Panajachel was our next destination so we decided to be adventurous and take the local chicken buses there. According to the ever reliable Lonely Planet, it's a very simple journey; you only need to change buses once, and the place this happens people are more than willing to help!

4 buses and about 4 hours' later we arrived there!!!! It was our maddest journey yet and we would have to say that we only made it there due to the friendly locals putting us on the right buses and telling us when to get off!!!We could have ended up literally anywhere otherwise!!!

Pana (as the locals call it) was well worth the effort. It is beautiful. The lake that it's on is stunning and the surroundings take your breath away. When you see the pictures you will understand! The journey alone is picturesque.

We just strolled around the afternoon we got there and booked our boat trip around the lakes for the next day.

Up bright and early it was a perfect day and we were able to see the area as its best. The Lago Atitlan has risen considerably in the last 2 years due to heavy rain, therefore a lot of low buildings are now underwater. It's mad to see.

We visited San Juan, (where a religious parade was going on), San Pedro and Santiago Atitlan. All lovely towns, where we got to see the local handicrafts on display, as well as get a better picture of life away from the main tourist towns.