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Swimming in Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan in Guatemala has a special place in our hearts. It was the first place on our first big one way ticket adventure. And I mean… just look at it, WOAH. Took our breath away every single day.

The lake side towns are absolutely breath taking. It is honestly a view I could never get tired of. Each town around Lake Atitlan is nestled into the mountainsides (or volcano-side), with perfect views of the sparkling blue water and green mountainsides. Perfection…

Can you swim in Lake Atitlán?

When we decided to stay in Lake Atitlan, this was one of the first things that we researched. Andrew and I are water spirits, we love being around the water, seeing the water, being in the water. All of it!

So when we read that it is not necessarily recommended to swim in all areas of Lake Atitlan we were a little bummed.

The Rules: Swimming in Lake Atitlán

So what are the rules for swimming in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala?

There are no “rules” for swimming in Lake Atitlan – except don’t swim around the boat traffic, because you will piss the boat drivers off if they hit you. You are more than welcome to swim anywhere but do be aware of bacterial issues that Lake Atitlan faces.

In our research and talking to locals, there really is no clear answer for if you should swim in Lake Atitlan or not. But we did meet three people who got pretty serious bacterial rashes from swimming in Lake Atitlan, so that was enough to make us really question it before we dove in.

Areas to swim in Lake Atitlán

As a general consensus – it is not recommended to swim near the big cities. So Panajachel, San Pedro, and Santa Cruz are the three areas we heard to stay out of. Though while visiting San Pedro, we saw several people hop right on it and they are still alive and said that the water felt amazing.

The smaller Lake Atitlan towns + San Marco are the “safe” spots to swim. I say “safe” spots because I’m not sure how much research has really been done on this, or what the guidelines of safe are. But we have been told to dive on in and we have seen many people swimming in the small town we are living in.

As for San Marco, you don’t want to swim near the main dock for obvious reasons. But there is a beautiful nature sanctuary in San Marco with some really fun jumping rocks!

Plan on traveling to Lake Atitlan? Click here for a full list of top rated hotels and inns in the area 

Average Water Temperature Of Lake Atitlán

On average the water temperature in Lake Atitlan stays around 70°F (21°C), due to the thermal heating emitted from the surrounding volcanoes. This thermal effect can commonly be seen in hot springs as well, and doesn’t represent any immediate threat to swimmers.

Whatever you do avoid swallowing any of the water at all costs.

Why can’t you swim in Lake Atitlan

We have come across many studies, stories, and local tips as to why you shouldn’t swim in Lake Atitlan.

Cyanobacteria is the cause of the skin rashes and other health concerns. Where did this bacteria come from? After series of landslides (from Hurricane Stan and other heavy rainfall) the mud that went into the lake caused much pollution that has not been cleaned out.

Not all cyanobacteria are bad but there is the presence of phosphorous in Lake Atitlan, from sewage and fertilizer. Lake Atitlan had it’s the largest bloom of cyanobacteria in 2009.

There is also an issue with people dumping trash into the lake and there are no regulations on this. It’s sad really, as you approach the bigger cities you can see trash floating on the shore line.

It is also recommended to be wary of the fish you eat. It is really sad for the local fisherman that thrive off of selling their fish from the lake. But health organizations urge you to be cautious due to the bacteria the fish in Lake Atitlan consume.

The Guatemalan people are making an effort to change this invasion of bacteria, but it is hard work + will cost millions, which for an impoverished country is a lot. Government and locals must act fast in an effort to save this beautiful lake, to save the tourism industry here and the stunning habitat that is Lake Atitlan.

What can you do to help?

When you choose where you say in Lake Atitlan check out their policies on trash. Find a place that is responsible with their trash disposal.

The place that we stayed at had us separate all of our trash (compost, burnable, recyclable), these are the type of things to look for. Same with the sewage disposal, check out how your Atitlan accommodation takes care of that as well.

Book tours with local tour groups when you visit. Local tour groups will guide you on where to swim and also ensure that nothing is left behind by guests. Also, when booking with local tours we were told that often part of the profits generated go towards the maintenance of Lake Atitlán. Here’s the link to tour types, times, and prices: https://indefinitetravel.com/lakeatitlan

As of now, there are no additional funding efforts yet, but we will keep our eye out for you, because we want this breathtaking lake to stay around for years and years to come!

Plan on traveling to Lake Atitlan? Click here for a full list of top rated hotels and inns in the area!