San Marcos La Laguna: Spiritual Retreat or Tourist Trap?

We recently explored San Marcos La Laguna, one of the most talked-about towns on Lake Atitlán aaaaaand we’ve got thoughts.

San Marcos is known as a spiritual hub, where folks come for healing, yoga, cacao ceremonies, and all things transcendental. And while we can see the appeal, we also left feeling a bit unsettled. There’s a noticeable divide between some of the “spiritual seeker” crowd and the local community—and to be honest, we weren’t quite sure how to respectfully talk about it.

We're still new to the lake, and the last thing we want to do is make assumptions or throw out accusations without understanding the full picture. That said, we did notice some behaviors that felt off—especially when tourism seems to drift into entitlement, and when locals are treated poorly or pushed aside in the name of "enlightenment."

In this vlog, we share our honest first impressions—what we enjoyed, what challenged us, and what we’re still trying to wrap our heads around. Our hope is to learn more, connect deeper, and use this platform to highlight the local communities and businesses that truly make Lake Atitlán special.

We’re not perfect, and we’re definitely not experts—but we’re here to listen, learn, and travel with intention. Stick with us as we explore more of the lake (and eventually, Guatemala as a whole!).

Our Mission:
We travel to connect—not just to consume. Our goal is to explore the heart of every place we visit by supporting local communities, learning through culture, and sharing honest stories along the way. We believe in slow travel, responsible choices, and leaving every destination a little better than we found it.