Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala City

Heading south from Guatemala City towards the Pacific lowlands, you will find this lake just a few kilometers from the highway. Unfortunately, its waters are now quite polluted, but it is still a beautiful setting for a picnic, a barbecue or even a boat trip. Its main attraction for visitors is the spectacular view of Agua and Pacaya volcanoes. If you are at the lake on a weekend, take the "bubble-lift" to Parque de las Naciones Unidas for the best views of both volcanoes. Pacaya volcano, on the southern shore of the lake, throws an amazing orange light from its mouth, which you can see clearly at night. The lake gets very crowded on weekends. It takes around half an hour from the city by car or 45 minutes by bus. Buses go daily every 10 minutes from the terminal in Zona 4.