Travel Guide Santa Catarina Palopó

Only 4 km east of Panajachel, this small coastal village is noted for the beauty of its inhabitants' clothing, from the turquoise huipils of the women to the embroidered pants of the men. The charm and tranquility that emanate from its narrow streets, its excellent museum, its beautiful textile pieces and its painted houses are all reasons to spend a couple of hours here before heading to San Antonio Palopó.Built on a hill, Santa Catarina Palopó is overlooked by a massive green area, similar to a bower. It has a main street near the Atitlan lake, the same one that connects Panajachel to San Antonio Palopó. This is where you will find the central square, shared by the artisanal granita stands and the church erected more than 450 years ago. Its more recent bell tower dates back to 1726.The street that goes down to the muelle (the quay) is made up of a succession of stalls of fabrics, clothes and bags held by village women in traditional clothes. Some weave, others cut their nails; all live quietly, to the rhythm of the water. A true festival of colors that leads to the shores of the lake, where the view of the surroundings is splendid