Pretty markets; a chance to explore Guatemalan villages
Disadvantages:
Hassling by street kids into buying biros !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Panajachel has a market much like those of Antigua and Chichicastenango, but with a wide variety of excellent local art to buy (I bought 2 small paintings of the lake for next to nothing, and they are a perfect reminder of my travels - see photos).
An oppurtunity not to be missed is to take a boat trip out onto the lake and visit the surrounding villages. Santiago has more markets, and a lot of boys will try to pursuade you to buy just about anything. There is a little shop/museum where you can see some beautiful weaving: to buy is fairly expensive, but the quality is fantastic. There are a couple of places to grab some rice and beans here, and there is 1 hotel in Santiago, but most people tend to stay in Panajachel, which is larger and has more to offer.
San Antonio I felt was more like the 'real' Guatemala, where there is a artisan ceramic studio, and many of the locals were in traditional dress (the women throughout Guatemala tend to dress traditionally, but the men rarely so, and this is a great oppurtunity to see this, although make sure you ask before taking any photos).
We stopped in Santa Catarina for a cheap but cheerful lunch of locally caught fish, with rice and beans, and this is where I managed to take a photo of a lady washing clothes in the lake, which you would not be able to observe in any of the tourist hotspots.
Back in Panajachel, if you want to go out in the evening, the Circus Bar has a fantastic atmosphere with live local music and great food (el Viejo Coche is a smaller, non-tourist place, also with live music, and the opportunity for some Salsa).
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