With some terrific road trip options in the surrounding area, having your own car makes sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to explore all that Panajachel, 30 miles away, has to offer. Panajachel Municipal Market, Church of Saint Francis and Casa Cakchiquel Arts Center alone justify the drive. Don’t skip Santiago Atitlan either! Just 35 miles away, San Pedro Volcano, Santiago Atitlán and Atitlan Volcano are non-negotiable stops here.