Cerro de Oro, or ‘hill of gold’, is a small village located between the villages of Santiago Atitlan and San Lucas Toliman and is reachable by boat or bus.
It’s at the base of a hill on the lake, on the south side of the lake, and provides some great views without being swarmed by numerous tourists. The hill itself was formed as a result of area volcanic eruptions.
Cerro de Oro is also considered to be one of the sacred Mayan sites around the lake. Legend has it that the all the Mayan’s gold, that is the namesake of the town, was buried in the hill when the Spanish approached the village — that gold has never been found.
Mayans still hold ceremonies on the hill on special days in the Sacred Calendar. Ancient ceramic artifacts and incense stands have been found in the area.