**This is a Power Olympic Outdoor Center trip.  To attend, you MUST register and RSVP on their website.  Your ACSA username and password will NOT work on their website.  However, it is Open to the Public so you can register as a non-member.  The member price of $300 is for POOC members.  The non-member price of $600 includes a one-year membership to the POOC and will qualify you for free boat rentals.  After that, any trip you take within one year with POOC would be at the member price. To register and pay on the POOC website, click HERE.**

7-Day Around the Lake Paddle and Hike Excursion

Do enjoy unique natural beauty?  Do you yearn to understand more about the world you live in? 

Explore beautiful Lake Atitlán. Nestled in the western highlands of Guatemala, this caldera lake is surrounded by 10,000 foot volcanoes. The rich Mayan culture is evident from the pesaderos who fish the lake in their hand-hewn cayukas, to the farmers working coffee, and maiz along the lakeshore.  Experience a unique culture up close while you learn about the Mayan way of life.

Our around-the-lake tour includes 50 miles of paddling over the course of five days. Each night will be spent in one of the Mayan villages, which are located on the shores of Lake Atitlán. You will see, interact, and experience Mayan culture up close and personal.

Each day will include 4-5 hours of paddling, with the balance of the day spend exploring the villages, hiking the remote mountains, climbing the 9,500 feet San Pedro volcano, swimming in the geothermal hot springs, or relaxing on the shore. A flat-water paddle, but the lake can have swells of up to three feet in the afternoon.

ITENERARY
Day 1: We meet you at the airport and prepare for our 2½ hour drive to Lake Atitlán. Our first sight of the lake is a breath taking overlook where we stop and take in the spectacular beauty of its surrounding 10,000 foot mountains. The road ends at Panajachel, where we transfer into our boat for a 15 minute ride to our hotel and Adventure Center. Orientation for the trip is done over dinner and a welcoming party.

Day 2: Antigua, Guatemala is home to the largest Easter celebration in the world in which the Passion, the Crucifix, and the Resurrection of Jesus are commemorated. The procession is rooted in Andalusian tradition and was brought over by Spanish missionaries in the 16th Century. The entire city takes part in the event, accompanied by thousands of travelers coming to experience the energy of Holy Week.

The processions begin on Palm Sunday, with images of Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy Virgin of Sorrows being carried on floats from the churches on the shoulders of devotees. These floats can weigh up to several tons and require 50-100 people to bear the weight. The carriers, or cucuruchas dress in traditional Maya costume on this day and recreate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Although there is a definite level of social status involved in being a cucurucha, penance is the primary inspiration. Monday through Thursday, the streets are filled with similar events, in memory of his final days on Earth. Each evening, a funeral band plays outside of the church, and the people gather around for food, drink, and games.

Day 3: Our first day of paddling departs from our beachfront staging area. Start the day with our special blend of coffee and a light breakfast and begin our first leg of the excursion. This section of the lake’s shoreline has dramatic scenery, passing the villages of El Jaibalito and Tzununa. You paddle along rugged cliff faces filled with exotic plant and bird life. Take the opportunity to climb a cliff and jump into the crystal clear waters, or just enjoy a swim and sun. We pull into the bay and village of San Marcos and enjoy a full hearty breakfast. You have free time to explore before we paddle to our destination for the night, San Juan. We arrive around lunchtime, and the rest of the day is free for exploring, hiking, rock climbing, or relaxing. Our accommodations are at a simple and comfortable hotel with dinner in a local restaurant.

San Juan is a small village of 800 people and is home to several of the country’s most famous painters. We will visit the art gallery of Andrés Curruchiche who initiated a naïf art movement among the indigenous people. Other stops include weaving cooperatives, a medicinal and curative herb garden, and a re-forestation nursery. There is also an optional hike to Indian Nose Mountain, a sacred Maya site.

Day 4: Second day of paddling begins with a short half-hour paddle to the next village San Pedro. We have breakfast at a lovely open-air restaurant and prepare for a 2 hour paddle to Santiago. This morning we paddle around the base of the 10,000 ft. San Pedro volcano and into the bay of Santiago. Here we are nestled between 3 impressive volcanoes. The bay of Santiago is the largest bay on the lake and is a good place to explore on your own. Enjoy lunch at our hotel for the night, the Posado de Santiago, and use the rest of the day to explore the bay on your own, or take a tour of the village. Santiago Atitlán is the largest of the lakeside communities, and is noted for its worship of Maximón, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends. A visit to Maximón is an opportunity you should not miss.

Day 5: Breakfast at the Posado Santiago before putting in. We paddle around the base of the volcanoes El Tolimán and Atitlan, and to the remote fishing village of Cerro de Oro. Here we take a tour of the village and visit with local fisherman. You can choose to climb the Cerro del Oro mountain, a moderate hike or rock climb on the steep cliffs. Continue our day’s paddle where we finish around mid-day in San Lucas. Lunch at our hotel and paddle to San Antonio for a quick exploration of the village, then on to Santa Catarina and the hot springs. There are several areas with geothermal hot springs where we can soak and swim. There is an optional tour to Finca Los Tarrales, a bird watchers paradise in a lower sub-tropical ecosystem; or to Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura; a permaculture institute.

Day 6: Let the celebrations of Good Friday begin! The spectacular Easter festivals in the former colonial capital of Anitgua are beyond comparison to anything in the northern hemisphere. Along cobblestone streets, intricate carpets of colored sawdust are painstakingly laid down. Later, a solemn procession of Roman centurions march over the carpets, carrying an image of Christ on the cross. Music and swinging incense burners accompany the robed cofradia. During these lively days leading up to Easter Sunday we'll witness elaborate ceremonies re-enacting the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Day 7: Trips can be arranged to climb the nearby volcanoes of Pacaya and Acatenango, or you might rent mountain bikes and explore the foothills of the Antigua Valley, go horseback riding, or visit a nearby coffee plantation.

Day 8: Easter Sunday is a jubilant festival celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, and fireworks can be seen and heard throughout the city. The mood is casual and joyful on this day.