Although a quick stroll through the upper part of town in San Pedro might make you think otherwise, The Buddha is Lord in San Pedro. They have the hottest babe bartenders, delicious food, fun drinks, and a Halloween party complete with Quetzalteca punch, jello shooters and a Simpsons marathon.
There are no gangs in San Pedro. I've lived here over three years now.
The life in San Pedro is great, the people is great, the food is great, etc. Is the living paradise, is a piece of heaven in the earth. Try the freedom, do everything you want to do. To do: try any party.
Never has a spontaneous destination equaled such a great experience! San Pedro la Laguna is a traveler's haven. Exotic in all the ways a travel experience should be, but filled with an incredible array of the creature comforts of home to make staying a long time nice. The gang at The Buddha on the other side of town provided a family like hospitality. The staff hailed from Canada, the U.S., France, Australia, Honduras and, of course, Guatemala.
I´ve been here for nearly five months and have never been robbed or even heard of anyone being mugged. A girl did get raped a couple of months ago. Travelers should be aware of that. However, she was walking home, drunk and alone at 4 a.m. Many locals I know came up to me in the weeks following this incident to express their disgust and, to be honest, shame that something could happen in their village. Nowhere else that I´ve been are the people so friendly. There are a lot of drugs, they are easy to find but they won´t be thrust upon you. Tolerance and respect run high here and it´s well worth a trip, if only to sit and watch the "magic half hour," just as the sun sets over the crater wall and the only light in the lake is reflected off the clouds. The light goes a beautiful pinky-orange and everything looks incredible. Go to San Pedro and have fun struggling to leave like the rest of us!
My advice is this -- if you go to San Pedro or any of the villages at the Lake, blend in and respect the people and culture. Most of the druggies are European and American, all of the egomaniacs are! The worst thing about the Lake area mostly relate to European and American visitors and settlers who think they somehow own the place or know what is best.
San Pedro is a place to relax and do whatever you want to do. If you like to "party," San Pedro is the place. If you like nature and great views, San Pedro is the place. All the garbage, drugs and bad habits are consequences of the tourists. If you are coming any time of the year be ready to fall in love with the town.
San Pedro is great, especially if you have like the hippy life. Try Punto Rojo, the pizza is excellent. The local people are very lovely, they always are trying to help you.
I was in San Pedro for over 1 month to celebrate Christmas and new year and I had a great time, I did not get sick one time and I had a great time, breakfest at D'noz and dinner at Tin Tins. Party at La Otra Lado, but keep away from Goerge's Place... If his still there and alive! That guy is completly nuts! So just don't do exceptional stupid things and you'll have a great time!
San Pedro is cool for drogas and if you want to feel the groove with some burned out ex-pats. Be careful though, it's April 2008 and just a couple of months ago a foreign girl who was a bartender in San Pedro was robbed, raped, and beaten severely almost to death.
San Pedro is one of the best places in the hemisphere. If a few cockroaches, some vomit, and the smell of urine bother you, maybe you shouldn't be travelling in the 3rd world? D'noz is a great place, with a clean kitchen, and safe food. Probably some of the best food in the country. I've spent a month in San Pedro twice, and some of the people I met there will be my friends for the rest of my life. Or they better! Oh yeah, and easy on the charlie!
I just got back after a month in San Pedro (Feb. 2008). The town is very safe, the Pana dock is really quiet. There are a couple of drug dealers just up from the dock. Breakfast on the weekends at the Alegre is wonderful and their Sunday English roast beef dinner is so popular that it sells out early Sunday afternoon (or morning). This place is extremely honest and will make a real effort to make you happy. At the Santiago dock, The Beach restaurant is as honest and even cheaper than the inexpensive Alegre. Clara and her son run this peaceful place in a beautiful setting. It took me two weeks of paying turista prices before finding this place with local prices for good food, beer, cuba libres, and cokes. Finally, if you are looking for a good language school, there are only two schools rated five stars in Guatemala and one of the two is in San Pedro, Flor del Maiz. I did a lot of research before I came down and this school is the best available in 2008. I have no doubt that…
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