Lake Atitlan

"Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing." --Aldous Huxley

My Maya guide said the water level rose 5 meters after last year's hurricanes. Shorelines were full of flooded forests.

Used with permission. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28356093@N08/5607790477/

It's tempting but rude to take pictures of the Maya ladies. This photographer probably paid her in exchange for the shoot.