Central America's largest and perhaps most diverse country has many dramatic spots that evoke a marked sense of place - the spectacular Mayan ruins of Tikal; the colonial splendour of Antigua; the castaway Caribbean vibe of Livingston; and much more. But Lake Atitlán, in the highlands a 2 1/2-hour drive north of Guatemala City, does that and more - it evokes something akin to an interior emotion and energy, a soaring of the soul, even a sense of the sublime.

Among those who know these things, Central America's deepest lake (340 metres/1,120 feet) is widely considered one of the world's loveliest lakes, as well as one of its most spiritual. There's evidence that there was once an island here that was a religious ceremonial centre in the pre-classical period of Mayan civilisation - called Samabaj after its recent local discoverer and dubbed by National Geographic "the Mayan Atlantis"; just being studied now, its secrets have yet to be completely unveiled.

Read more in our post Water Magic on Guatemala's Lake Atitlán.