Called “the house of birds” in the Tzutujil Mayan language, Santiago is known for its wide variety of birds that can be found singing in the trees and embodied in the  embroidery of the traditional clothes women use and weave by hand.

It is also a region known for its artistic wood carvings. The surrounding landscape is known for its large coffee plantations. 

The people of  Santiago Atitlán have much to offer, with  their rich history and culture. They are one of the largest indigenous cultures within Central America. Santiago Atitlán also has one of the oldest Catholic churches in the country. Likewise, it is also home to the holy Maximón, to which people come to visit from different places, bringing gifts to him in gratitude for the miracles he performs.

Lake Atitlán is of volcanic origin; it is situated 140 km. (90 miles) from Guatemala City, in the mountainous state of Sololá, deep in the highlands of Guatemala.

Aldous Huxley, a famous British writer, once called this lake " the most beautiful lake in the world" and many agree with this statement.