If you enjoy adventure activities or trying something new, this post is for you! I’ll cover five Lake Atitlán adventure activities to boost your adrenaline, from paragliding to motorcycle tours.
Paraglide above Lake Atitlán
Can you picture yourself soaring a thousand feet above Lake Atitlán? Catching thermals? Drinking in a remarkable view spiced with danger?
I haven’t launched myself off a cliff on a paragliding tour just yet, but it’s on my list. I often see paragliders while I’m at the lakeshore. They appear on the ridge high above the lake, turn and float like pollen in the wind. It looks like a fabulous breathtaking adventure.
If you want to paraglide in Lake Atitlán, check out Realworld Paragliding. This company has been operating in Panajachel for many years. They have a good reputation and fly with good gear and a team of professional flyers with experience paragliding in Austria, Italy, and the Himalayas.
Go to the Realworld Paragliding website.
Roger LaPointe of Paragliding Guatemala also offers paragliding tours and instruction. He has eight years of experience and operates out of Panajachel.
Go to Paragliding Guatemala website
Rent a Jet ski or Flyboard and make waves
Another fun activity to get you whooping and your heart pumping is to rent a jetski. The lake is the smoothest in the morning. You can bomb over the waves, hooting, hollering, and having the time of your life. My brother took me out on a jet ski on Lake Atitlán, and man was it fun. I can’t recommend it enough.
Another thing you could try if you’re into adventurous activities is a flyboard. This funky device allows you to complete all manner of crazy activities underwater and above water. It looks pretty tricky to me, but according to Atlantic Flyboard, flyboarding is actually pretty easy and most users can start flying within the first 5 minutes and get basic control within 20.
You can rent flyboards and jetskis at Hotel Jardines del Lago.
Jetskis are also available for rent from Atitlan Boat Trip.
Zipline across a deep ravine
Lake Atitlán boasts some outstanding ziplining. In fact, both the longest zipline and the highest ziplines in Guatemala are located around the lake. This activity is sure to get your blood pumping!
The longest zipline is located at the Reserva Natural de Atitlán. They have several zipline packages (Ultra and X-treme), including the option to go across a zipline on a bicycle. One of their ziplines is 2,822 feet long. Yeah. Wow.
Click the link to learn more about the Reserva Natural de Atitlán zipline tours.
The highest zipline in Guatemala is located at Parque Ecológico Chuiraxamoló. This pretty eco-park is near Santa Clara Atitlán. It is a community tourism project, with very reasonable prices. They only have two ziplines. The shortest is 492 feet long, located at the base of the ravine. Participants then hike up a steep trail to reach the other zipline. At 656 feet above the ground, and 1,312 feet in length, it’s crazy long AND crazy high. It also has stunning views of the lake.
I visited Chuiraxamolo recently and did the zipline and rappel tour with my family. It was really fun. You don’t have to brake for yourself either, which makes it a lot easier and less stressful. You can choose to go superman style across the big drop, which is terrifying and fun. For more info, check out this post about Parque Ecológico Chuiraxamolo.
Combine revs and culture with an ATV Tour
If you want to combine a cultural outing with some excitement, consider booking one of the ATV tours out of Panajachel. This fun tour takes visitors to the towns of San Antonio Palopó, Santa Catarina Palopó, and to one of Panajachel’s best beaches. During the tour, you’ll get to roar up and down the twisty road to Santa Catarina, then skid over dirt on the way to San Antonio. Since the tour starts at 9:00 am, views of the lake should be optimal.
This tour is run by Simoone Tours. Their guides are bilingual in English and Spanish, friendly, and knowledgeable.
Enjoy the twisties on a Motorcycle Tour
Another super fun Lake Atitlan adventure activity is a motorcycle tour. Lake Atitlán has MANY fabulous motorcycle roads. Ride up and down hills, lean into the twisties, enjoy some wonderful views, and experience a rush of adrenaline and freedom.
I’m lucky enough to be a guide and instructor at Ride Atitlán. Head on over to their website to check out their tours. My favorite is the Avocado Farm tour (read more about my experience on the tour), because it combines a fun ride with a cultural experience. Or, if you’re up for something longer and more technical, try the Long Way Around tour. You’ll circle the entire lake, navigate the treacherous road behind San Pedro Volcano, and hit a ton of crazy twisty roads.