I don’t often wake up at 3:30am, but when I do — you can be sure it’s for an epic hike. My #1 recommendation for an activity in San Pedro La Laguna would be the sunrise Rostro Maya hike (aka Indian Nose hike). It’s a relatively quick hike and your steep climb is rewarded with EPIC views of the sunrise over Lake Atitlan with volcanoes in the distance. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see some volcanic eruptions!

The Basics

I paid Q100 (about $13 USD) for a shuttle from San Pedro La Laguna to the trailhead in Santa Clara La Laguna, local guide (who paid the landowners for entry onto the property), and snacks at the summit. Dress warmly and bring a headlamp! IT IS COLD.

There are two versions of the hike — the long way and the short way. We opted for the short way — it was only an hour total of hiking but the entire excursion took around 4 hours, which included a 40-minute drive each way from San Pedro and time spent hanging out at the summit. You could do the hike without paying for a guide, but you have to pay people at the trailhead and they might end up charging you more than the cost of a guided tour.

WE RIDE AT DAWN

The trailhead is located about 40 minutes from central San Pedro in Santa Clara La Laguna. Our shuttle was scheduled to leave central San Pedro around 4am so I begrudgingly woke up at 3:30am and put on loads of layers (it is COLD at that hour) and grabbed the essentials — headlamp, water, and inhaler.

Funny story: We left our homestay around 3:45am to meet our van in time for our 4am departure. Our friends had told us to be careful of the street dogs as they were known to be aggressive before 4:30am. We joked about how the street dogs must have watches and plan their aggression accordingly. As it turns out, the advice was legitimate, as we were chased down the street by aggressive dogs! Thankfully a passing car scared them off, but it was definitely one of my scarier travel moments. We suspect the dogs get fed around 4:30am which is why they are less aggressive after that time. THE MORE YOU KNOW.

The Hike

The hike is pretty much all uphill… in the dark… at elevation… for a solid 30-40 minutes. If you’re planning on hiking Acatenango in Antigua (which you absolutely should — check out my Acatenango review here), this hike will give you a taste of that difficulty. It was moderately difficult, but short. I only had to hit my inhaler once!

Once you finish with your climb, you’re rewarded with RIDICULOUS VIEWS of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding volcanoes. It was still pitch black when we arrived at the summit, so we found a spot to sit and wait for the sunrise light show! Our guide handed out bread, hot chocolate, and coffee (included in the tour price). It was incredible to see the sky change every ~15 minutes or so with the sunrise. We also had the Volcán de Fuego erupting in the distance which really added some pizzazz to our sleep-deprived morning.

Tips for the Rostro Maya Hike

• Cost: I paid about Q100 (about $13 USD), which included transport to the trailhead from San Pedro, a Rostro Maya guide, snacks, and the entry fee (since the land is privately owned). You can expect to pay Q100-150. It will likely be pricier if you’re departing from a farther pueblo like Panajachel.

• Booking: You can sign up through one of the tourist offices in San Pedro (or whichever pueblo you’re staying in) or through your Spanish school.

• Gear: Dress warmly! It’s freezing at the top. You’ll want layers that you can strip off as the sun rises and it warms up. A headlamp is crucial for the hike up.

• Fitness Level: This hike isn’t super long but IT IS STEEP, so mentally prepare yourself for an intense 30-40 minutes of uphill trekking. But if you’re planning on hiking Acatenango near Antigua (which you absolutely should!), this is a great warm-up.

yOU sHOULD Do This Hike!

Rostro Maya (Indian Nose) is one of the best hikes around Lake Atitlan. Not only does it offer one of the best sunrise views in Lake Atitlan, but it’s also a great option if you’re not looking for a super long or technical hike. You’ll get the experience of hiking in the early morning (with the bonus of avoiding the heat of the day) and a chance to see Guatemala's volcanoes and the lake from up in the clouds. VALE LA PENA!