Live wind
Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Let's Kite describes the Xocomil, a thermal south wind blowing mainly in the afternoon, most consistent from October to December at 8–17 knots, funnelled by the three volcanoes. The water is clear but cold — a wetsuit is recommended.
The shoreline is rocky and steep, so launching and landing are hard; riders take a boat from Panajachel or Santiago Atitlán to Isla de los Gatos. Rider reports say rental is hard to find and wind can come with storms rather than a clean thermal. Intermediate to advanced only.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 8–20 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- choppy, flat
- Depth
- Deep crater lake
- Seabed
- rocks
- Skill
- intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Not for beginners — intermediate and up
- Wind range
- 8 kn – 20 kn
Access & parking
Boat from Panajachel or Santiago Atitlán; Panajachel is about 3 hours from Guatemala City.
Parking: In Panajachel / Santiago Atitlán.
Amenities
- Lake towns with hotels and boat taxis
Needs local verification: Compiled in October 2026 from the Let's Kite spot card for Lake Atitlán, a Tripadvisor forum thread naming the Kiteguate school on Atitlán and Amatitlán, and rider reports on r/Kiteboarding. Guatemala has only these two documented kite lakes; the school claim comes from a forum post, not the school itself, so neither lake carries a beginner label. Wind is thermal and irregular; pins are approximate. Water temperature is a seasonal lake estimate.
Local hazards
- Rocky, steep shores — very little room to launch or land
- Storm-driven gusts
- Cold water
- Boat traffic between villages