Taking the water taxi from Panajachel to San Marcos La Laguna on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala is pretty fast and only costs gringos $25 Q or about $3.20 USD. The back of the boat has the best ride. The front can be rather abusive to the back and other body parts. This is the easy and safe way to get around the lake. San Marcos La Laguna is the most hip town on the lake in my opinion. Lodging is higher but if you have the bread it might be worth the added cost.
I primarily travel solo but you don't have to to enjoy this channel. Working as a river guide during summers in North America I don't earn a lot of money and live close to the federal poverty level. In spite of this I live a rich life on a frugal budget. If you would like to learn more about traveling in Latin America or maybe frugal travel tips visit https://fastfreds.com/travel and if you would like to come rafting with me check out https://fastfreds.com/raft for details.