Santiago Atitlan

In a land of spectacular landscapes, the dramatic panorama of Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán is one of the highlights. Dotting the shoreline of this immense crater lake are many villages and a few larger towns, most of which are easiest to access by boat. The largest is Santiago Atitlán, a market hub for the Tz’utijil-speaking Maya communities in the area and a town in which traditional clothing is still commonly worn. Santiago is renowned for the women’s beautiful striped huipiles embroidered with highly detailed birds and flowers. The same embroidery decorates the white and purple-striped short pants worn by men. Santiago is also quite a tourist mecca. Walking up the main street from the dock, dodging or engaging the flurry of street vendors, the many shops offering brilliant paintings, beadwork, textiles, and other craft items are a dazzling testament to the creativity, imagination, and entrepreneurism of the population.