Last Updated on July 29, 2025
While in Guatemala, visiting the Mayan folk saint Maximón in Lake Atitlan is must-do.
The experience will introduce you to a bit of Indigenous Maya culture, in a beautiful region of this Central American country. My partner and I first thought of traveling to Guatemala so that we could do some epic hiking – which we did!
There are lots of great reasons to visit Guatemala. While traveling Guatemala we hiked the famous Volcan Acatenango, as well as many shorter hikes near the beautiful Lake Atitlan.
Hiking isn’t all there is to do in Guatemala. While we were there, we did many of the essential things that Guatemala is known for, like visiting artisan markets, and eating street food.
While in Lake Atitlan we decided to go on an adventure to a small town on the shores of the lake, to visit a Mayan deity: Maximón. A visit to Maximón is a unique experience which gives insight into Mayan culture and beliefs. And while in Lake Atitlan, it’s easy to find him!
Read on to discover who Maximón is, and how to visit him while in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
Who is the Guatemalan Deity, Maximón?
In short, he’s a liquor loving, chain-smoking saint. Seriously. But let’s contextualize Maximón within the traditions of Indigenous Mayans and Spanish Catholicism.
Guatemala’s Indigenous Mayans have many important saints who are actively worshipped. Maximón is one such saint. He is represented by a wooden statue who is dressed and decorated, seated on a chair. Throughout Guatemala, you might notice effigies of him, particularly in bars and restaurants.
Maximón is also known as San Simon, but that name is associated with Catholic tradition. In Santiago, he’s called Maximón. According to Mayan legend, Maximón represents both light and dark. Unlike other saints, he smokes cigars and drinks alcohol.
And to Mayans, he is known as the saint who might answer prayers that are too taboo for other deities. Unlike other saints, this booze-loving saint may grant you your malevolent wishes.
Visitors travel to Santiago, Guatemala from near and far to visit and pray to Maximón. They might ask him for general things like protection, or wealth. Or, visitors will ask for specifics, like to be cured of a disease.
Each year Maximón is moved to a new ceremonial house in Santiago. He stays in that home for a year, under the care of several men who sit vigil with the saint every day – like Maximón, these caretakers often partake in some whiskey drinking and cigarette smoking.
Visiting Maximón in Lake Atitlan
While in Lake Atitlan, my partner and I stayed in the town of San Pedro, and made a day trip to visit Maximón. I explain details about staying in Lake Atitlan and how to day trip to Maximón below. But first, I want to share the experience that we had in Santiago.
After chatting with our hostel staff in San Pedro, we decided we would make the trip to Maximón independently. So, we grabbed a water taxi from San Pedro to Santiago. From there, our hostel staff told us we would just need to ask a tuktuk driver to bring us to the deity’s current home.
We arrived in Santiago in the morning, and after leaving the docks, were able to quickly flag a tuktuk. We hopped in, and asked in Spanish to be taken to Maximón’s ceremonial house.
If you aren’t comfortable in Spanish, you can simply say Maximón – pronounced mah-SHEE-mon. Most tuktuk drivers will know what you mean, especially since foreigners that come to Santiago are typically there to visit the famous saint.
Our drive from the docks to Maximón’s home was quick. Before we knew it, we’d been dropped on the side of the street. We were waved by some bystanders into a small courtyard.
From there, we peered into a large room, where we saw a wooden figure surrounded by candles. The figure was colorfully dressed, with a tie around his neck and a cowboy hat perched on his head.
There were Guatemalan bills (quetzals) tucked into his clothing. And of course, he had a slowly burning cigarette hanging out of his mouth. On either side of him sat a few men, who were chatting and laughing with eachother. It was definitely Maximón.
We asked Maximón’s caretakers what we should do. Since their primary language is Tzu’tujil, we couldn’t directly communicate with them, but we understood that they were requesting that we pay a small fee to take photos.
We payed the photo taking fee, and purchased a pillar candle. Then, we did as our hostel friends had told us to do. We knelt in front of Maximón, where we remained silent. It was our moment to ask the deity to grant our wishes!
When we’d finished, we presented our offerings to Maximón’s caretakers, who laid them amongst the other offerings that surrounded him. One pack of cigarettes, and a small bottle of rum.
After presenting our gifts and lighting our candle, we paid a financial tithing. The amount you give is up to you, but we’d been recommended to pay 100 Q, which is about 12 USD.
We spent a few minutes observing as others arrived to make offerings to Maximón. Some tourists and some locals came by, but it wasn’t ever too busy.
We enjoyed watching Maximón’s caretakers as they sipped drinks and talked quietly, sometimes bursting into laughter together. After we had enough time to take in the scene, we said goodbye to Maximón and his caretakers, thanking them for their help, and showed ourselves out.
Visiting Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Lake Atitlan is a beautiful crater lake surrounded by volcanoes, and it’s home to many of Guatemala’s Indigenous communities, the Maya. This massive crater lake is lined with many towns and villages that are interconnected by water taxis.
This is a must-see region in Guatemala for it’s Indigenous history, beautiful nature, trekking and other activities, and of course, the opportunity to visit Maximón!
While we were in Lake Atitlan, we spent our time swimming, hiking, and exploring the lake’s different towns and villages. We also enjoyed an early morning hike to Indian Nose, which gave us incredible views of the lake as the sun rose.
Lake Atitlan Villages
Going from town to town around Lake Atitlan is my favorite thing to do on the lake. Each town and village has a distinct vibe to it. There’s San Marcos La Laguna, which is a quiet hippy-town that’s popular with backpackers.
Then there’s the larger town of San Pedro La Laguna, that has a stronger Mayan presence and is also bustling with backpackers and nightlife. And there’s the busy town of Panajachel, where cafes, bars and stalls selling handicrafts and textiles line the main street.
San Marcos La Laguna is a popular spot for backpackers to stay in Lake Atitlan. This quiet town is known for its not-so-secret cliff-jumping spot, quiet cafes, and yoga classes.
San Pedro La Laguna is a larger town, with a stronger Mayan presence. We opted to stay in San Pedros and enjoyed the town’s balance of tourism infrastructure mixed with local presence. No matter where you stay in La Laguna, you will have plenty to do and beautiful views, guaranteed.
Going from town to town on the lake is easy and fast by water taxi. The towns are connected by a system of lanchas which are small boats that ferry people from town to town on the lake. Most trips cost just 1 – 5 USD. It’s by water taxi that you’ll travel to the town of Santiago to visit Maximón.
How to Find Maximón on Lake Atitlan
It’s simple to find Maximón, despite the fact that he’s annually moved from house to house. You just need to first, get yourself to Santiago, and then rely on a local guide or tuktuk driver to bring you to Maximón’s current home.
How to get to Santiago, Lake Atitlan
The best way to reach Santiago is by water taxi, or lancha. All of the towns on the banks of Lake Atitlan are connected by water taxi, so no matter which town you are staying in, this transport method with work. Just head down to one of the public embarcaderos (ferry docks) to catch a lancha.
As boats pull up to the ferry docks, the captains and their assistants will announce where their lancha is headed – just wait to hear Santiago called out. In some cases, there will be a director at the dock who can help you find the right boat.
The cost of the water taxi will vary depending on which town you’re traveling to Santiago from, but you can expect it to be between Q10 and Q25. There is no formal schedule, but the boats run from around 6:30am to 7:30pm daily.
One important thing to note is that Maximón is not always awake – he, and his caretakers, typically spend some of the day napping. When Maximón is asleep, no one is permitted to visit him. To avoid showing up when Maximón isn’t awake, its best to visit early or mid morning.
How to find Maximón’s ceremonial house
Once you’ve arrived in Santiago, you’ll have two option for finding Maximón. You can visit without a guide, which means hiring a tuktuk driver to bring you to the correct home. Or, you can hire a local guide to bring you (either on foot, or by taxi). Your guide will then walk you through the ceremony and experience.
We did hear of some travelers attempting to find Maximón on their own. Santiago is a small town, so I’m sure this could be done – especially if you know enough Spanish to comfortably ask locals for help.
But, I personally would opt to take a tuktuk or go with a guide. This way, your visit includes some support of Santiago’s local economy.
4 Things to Do in Santiago, Lake Atitlan
Santiago is one of Atitlan’s larger towns, and it’s found on the banks of southern end of the lake. The town is known for being a focal point of Indigenous resistance to right-wing government forces during Guatemala’s civil war.
On December 2nd, 1990, the Guatemalan Army opened fire on thousands of Tzutujil Mayas in what is now known as the Santiago Massacre.
Following the massacre, international attention was on Santiago. Locals amassed a petition of thousands of signatures demanding that the army leave. Fearing international criticism and scandal, the Guatemalan forces left.
Today, Santiago is home to mostly Tzutujil Maya, and because of this the town maintains traditional Indigenous customs. For example, you’ll notice that many locals in Santiago continue to wear traditional clothing and speak the Tzutujil Mayan dialect.
After visiting Maximón, we enjoyed walking around Santiago, exploring the markets, so I recommend you do the same! Here are some highlights:
1. Visit Parque del La Paz, or Peace Park.
This park is where the Santiago Massacre took place. A memorial celebration is held here each year on December 2.
2. Watch a weaving demonstration.
Visit Cojolya Museum and Store to learn about the tradition of Mayan weaving. And, you can purchase handmade woven products made by the store’s artists, like bags and purses.
3. Explore Santiago’s local market.
Santiago market, called Mercado Municipal, is a typical Guatemalan market. It’s best to visit in the morning when the market is busiest. There, you can purchase fruits, vegetables, meats, and other goods. We were able to have a delicious meal of tacos in the market!
4. Enjoy the colourful murals in Central Park.
Take a walk through Central Park to watch local life and admire painted murals.
Santiago is small enough that you can walk to most of these spots. Be prepared for some hills, though! And if you prefer not to walk, you can always hire a tuktuk to bring you from place to place.
How to Responsibly Visit Maximón
I think it’s always important to engage with local traditions with respect and care. A visit to Maximón shouldn’t be treated like a typical tourist attraction. Maximón isn’t a tourist attraction – he is a meaningful symbol and tradition.
While Santiago’s locals are receptive to visitors, keep in mind that you should follow their lead while participating in the tradition. Be a quiet observer, and treat the experience as an opportunity to learn and engage in meaningful cultural exchange.
Here are some things to keep in mind for your visit to Maximón:
Do your research. This blog is a good start, but I do recommend doing some further reading so that you can go into the experience with base knowledge of the traditions surrounding Maximón.
Bring gifts for Maximón. We were told that cigarettes, rum, money, and candles are good items to bring as an offering.
Pay the fee to take photos. The fee for photo taking is small, and by paying it you can help support the care of Maximón.
Do as the locals do. As a show of respect, dress modestly and bring an offering. Keep in mind that the Maya you encounter in the ceremonial house usually don’t speak a lot of Spanish. Their primary language is Tzu’tujil – so don’t take offense if they are dismissive of your Spanish.
Do you want to know more about responsible tourism? Read my post about travel privilege, and 10 ways to be a more responsible tourist.
More from Pina Travels on Guatemala:
- Guatemala Itinerary: Best Things to Do and See
- How to Hike Volcano Acatenango
- Is Guatemala Worth Visiting? 5 Reasons to Go to Guatemala
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