Report from Amigos del Lago Association

As a member of  Amigos del Lago Association (AALA)  I 'm please to share its last newsletter about the states of the lake and the work of the Association to improve the current situation.
As the lake water quality is essential for tourism and for real estate.


Dear Friends:

By this means the Association of Friends of Lake Atitlán send a cordial greeting.

The purpose of this letter is to inform briefly the results achieved in the process of lobbying, disclosure and socialization about the Collector Wastewater Basin Lake Atitlan Project.

At the level of the lake basin, the AALA role in the process is to inform and facilitate dialogue with local authorities, community leaders and other local sectors, this to obtain consensus and support from the people toward the Collector Wastewater Project Basin.
At the  national level  AALA has been coordinating and lobbying  with national authorities, NGOs , and cooperating countries.

Today we have progressed as follows:

1. 80% of the municipalities of the basin has been covered visiting to local authorities and groups of community leaders, in all cases the perception has been positive.

2.The message obtained product of lobbying in the basin is that treatment plants are not considered acceptable solutions for the inhabitants of the basin, so there is openness to new ideas.

3.Se has conducted a dissemination workshop with governmental and nongovernmental institutions present in Cuenca working on environmental issues and has reached consensus on the Collector as the best option for the issue of wastewater.

4.Se has made an intense lobbying at the Spanish Embassy and as a direct and immediate product, processes with the IDB INFOM and UNOPS have quite advanced, having reached a consensus on the terms of reference that will feasibility Master Plan Wastewater Basin.

Also follow the scientific monitoring. We are organizing and funding the research expedition, which is taking place from 15 to 25 April 2,015.

Thanks to your support and confidence during the first half of 2015 we will have released and socialized Project 100% of municipalities in the basin, it will have designed and implemented a strategy for local communication and the development of the Master Plan that will allow construction begin Collector Wastewater Basin of Lake Atitlan.

Sincerely.

FRIENDS ASSOCIATION LAKE ATITLÁN


Architect Eduardo Aguirre Chesley Smith
Collector Project Director Chairman Board


Anna D'Apolito
Director Ejecutiva_AALA

Viva Atitlan a different form of tourism

Living in Atitlan Guatemala is the opportunity to discover the living mayan cultures of the areas.
This organisation is dedicated to the conservation of them Viva Atitlan.

Watch their video

En come and enjoy one of the best lifestyle you can find in the North Hemisphere.

A day of a digital Nomad in Lake Atitlan

Check this example of a day in Santa Cruz La Laguna at Atitlan Sunset Lodge..
If you think that you can't work in a set up like that too bad.. now if you are able to pull out of the system then this can be a  place for you...

Dead Fish on the lake?

During March every year you see lots of fishes pupping up dead around the lake.. Lots of people wonders why? Once I have collected 7 kilos of dead fishes but them in ice and took them to AMSCLAE for them to take them to the laboratory.. After some analysis they determine that they died of stress...
Following the best explanation I got for years ... It is a problem of population numbers, food and space.  The fishes dying are not able to find their place in the lake environment.
When it is rainy season the temperature of the water is too high. Therefore the crappies don't stay in the shallow areas and go deep.. When the temperatures hits 20 degrees in the dry season their number explode,  and they are every where above 8 meters. It is usually before the Easter Week and when everybody is out from the village fishing on the piers all along the shore.
Two species, the sunfish or mojarra and the bass (both introduced species) only breed in the shallows and also very territorial. There is literally no space for these fish to continue to breed as a majority of the shallows are taken up by dense vegetation and other fish there nesting. The stress levels increase in these fish as the population numbers grow out of control. And then they start to die raising to the surface, drifting to the shore making food for the Grey Heron and other big birds.

But right now the water is absolutely gorgeous...

Boating on Lake Atitlan

One of the beauty of living on Lake Atitlan is the ability to cruise on an empty lake..
Most of the time you won't see private boat.. Only regular lanchas which are the public transportation system. Mostly between Panajachel and Santiago Atitlan from the public beach.. and from San Pedro's pier to Santa Cruz La Laguna, Jaibalito, Tzununa, San Marcos La Laguna, San Pablo La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna and San Pedro.. you have also a public line between San Pedro La Laguna and Santiago Atitlan.
Either than that you have very few private boats.. mostly from Guatemalan coming on week end and very few expats living on the lake..
We  just got the used Cobia with a gorgeous 150 Hp Yamaha four stroke.. Silent and powerful.
A great work done my Lineas Marinas de la Marina Kayuko.. en great shop that can fix your boat if needed.

now the next step is to get one of these beautiful brand new boat..like this Orus Robalo R 180 for $ 34,990 without the engine

I like the middle size boat for Atitlan.. 17 ft to 20Ft are good size.. Longer the boats are too long for the piers either private or public..

You can also decide to import your own boat as there is a trade agreement between USA and Guatemala and boat are custom taxes free.. but you need to deal with people with experience with this matter as it can turn out expensive if not done properly.

GoatLife TV Episode 31 - A Tour Of Our Lakefront Casita

Check out this great video on how life can be in Lake Atitlan... Small rent  big views

Nothing more then quality life...

Festival of Consciousness ..

Part of living in Lake Atitlan for certain is to tap into the vortex of energy that characterise this beautiful landscape.. Fire (volcanos) , Water (Lake) , Wind (Xocomil) and Earth (the highlands)
meet to deliver a highly charged energy field..
Tale advantage of it and tour this upcoming event in San Marcos La Laguna.. the most advanced people in their quest for happiness meet.. Enjoy the festival of Consciousness.. between March 19th and 22 sd..