Marcos, and Santa Cruz along the way. This is simply because it’ll give them more passengers and help cover the expenses.

If your driver decides to do this, expect the drive to take around 50 minutes. Hopefully, you aren’t in a rush, so just sit back and enjoy the views.

How Often Does The Boat Go?

There isn’t a super serious boat schedule around Lake Atitlan. Public boats usually start early in the morning, around 7 am. Panajachel departures often continue later into the evening until about 7.30 pm, while San Pedro’s last public boats are usually earlier, around 5:30 pm.

Some boats will make stops at the villages in between, such as Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa, San Marcos, San Pablo, and San Juan, whereas others will be a direct service across the lake.

Generally, the captain will wait until the lancha is full before departing, or after 30 minutes, whichever happens first. This is only for boats departing Panajachel, as you’ll be waiting a long time to fill a boat in the smaller villages.

Where Does The Water Taxi Arrive In San Pedro

The dock for the water taxi in San Pedro is actually quite nice, with a cute thatched-roof hut to walk through.

You can find the pier just down from Mr. Mullets Hostel and my favorite Sababa Restaurant. Since this is a larger town, there is quite a lot to do here. Honestly, I rate it higher than Panajachel for meeting travelers, places to eat, and entertainment.

Why Visit San Pedro La Laguna

San Pedro la Laguna is a super popular spot worth visiting when traveling around the Lake. It’s a popular choice for backpackers in Guatemala with plenty of hostels and eateries.

The crazy Mr. Mullets hostel is the perfect place to be if you’re keen on a party hostel in Lake Atitlan. It has even built up a worldwide reputation as THE party place in Guatemala.

This town is perfect if you’re planning to hike the San Pedro volcano, or for an easier hike, the popular Indian Nose Hike, which is 30 minutes of steep walking.

If you’re more of a foodie than a hiker, no worries, I had some of the best meals in Lake Atitlan here, maybe even in all of Guatemala. I highly recommend Sababa Restaurant!

Lastly, if you’re looking at studying Spanish, there are a bunch of schools in San Pedro La Laguna. Though if you’re keen for a more relaxed, less party-studying experience, this may not be the place.

Mr. Mullets A party hostel perfect for those wanting to let loose and make friends. Prices start from $12.00 per night. BOOK NOW

Zoola San Pedro Atitlan Enjoy the beautiful grounds and relaxation. Prices start from $11.00 per night. BOOK NOW

My Experience Traveling From Panajachel To San Pedro

I actually only booked to stay in Panajachel and Santa Cruz la Laguna during my time in Lake Atitlan. This was something I majorly regretted, as a lot of friends I met elsewhere in Guatemala were staying in San Pedro.

Though, because of this, I actually ended up traveling this route a lot during my stay.

Part of me regrets not staying in San Pedro, as I liked the daytime vibe a lot more than Panajachel, though I’ve heard it turns into quite a party place at night, which is definitely not my vibe. So perhaps I wouldn’t have actually enjoyed it if I had stayed there.

Nevertheless, I often wandered my way down to the end of Calle del Embarcadero, where you’ll find the water taxi pier in Panajachel. A worker would always come up to me, ask where I wanted to go, and point me to the boat heading that direction.

For me, we always headed straight across the lake to San Pedro, bypassing the other towns. This was in the shoulder season as well, so it wasn’t at the peak time of year.

Though I imagine the driver would probably take the long way around if the weather wasn’t great and it was quite windy. That way, they could stick close to the shoreline where the waves and weather were minimal compared to the exposed center.

Surprisingly enough, on this route, I never had an issue with not paying the actual amount and getting the tourist tax added. It was always the standard Q30 / $3.90, but perhaps that was because there was a bunch of us getting off at the same time, so it’d be pretty obvious if they started throwing out random amounts.

What You Should Do Around Lake Atitlan

Here in Lake Atitlan, you’ll find so many things to do!

Study Spanish: You’ll find so many people here to learn Spanish since there’s a chill atmosphere, stunning views, and it’s so affordable. Many villages have Spanish schools, and most do outdoor lessons where you can enjoy nature.

Hiking: Now, you’ll find so many hiking trails where you can check out some of the best views of Lake Atitlan. Whether you choose to climb a volcano, tackle the famous Indian Nose hike, or simply check out a viewpoint, you won’t be disappointed.

Yoga: It’s no secret this place is a yogi paradise, so much so, you’ll find a yoga studio in nearly every town. One of the most popular spots is Eagles Nest with freakin amazing views over the lake.

FAQs About Traveling Between Panajachel & San Pedro

Wrap Up: How To Travel Panajachel To San Pedro La Laguna

Now you should know exactly how to get from Panajachel to San Pedro, and vice versa, by boat. There are actually so many more towns worth visiting around the lake, and once you take a lancha, you’ll become an expert and be able to get to all those other spots as well!

Plus, you’ll be able to do it with confidence now, knowing exactly the do’s and don’ts.

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