A Walk In San Juan La Laguna

It’s dynamic. It’s kaleidoscopic. It’s spirited. It’s San Juan La Laguna.

From the time I stepped off the boat onto the dock, I could feel the vibration of the village.

It appeared that more people were arriving than leaving, and that was both simultaneously a good indication that I would love it but that I also might have an itch to stay.

My time in San Juan La Laguna started with a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, which you’ll hear referred to as “desayuno tipico.” Simple but filling, my plate consisted of scrambled eggs and beans with a side of sour cream, fried plantains, a basket of tortillas, and an assortment of fruit including watermelon, pineapple, and papaya. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this combination and relieved that it fueled me for the sloping walk we’d make through the village.

I visited a coffee farm, chocolate factory and weaving cooperative, all unique experiences in their own right, and while I’m always a bit over-conscious of being a tourist, in San Juan La Laguna, I more so had an overwhelming feeling that I was where I was supposed to be every moment here.

As a photographer, I wanted to capture everything in the way you want to put something precious and coveted in your pocket for later. It is quite literally impossible to capture the whole of any place, so I stored some frames in my memory and captured others the way they made sense to me- intense, splashy, and evidently human.

I saw more people laughing and playing here than any other village and it made me wonder what felt more special about San Juan La Laguna than anywhere else in Guatemala.

Something about being in a place where color knows no boundaries and the sky seems wider and more open brought me a sense of bliss and childlike happiness. I imagine the same for the people who live there. Take a walk with me to see what I saw.