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The Zip-LineJan 24, 2010
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Volca'n Tolima'n across Lake Atitla'n, early morning
Volca'n Tolima'n - on left, Volca'n San Pedro - on right
The very fresh fruit choices for breakfast
The day started early for us who awoke in time to see the morning sun light up Tolima’n and San Pedro Volcanos and highlight a light mist on Lake Atitla’n. The hotel provided a good breakfast with an abundance of fresh fruit. For those who were adventurous, we were introduced to Zip-lining. After a short bus ride to the Atitla’n Nature Reserve we were decked out in our Zip-line gear. We then walked for 30 minutes through a cloud forest between coffee trees, up and up across hanging bridges by the spider monkeys and a high waterfall. Then for the zip down, with the lake far below and the volcanoes on the horizon and the jungle far below, we zipped from one side of the valley to other. What a start for a day!
Back to the hotel was next to pick up the rest of the party and a ride along the lake to San Antonio Palopo for lunch. OAT trys hard to distribute their business and to do it as far down the chain as possible without undue discomfort to us. For lunch they chose a family home on the lakeshore. We had lunch on a grassy terrace overlooking the lake which was more than satisfactory.
After lunch we boarded a boat for a ride across the lake to Santiago Atitla’n on the flanks of Volca’n Tolima’n. Once again we were immersed in the culture of the Mayan’s. We visited the family that is now caring for Maximon, who was an ancient Mayan Saint, Christianized in order to be accepted by the Catholic Church. For one year a family cares for Maximon’s effigy while the community supports them with food, etc. After a year his effigy moves to another family house. After this visit, we strolled down through the city to the boat dock. We passed women doing their laundry and bathing along the lakeshore as we boated across Lake Atitlan back to our hotel.
