The Indian Nose (Nariz del Indio) is one of the most visited and hiked mountain on the shores of Lake Atitlan. From that point it is possible to catch the sunrise and the volcanic mountain chain of Guatemala. This mountain is also known as The Mayan Face.

Hiking tours at Lake Atitlan don’t get much better than climbing the Indian Nose on the northwest shore of Lake Atitlan. Also called Rupalaj K’istalin, this 2,863-meter mountain presents one of the most rewarding climbs of Lake Atitlan. It was surreal to see the lights of the village flickering below when the sky was still mostly dark.

In addition to the view of the lake and the volcanoes, you’ll witness superb views of the villages of San Juan and San Pedro la Laguna at 1.5 to 2-hour hike from the base of San Juan la Laguna to the top.

We started our tour at 4am with a pickup at our hotel. After a one hour van transfer, we reached the start of the hiking trail, in the village of Santa Clara la Laguna. About 2,100 meters up is the perfect stop to appreciate the panoramic view and also to get some rest. By 5.40am, we were at the pit stop, sipping some freshly brewed coffee by our guide and waiting for the sunrise. We saw the beautiful skies slowly awaken in the hues of the sun, turning from pink to orange to yellow. It was a spectacular sight that made the hike worth the climb. It was an easy hike for me, made easier by following the guide.

As the sun slowly rose over the horizon, we got a better view of Lake Atitlan. Even though Panajachel is the gateway to the lake, we still preferred to be away from the noise of Pana and its busy traffic. Pana is an unexpectedly cosmopolitan crossroads in an otherwise remote and rural vicinity. Being up in the mountains, with our cozy group of 12 people, taking in every moment of the sunrise, was really unforgettable.

It was 7.30am by the time we went our way down the mountain. By then, the sun was fully up in the horizon and the weather started to get warmer. Going down was slightly trickier as there were some parts which were quite steep and also it was harder on the knees. We made use of our hiking poles for the additional support during our descent.

Upon nearing the end of the trail, we encountered a mother cow with her calf tied to the bushes. The poor cows could not roam around to graze freely. I suppose the locals here are afraid they would run away and so they did that. Furthermore, the cows are an importance source of resource such as milk, so the people rely on the cows a lot.

If you are in San Pedro for a few days and hope to engage in something sporty, climbing Indian Nose is highly recommended! If you cannot wake up early, then climbing this peak is still possible to do it in broad daylight. You will get a full view of the whole lake. Do choose a route that can be done within a few hours, leaving the morning part with some spare time to complete other adventures in the afternoon. Furthermore, despite the negative TripAdvisor reviews about bandits in the area who would harass you for money, we did not encounter any of them as we were with a guide and had paid for the entrance fees.