The Travel Advisory

Guatemala City can be reached via direct flights from several North American cities, and inexpensive shuttles depart frequently from its airport to Panajachel (the trip takes about four hours). To arrange for pickup at the airport, try www.transportguatemala.com/sta.htm.

Crime against tourists is not unknown in Guatemala, but most visitors enjoy uneventful stays. The U.S. State Department suggests certain cautions (e.g., “Avoid gatherings of agitated people”) but no longer includes the country on its travel-warnings list.

What to do

In San Pedro, visitors can rent kayaks and paddle to San Marcos for lunch, or hire a guide for a hike to the top of an inactive volcano with memorable views. Boats depart regularly for Santiago Atitlán, a lively Mayan town with a Friday market and an obscure cult built around a cigar-smoking saint named Maximón.

San Marcos ...