Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: How Do Lanchas Work? 2023

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Looking for the Lake Atitlan boat schedule? Lake Atitlan is the biggest lake in Central America, and its vast waters are spread over 18 kilometres long, six kilometres wide and are at least 325 metres deep.

It’s by far one of the most popular destinations to visit in Guatemala.

So finding out your accommodation can only be reached via boat (aka lancha) and then learning that there is no Lake Atitlan boat schedule can be a tad confusing.

When we first arrived in Panajachel on Lake Atitlan, we walked all the way to the boating dock to book an early morning boat to Santa Cruz.

We then, of course, learnt quite quickly that we didn’t need to do this (and the boat guys were looking at us like we were crazy!)

In fact, there is no Lake Atitlan boat schedule at all.

Boats on the lake, which are commonly referred to as lanchas, run from roughly 6.30 am – 7 pm on a daily basis (and if you need a boat outside of these hours, you will need to book a private boat driver).

In this post, I explain everything you may be wondering about the Lake Atitlan lanchas, daily timetables, schedules, prices and more. So, let’s get started and discuss the non-existent Lake Atitlan boat schedule!

Still have a question about the Lake Atitlan boat schedule? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇬🇹 Other Guatemala posts:

• 2 Weeks In Guatemala: Perfect Itinerary
• 7 Best Spanish Schools In Antigua Guatemala
• Backpacking Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide + ROUTES
• BEST Hostels In Antigua Guatemala: Review

Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: Is There A Timetable?

The most important thing to know about the Lake Atitlan boat schedule is that there isn’t one. There is no set timetable or boat schedule on Lake Atitlan.

Lanchas (boats on Lake Atitlan) run frequently throughout the day from around 6.30am – 7pm. If you need a boat outside of these hours, you will need to book a private boat driver.

You do not need to pre-book or pre-order any boats at Lake Atitlan. Simply turn up, tell the guys working on the boats where you are going (the town or hotel) and they will direct you to the correct boat. Then chuck your bags on the top deck of the boat, and sit on one of the benches underneath.

If you don’t want to share a boat with <30 other people, you can also opt for a private boat from the same dock.

Lanchas (boats) on Lake Atitlan can get extremely busy, so be prepared to squeeze on with both locals and tourists. Many locals use the boats to travel around the lake for work, so they tend to cram in as many people as possible!

Expect a little bit of a wait, as boats don’t tend to leave the dock until they’re full of people, especially from Panajachel. This means you can be sitting on the waves for a little while (usually up to 30 minutes), so take medication if you’re prone to seasickness. In general, the water is moderately calm with a few waves, although it can get a little choppy.

Payment is all taken in cash and is given directly to the driver when you disembark the boat. Expect to be charged a little more than locals (the gringo tax is a real thing).

Most of the boat journeys to and from the surrounding towns on Lake Atitlan are less than 30 minutes. For example; Panajachel to Santa Cruz is around a 20-minute journey.

If you are travelling to a specific accommodation that is not in a town (for example La Fortuna), tell the driver. They will drop you off directly at the hotel’s private dock!

Step-by-step instructions: Boats (lanchas) at Lake Atitlan

Boarding a boat/lancha to travel around Lake Atitlan is easy. Let’s go through a few things to make sure your journey is as smooth as possible!

It’s important to note that boats on Lake Atitlan are referred to as ‘lanchas‘.

• To find a lancha to your desired destination, head to your town’s dock. All of the major towns around Lake Atitlan have boating docks. Panajachel has the lake’s biggest dock with lanchas travelling to all towns.

• You can head to the dock at any time between 6.30 am – 7pm. Outside of these times, you will need a private lancha.

• Tell one of the workers by the lanchas the town you need to reach. Don’t worry, you don’t need to speak Spanish. Simply state the town (ie. Santa Cruz, Panajachel, San Marcos…) They will then point you in the right direction.

• The trickiest bit is actually climbing onto the boat, as the water around the dock tends to be quite choppy. There’s no modesty here! Either sit down or jump onto the lancha the best you can.

• Luggage is all stored on top of the lancha (don’t worry, it’s safe, but keep your hand luggage and valuables with you).

• Find a spot on one of the plastic benches. You can also wear a life jacket if you feel more comfortable doing so.

• When arriving at a new place, the drivers will shout the name of the town. Be sure to listen carefully and disembark where you need to!

• Pay the driver in cash upon leaving. He will more than likely be standing on the dock and will tell you the amount as you prep to leave.

How to get to your accommodation on Lake Atitlan

If you’re travelling from Antigua or El Paredon, it’s highly likely you will be dropped in Panajachel. Panajachel is the main town in Lake Atitlan and has the biggest boat dock in the area.

If you are staying in Panajachel, you can either walk to your hotel or jump in a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuk journeys should not be more than a couple of pounds for accommodations within Panajachel.

If you are staying in a town around the lake, you will need to jump on a lancha from the dock on Calle del Embarcadero, which is near the Selina. The bus will drop you near there, so you shouldn’t have to walk far.

You can access some of the Lake Atitlan towns by road, but I don’t recommend it. Journeys around the lake can take 3-4 hours due to the mountainous terrain, whereas lanchas shouldn’t take more than an hour even to the farthest of towns!

➡ Still looking for Lake Atitlan accommodation? Check out the best hotels on the lake here, or the best homestays for Spanish schools around Lake Atitlan here!

Boat journey prices on Lake Atitlan

Boat journey prices do vary depending on the driver and whether or not you’re a gringo. In 2023, as two backpacking gringos, we found the prices varied between Q10 and Q25 for a single journey.

If you do get asked for a little more, it’s best to just pay it. Unless it’s hundreds of pounds (which it won’t be), it isn’t worth the fuss.

Gringos often get charged more than the local’s price, which in the grand scheme of things, isn’t the end of the world (and kind of makes sense).

Read next: A summary of the best Lake Atitlan towns and what they’re known for!

Private boat drivers on Lake Atitlan

You can also hire a private boat driver on Lake Atitlan. There are a few ways to go about organising this.

Option 1: When arriving at the dock in Panajachel or one of the larger towns (i.e. San Pedro), ask for a private lancha. You may have to wait a while, but we found there were always private drivers ready if we needed one (although we stuck with the public boats).

Option 2: Reach out to your hotel/hostel. If you’re arriving after 7.30 pm, when the lanchas have stopped operating, they should be able to organise a private boat ride for you. We even had one take us back from a party at 2 a.m. on one occasion, so they can be ordered around the clock if you need them!

Onward travel from Lake Atitlan

After your amazing few days at Lake Atitlan, you can board a bus to pretty much anywhere in Guatemala. The most popular options are either onward to the coast of El Paredon or Antigua.

Buses can be booked directly online here, through your hostel or at any of the small travel agents in Lake Atitlan. They only need to be booked the day before, so don’t panic if you’ve forgotten to book anything!

Lake Atitlan is also home to some of the best Spanish schools in the country. If you have the luxury of time and budget, booking a week in a traditional Mayan homestay whilst learning Spanish is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Most schools even run extracurricular activities, such as movie nights, weekend hikes, day trips and salsa classes! If you’re unsure about what’s included and how the week would work, check out my full guide to Lake Atitlan Spanish schools here!

Related posts: Lake Atitlan To El Paredon: Step-By-Step Guide

Where to stay on Lake Atitlan

If you’re staying in Lake Atitlan for the first time, I recommend the following accommodations:

• Free Cerveza (Santa Cruz): for backpackers wanting to SUP, swim, socialise, be off the grid for a few days and soak in everything the lake has to offer ➡ BOOK NOW! (Check out my full Free Cerveza guide here)

• Selina (Panajachel): for digital nomads in Lake Atilan. ➡ BOOK NOW!

• Dreamboat Hostel (Panajachel): If you want to party in Panajachel  ➡ BOOK NOW!

• Mr Mullet’s (San Pedro): for BIG party backpackers and solo travellers (they run their own crazy boat party)➡ BOOK NOW!

• Chirris Hostal (San Juan): for a nice hostel in the middle of San Juan ➡ BOOK NOW!

Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: FAQs

1) Is there Uber near Lake Atitlan?

No, although it may say on the app there is! We tried for around 30 minutes to get an Uber from Lake Atitlan before giving up and cramming our huge backpacks onto the back of a tuk-tuk. As of summer 2023, there is no Uber in Lake Atitlan.

2) What times do the boats run Lake Atitlan?

Boats run throughout the day, every day, on Lake Atitlan. They tend to start around 6.30 am and finish at 7.30 pm. If you need a boat outside of these times, you will need to organise a private boat.

3) How long should I spend at Lake Atitlan?

As Lake Atitlan is only a 2-hour shuttle from Antigua, it’s worth visiting for at least 2-3 nights. It’s one of the most magical and spiritual places in Guatemala and is so worth a visit!

Two nights in Lake Atitlan gives you enough time to explore some of the villages by lancha (local speed boat), do some hiking, admire the volcanic views, kayak or swim in the lake and experience some of the magic Lake Atitlan has to offer.

4) Is it OK to swim in Lake Atitlan?

Yes, you can swim in Lake Atitlan! However, it’s best to find quieter spots rather than near the big docks because of the pollution and dirt gathering from the boats. Our favourite swimming spot in Lake Atitlan was next to the dock at Free Cerveza, or the San Marcos cliff jumping area.

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: In A Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the Lake Atitlan boat schedule! When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently balancing travelling around the world and living in London with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇹 Other Guatemala posts:

• Antigua To Rio Dulce + Livingston (Guatemala) FULL Guide
• What To Wear In Antigua Guatemala (That Isn’t Ugly)
• Antigua To Leon (Guatemala to Nicaragua) FULL Guide
• OX Expeditions Guatemala Review: Volcano Hikes + More