Iglesia San Francisco

Panajachel


The colonial-era church is the heart of old Panajachel. Its extremely broad stone facade, with four tiers of windows between double columns, resembles a castle, especially when illuminated in the evening. Inside the air is redolent of incense, hinting at Guatemala's interchange between its Maya and Catholic traditions.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Panajachel attractions

1. Town Hall

0.04 MILES

The Town Hall (Municipalidad), which stands behind the church in the center of town, is Panajachel's seat of government and handles administrative…

2. Casa Cakchiquel

0.45 MILES

Pana's cultural center started life as one of the first hotels on the lake, built by a Swedish countess in 1948. Now it holds a radio station, Japanese…

3. La Galería

0.46 MILES

Overflowing with art by Guatemalan painters and sculptors, this gallery functions as both an exhibit space and cultural center, hosting lectures, films…

4. Museo Lacustre Atitlán

0.69 MILES

Inside the Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo, this museum has displays on the history of the Atitlán region and the volcanic eruptions that created its…

5. Reserva Natural Atitlán

0.9 MILES

A former coffee plantation being reclaimed by natural vegetation, this reserve is 200m past the Hotel Atitlán on the northern outskirts of town. It makes…

6. Museo de Sololá

2.64 MILES

Housed atop the elaborate Swiss-built clock tower that fronts the city hall, the museum is devoted to photograph exhibits and the clock mechanism itself,…

7. Cerro Tzankujil

7.35 MILES

This nature reserve is on a sacred hill west of San Marcos village. Well-maintained pebbly trails lead to swimming areas with shelters by the bank and a…

8. Museo Tz'unun 'Ya

8.64 MILES

This museum focuses on the history of the Tz'utujil people and geology of the region, with a film on the formation of the lake and an interesting gallery…