Patronal Festival San Marcos 2027

The patron saint: San Marcos Evangelista

San Marcos Evangelista (Saint Mark the Evangelist) is one of the four Gospel writers and the author of the second Gospel in the New Testament. His feast day, April 25, appears on the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. In iconography, Saint Mark is traditionally represented by a winged lion, a symbol that appears in Catholic artwork throughout Latin America wherever he is the patron.

San Marcos La Laguna is a small Kaqchikel Maya community on the northwestern shore of Lake Atitlán, nestled between San Pablo La Laguna and Tzununá. The town has a population of only a few hundred people and is accessible primarily by lancha from Panajachel or San Pedro. In recent decades, the village has attracted a small community of international residents drawn to its quietude and spiritual atmosphere, though the Kaqchikel Maya community remains the core social and ceremonial center.

What the celebration looks like

Given San Marcos's small size, the fiesta patronal is an intimate community event centered on the parish church and the main plaza.

Mass on April 25. The central act of the feast day is the Mass celebrated in the parish church in honor of San Marcos Evangelista. The priest may come from the diocesan circuit, as small villages in the lake region often share clergy. The Mass is conducted in Spanish and, depending on the presiding priest, may include elements in Kaqchikel.

Procession. Following Mass, the image of San Marcos is carried in procession through the village's main paths. Because San Marcos is a small and partially unpaved village, the procession is compact but no less meaningful for its size. Copal incense, candles, and the sound of morteros (firework shells) mark the passage of the anda through the streets.

Community feria. A small feria typically accompanies the feast day, with food vendors and marimba music in the evening. The scale is intimate: this is a community celebration, not a regional fair. Visiting it means genuinely being a guest in a small town's most important annual event.

For visitors

San Marcos La Laguna is reachable by public lancha from Panajachel (approximately 30 minutes) or by the private lanchas that run between lake towns. There is limited accommodation in the village; the small guesthouses fill quickly during the fiesta. Arriving by lancha on the day of the feast and returning to Panajachel or San Pedro in the evening is a viable option.

The fiesta falls in late April, shortly after Semana Santa, which means the lake is still in a post-Holy-Week lull. Weather in April at the lake tends toward warm mornings and possible afternoon showers.

Dress modestly for all church events. In a town this small, respectful behavior stands out and is deeply appreciated. San Marcos's residents have experience with visitors and are generally welcoming, but the fiesta patronal is first and foremost a celebration for and by the community.