Day 7: Rest by Lake Atitlan

After two demanding volcanoes we were rewarded with a rest day before continuing with the summits. I staggered out of my room in the morning and collapsed into the hammock, feeling the effort I'd exerted over the previous days. I drank some tea and looked out to the lake as a hummingbirds

darted between the flowers that adorned the balcony. Lake Atitlan is a high altitude lake situated in a massive volcanic crater in the south western Highlands. The circumference is surrounded with steep verdant hills, volcanoes and colourful Mayan Villages. San Juan La Laguna is a small but vibrant village on the southwestern shore of Lake Atitlan, where I'll be spending my rest day.

I had a slow leisurely breakfast with Diego while the others made the most of the extra sleep. After I'd eaten I wandered into town for a little exploration of the colourful streets which I'd only seen in the evening when going for dinner. The atmosphere encapsulated the Central American spirit - colourful buildings decorated with intricate artwork, artists and musicians performing and the smell of traditional food emulating from the windows. Traditional dress is mostly worn, adding to the sea of colour. The town is relaxed, everyone is willing to give directions, have a chat or share a friendly smile. I was surprised how few tourists there were, most people were locals and if they were visitors they were of Latin American origin. I was grateful to be visiting this place before it becomes overly popular and no longer authentic. The locals predominantly speak Spanish, however the older generation still speak the Mayan language and English is limited. I got by with my limited GCSE level Spanish and passed the morning enjoying local food on the shore of the lake.

After exploring town I returned to my hotel where I climbed down from the jetty steps to swim in the lake to cool off. The temperature is around 20 degrees with clear blue skies and a cooling mountain breeze. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my rest day and I had really enjoyed having some time to myself to explore. From previous trips to Latin America I have always been drawn to the rich culture, the incredible food, the music and friendly passionate nature of the people and this trip to Guetemala has affirmed my love for this part of the world. All that remains to do now is relax in the hammock, fuel up with a tasty dinner and have a long night's sleep ready to conquer another volcano tomorrow.