A volcanic view

To the south and west of Central America's deepest lake, a trio of stratovolcanoes dominates the serrated mountain skyline. We're seeing Volcán San Pedro from the small inlet of Lake Atitlán that separates it from the other two of the triplets: Volcán Tolimán and Volcán Atitlán. Long regarded as one of Guatemala's can't-miss sights, Lake Atitlán is terrifically beautiful but troubled: Serious pollution problems developed here throughout the 20th century, culminating in the 2000s with harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Efforts to clean Atitlán's shores and divert wastewater from the lake are ongoing, largely led by indigenous Maya people. Tourists are always welcome to help—grab a trash bag!