Lake Atitlan holidays

Lying high among the volcanoes of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is famous for its natural beauty and its colourful Mayan villages. The lake is formed from the collapsed caldera of a now extinct volcano and is 18km x 12km, with a depth of around 320m. The main town is Panajachel, where there is a good selection of restaurants and bars as well as stalls selling native textiles and handicrafts. Since October 2009 there has been a slow build up of bacteria and algae in Lake Atitlan, which has resulted in a colour change in the water in some areas from clear to green/brown. Local scientific and media studies have declared that the water in the lake is no longer safe for bathing or drinking. Most local restaurants have stopped serving fish. Should you fall ill during a trip to the lake, or immediately after, you are advised to seek medical advice