Sunday Snaps:
Flying & Unplugging at Lago Atitlán

0 1

“Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing.” – Aldous Huxley, 1934

I read this quote before I arrived in Panajachel on Tuesday, and I wondered if 80 years later, Huxley’s words were still true. Spoiler alert: they are. I spent the week finding out just how magical Lake Atitlán is, and I even shed tears when I left it behind today.

Like, actual tears.

To kick off my time at the lake, on Wednesday I went paragliding for the first time ever, and lucked out with the best conditions that the lake has seen in months. Jumping off a cliff strapped to a complete stranger and letting the winds lift us hundreds of feet above the lake was as adrenaline-filled as it sounds, but what I didn’t expect was how peaceful it felt to glide smoothly and silently over the lake. It’s a serenity usually reserved for birds, and it felt ethereal.

But that wasn’t even the highlight. The highlight was the three days I spent at La Iguana Perdida in the lakeside village of Santa Cruz. This amazing hostel/hotel is right on the water, purposely wifi free, and every night, the staff serves up a communal, candlelit dinner. Being unplugged for three days was exactly what I needed – I’d caught a nasty cold, I’d been stressing over the future of this blog (more to come on that later) and I was battling a bad case of homesickness.

After three days at the Iguana doing yoga and getting to know some incredible new friends, I feel rested and ready to forge on. Next up is a little time in Antigua before I head back to Texas for the holidays. I’m sad that my adventures in Central America will soon be over, but I can’t wait to see my family and cuddle up by the Christmas tree with the family pups!

Have a fantastic week!