Lake Atitlan living there Pros and Cons

Lake Atitlan, living there pros and cons.

I have been living in Lake Atitlan for thirty years now and if I would have to do it again, i would sign up again without hesitation.

So once you have decided that Lake Atitlan could be your spot for retirement, relocation and or investment here are some of the pros and cons I would like you to consider.

PROS

• Weather. Located in the highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan benefit from a very comfortable climate. Never to hot and never to cold. The houses don't need air conditioning or heating system. It means also that there are not much mosquito at all. Only when the rain start you might have a bit of them but then no. Still on the waterfront you might encounter horse flies but very seldomly. And the rainy season is the not the monsoon but temperate rain pattern. Actually very enjoyable.
  
• The cost of living. Farm fresh produce abundant and available all year round and very inexpensive. Lots of groceries and health food store in different villages, providing a wide range of groceries that include a wide range of gourmet international food and beverages and artisanal health foods from around lake Atitlan area.
  Regarding health, well some of the retirees I know don't bother to get a health insurance for the low cost and great quality the private medical system can offer you.
• The life style. If you want to build your own dream house, then most probably it is possible as there are not many restrictions on what you can build and it is very affordable. Consider average ten times cheaper than building in the USA for the same quality. We at Atitlan Solutions provide building solutions to our clients that can't find the property they would like, Also cost for staff is very affordable less than 2 dollars an hour. All villages are pretty much walking cities so no need of a car. Inexpensive boat transfer coast to go around the lake.
  
• The Healthy environment. Most of the villages offer a good air quality and you will be walking most probably more then you ever considered it. Although  the expats population is reduced you will meet people from different horizons and aged group.
  
• Still untouched.  Guatemala is not yet on the list of destination for retirees so you can benefit from this window of opportunity to get an edge that some other more touristic destination don't offer any more. Some villages still live at their own rhythms which make the experience more authentic and unique, Particularly in the villages around the lake. So you can create your own life style.
• The security. Contrary to other areas of Guatemala, lake Atitlan is very protected from aggression toward foreigners. And shows a very low rate of homicide during the year. It is partly because the locals value the tourist for their influx into the economy but also because they have a control on their communities and don't tolerate the violence. So you can find villages with single women living without issues like in Santa Cruz La laguna or San Marcos La Laguna.

CONS

• No mail service. At the moment Guatemala is still not able to provide a good mail service distribution and therefore if you plan to receive mail you will need to use a private courier sending your mail to a PO BOX in the USA that will forward it to you.
• The over price feeling. It might not be proper only to Guatemala but as foreigners you stand out and people look at you as an endless source of money. So you have to learn your boundaries in order to not be harassed or scammed when doing transaction. Learning a bit of Spanish help.
• Not much social life.  Contrary to Guatemala city and Antigua Guatemala you will not find much to entertain you neither to socialize. Very few quality restaurant around the lake, some theater by the expat school for fund raising and not many parties for expat except the one before Christmas at El Nido by Richard and Silvia.
  
• It is not the USA. Meaning don't expect to be efficient as it should be. Sometimes what your workers will do won't make sense but they will deliver. Be patient living here has been for me a school for patience. Better learn and adapt the latin american life style never in a rush and can be slow.
• Distance from the city.  2 1/2 hours drive and some times longer. No direct line of shuttle from Panajachel to Guatemala city.
  
• Water and Pluming  Water provided by the cities are not always clean so you need to adopt your own filtering system to be protected from  against parasites and others stomach illnesses.As well the plumbing in the houses some times are not well sized and can be a source of problems.

Don't hesitate to check my Youtube channel for more educational video on Lake Atitlan Guatemala Real Estate.