Vulcano Lodge is an ideal home-base for exploring Lake Atitlan and the surrounding villages and sights. To help our guests take best advantage of their time here, we have prepared short written guides for eight "day trips". These include Santa Cruz La Laguna; San Marcos La Laguna & San Pedro La Laguna; Solola, San Jose Chakaya & Maria Linda; Mirador Santa Catarina; Rio Madre Vieja; Volcano Santa Clara; and Volcano San Pedro. For details about these hikes, ask at the front desk for the Vulcano Lodge Activities pamphlet. If you are interested in having a guide accompany you on any of these tours, let us know and we can probably arrange it.

Please remember that you will be hiking and walking at an altitude of 1500 meters (4800 feet) or more, which can be physically stressful for those not accustomed to high-altitude exercise. Also, at this altitude the sun's rays are less filtered, so those who are not accustomed to tropical sun may want to take additional precautions against sunburn. Everyone should use normal common sense and, as on any hike in the tropics, take along plenty of drinking water, good shoes, sunscreen and something to cover your head.

In addition to hiking, there are a number of other interesting activities that Vulcano Lodge can recommend and, if you wish, arrange. These include horseback riding in San Pedro or Santiago, tours of the lake by private boat, SCUBA diving in Lake Atitlan, soaking in the hotspring Fuentes Georginas, and -- our favorite -- visiting towns on their market days.

There are quite a few exciting and captivating markets to visit in the towns and villages that surround Lake Atitlan; key is knowing where to go when. Vulcano Lodge has prepared a weekly market schedule for you, below. Please note that the Panajachel market runs each day, but is bigger on Sunday. Also note, the market days in other towns (in particular Xela) that fall on the end of the month tend to be significantly bigger. Finally, religious holidays and other community events may impact normal scheduling. Best to check with us here at Vulcano Lodge as you plan your travels.