Santa Cruz La Laguna is a municipality in the Sololá department of Guatemala. It is located on the northern shore of Lake Atitlán and has a population of approximately 6000 people[1].
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Santa Cruz is a traditional Mayan village located on the steep mountainside of the lake, roughly 325 vertical feet above the lake's surface. The village has the unique characteristic of being accessible only by boat or footpath. A single, winding road connects the dock to the village.
The village has no roads, telephone system, or commercial center[1], although a common gathering place in the village is the sports court, used for basketball and soccer by the children of the village. Electricity is intermittent and expensive, and is therefore not installed in many households.
Santa Cruz is home to the Centro de Capacitacion ("Center for Training") trade school, commonly referred to as CECAP. The school, funded by the Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation and private donations, officially opened in fall 2010 to the residents of Santa Cruz[2]. The school features a computer lab, craftsman workshop, culinary area, and numerous classrooms, and aims to educate and empower residents of the village. CECAP is in the process of installing a photovoltaic system to supplement electrical needs.
The Laguna Lodge begins at the lake front and sprawls to escarpments and high altitude tropical dry forest. Laguna Lodge is the gateway to 100 acres of safe walking on bio diverse land. Situated in Tzantizotz which in local Kaqchikel is Point of Bats, it begins at the lakes edge at 1,565m (5135ft). The top of the reserve is at 1,963m (6,440ft) with some of the last remaining primary forest on the lake. On some days the top is bathed in clouds. Well maintained paths for every fitness level traverse old Mayan trails. Palm thatched resting pavilions offer panoramic views of the entire lake.
The La Iguana Perdida (literally, "The Lost Iguana") is a hostel at the base of the village popular among tourists visiting Santa Cruz. The Iguana provides both long- and short-term accommodations, and is also home to a diving school. The hostel offers communal meals and a bar, as well as entertainment and laundry services.
Laguna Lodge begins at the lake front and sprawls to escarpments and high altitude tropical dry forest. Laguna Lodge is the gateway to 100 acres of safe walking on this bio diverse land. Situated in Tzantizotz which in local Kaqchikel is Point of Bats, it begins at the lakes edge at 1,565m (5135ft). The top of the reserve is at 1,963m (6,440ft) with some of the last remaining primary forest on the lake. On some days the top is bathed in clouds. Well maintained paths for every fitness level traverse old Mayan trails. Palm thatched resting pavilions offer panoramic views of the entire lake.
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