Where to stay in Guatemala? Like any other country, Guatemala has a large amount of beautiful hotels. For both work and personal trips, I visited Guatemala dozens of times. When I travel by myself, I always look out smaller scale hotels with beautiful interiors, a nice atmosphere and a convenient location. In addition, I like to support the locals and love a sustainable approach around a hotel. I always spend a lot of time researching, before I book my stay. In this article I will tell you more about my favorite places to stay in Guatemala: The best hotels, sorted by city and region in Guatemala.
Where to stay in Lake Atitlan Guatemala
Casa Prana
One of the most beautiful places to stay around Lake Atitlan is Casa Prana, located near the village of Santa Cruz and only only accessible by boat. Casa Prana is surrounded by 9 acres of beautiful lush gardens, with walking paths, buddha statues and little seating areas all over. Everywhere you look, you see greenery, palm trees, exotic plants and flowers. And the views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes are just breathtaking.
Prana means breath in sanskrit, considered as a life-giving force. And the owners did everything to make you feel aware of your surroundings, being able to fully recharge. You will breath in the fresh air, enjoy the views of the lake, taste the lovely cuisine, smell the many flowers, observe the hummingbirds, feel the sun on your skin and marvel at the design and decorations that you’ll find all over the Casa Prana hotel complex.
The suites
Casa Prana has only 8 suites, wich gives you a very private and luxurious feeling. The suites vary in size and prices but they all have amazingly soft king size beds, nice decorations, en-suite bathrooms and stunning views. Looking for somethjing really unique? Make sure to reserve the luxury suite, featuring an incredible bathtub with view. You will feel like a king and queen during your stay!
Check the availability and latest rates for Casa Prana here.
The area offers everything you need. You can relax at the sunbeds around the swimming pool, work out in the gym, practise yoga, relax in the herbal sauna, walk around the complex. Or settle down in one of the many seating areas and enjoy their food and drinks.
Interested in staying at Casa Prana? In the next article you’ll read everything you want to know about a stay at Casa Prana, one of the best hotels around Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Lush Atitlan
If you are looking for a nice place to stay near the village of San Marcos, famous for its yoga, meditation and organic food, go to Lush Atitlan. This place is located in San Marcos de Laguna between the main street and the Cerro Tzankujil nature reserve. Lush Atitlan is built against the mountain, so the rooms are all different and have different sizes. This lush place, as the name Lush suggests, is set in a beautiful green garden and flowers are all around you. The greenery grows up along the buildings and everything is well maintained.
Depending on the type of room you choose, you have amazing views of the volcanoes and the lake. Some rooms even have two floors and a private terrace with kitchen and seating area. Lush Atitlan is one of the best places to go around San Marcos La Laguna Guatemala.
Check the availability and latest rates for Lush Atitlan here.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is one of the most unique hotels in Guatemala. And that is especially when I’m talking about suite number 5. This is a private two-floor little house, located on Lake Atitlan, with its own infinity pool and terrace. The view from your bed when you wake up in the morning, the view from the bathroom when you shower or take a bath, or when you enjoy a meal on your terrace. It is just breathtaking.
And the interior is also stylish. The designer must have been a freak when designing this place. And I mean that in a positive way because everything has been thought about. There is so much attention to detail. Something unique are the many empty bottles that are built into the wall. I’ve looked at it several times and wondered how long they must have worked on that. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner at La Fortuna. And I can recommend it all. There is a daily changing three-course menu, which you can order in the restaurant or in your house.
And yes, I cannot deny that this amazing place, also comes with a serious price tag (a few hundred euros per night). And you probably really have to save for it. But what you get in return is an absolute dream. If you compare it to the prices of a good room in a European city, you get so much more value for money here.
Curious about beautiful Lake Atitlan? In the next article you will find an extensive travel guide for Lake Atitlan Guatemala, with tips for things to do in the nice villages, hikes and restaurants.
Places to stay in Antigua Guatemala and surroundings
Good Hotel Antigua
Antigua has so many places to stay, including a lot of gorgeous boutique hotels. But if you’re looking for something special, check out Good Hotel Antigua. It is not only one of the nicest places to stay in Guatemala, but you are also supporting an important project. 100% of the profit goes to Niños de Guatemala, a foundation offering high quality education to over 500 children from low-income families in Guatemala. With one overnight stay, you help one child going to school for 7 days.
Check the availability and rates of Good Hotel Antigua here.
The rooms
Good Hotel Antigua is decorated with sleek white walls, lots of greenery and nice lounge areas in the courtyard. The rooms are comfortable, the beds great and the internet works (unlike many other places). There are different types of rooms, consisting of one or two floors with or without a terrace. All rooms are named after one of the children of the project, and even have a picture with a small description. Something I really loved because of the personal connection you start to feel with the project. The adjacent restaurant is a great hang out and hotspot for remote workers.
Antigua is one of the most beautiful cities in Guatemala. The city, located at the foot of the 3750 m high Agua volcano, is a large open-air museum. There are colonial buildings, where a new world opens behind every door, cute narrow streets with colorful houses, ruins of collapsed churches and fantastic views of the surrounding volcanoes. You can stroll around for days, visit museums, shop in fancy boutique stores and eat in great restaurants. And the surrounding area is also worth exploring, with coffee plantations, viewpoints, organic farms and incredible hikes to active volcanoes. This is a guide with the best things to do in the beautiful city and surroundings of Antigua Guatemala.
Hobbitenango – unique hotel in the mountains of Antigua Guatemala
Hobbitenango, means place of the Hobbit. A fantasy-filled attraction village where local people spend the weekend to enjoy the mountains and nature. There are hammocks, viewpoints, restaurants, live performances and picture hotspots such as the hobbit hand, offering incredible views over the valley and volcanoes. It is also possible to spend the night in this village, in your own little hobbit house. Once the daily visitors are gone, you have the entire mountain to yourself.
The hobbits
There are three hobbit houses, furnished in a pretty hobbit style. Depending on the type of hobbit you book, you will have your own bedroom, spacious living room, bathroom and little terrace. And the views from the hobbit are unforgettable. During the day as well as in the evening you have an incredible view of the smoking Fuego volcano. The hobbits are exclusively for guests, so that the daily visitors cannot walk around your house. And you are going to be so happy with that, as the entire site is a photo paradise.
You’ll have a private butler, included in your stay, who will take care of you breakfast, lunch and dinner, if you don’t feel like eating in one of the restaurants. It is recommended to book at least 1 night in a hobbit and immerse yourself into the activities of Hobbitenango just like the locals. Just keep in mind that it can be extremely crowded with families on weekends, while you’ll find a more younger hipster type of crowd during the week.
Where to stay in Peten – your perfect startingpoint for Tikal Guatemala
Hotel La Lancha, by Francis Ford Coppola
Did you know that famous director Francis Ford Coppola (known for The Godfather and Apocalypse Now) has a beautiful hotel in Guatemala? It’s called La Lancha. La Lancha is a small paradise located in the rainforest on the Lago Petén Itzá, near the famous Mayan ruins of Tikal. The surroundings are truly beautiful. The green of the jungle, the flowers, butterflies, many birds, monkeys swinging through the trees and the serene tranquility of the lake. I can look at it for hours!
The rooms are high and decorated with materials and products from Guatemala. Think of ceremonial masks and beautifully embroidered huipiles (ponchos). There are different type of rooms, with lake view or jungle view. And all of them have a terrace and hammock.
La Lancha is a a perfect startingpoint if you want to visit the mysterious Maya cities of Tikal, Yaxhá and Uaxactún. In Summer it is also possible to make a helicopter tour to El Mirador, one of the most remote archaeological sites. You can also take a boat trip to Flores, a former Maya city that was completely destroyed by the Spaniards. Nowadays you will find many colored houses, shops and rooftop restaurants
Check the availability and rates of La Lancha in Guatemala here.
Temazcal
But it is also nice to spend some time at the La Lancha resort. You can relax in a Temazcal, a traditional sauna from the time of the Maya, swim in the lake or in the pool and enjoy delicious dishes.
La Lancha is one of the best and most beatiful places to stay in Petén province in Guatemala. Read more about my stay in La Lancha and the different things you can do in the area. Curious about the mysterious city of Tikal, one of the most beautiful Mayan archaeological sites. Read the full article about my trip to Tikal with many useful tips. Looking for a less-visited archaeological Maya site? Read my article about visiting Yaxhá, located at the Laguna Yaxhá.
Hotels in Lanquin Guatemala
Zephyr lodge
Although Lanquin is a small town, you will find several nice hotels. My favorite place is the Zephyr Mountain lodge. This hotel, with infinity pool, is located on a mountain and offers 360 degree views over the valley and the river. You are surrounded by greenery and flowers but also able to walk into the small town within 5 minutes
There are different types of rooms that you can choose before your visit. The private rooms are the nicest. Room 8 is my favorite. It has great views through the high windows, and you’ll have own private balcony.
Check the availability and rates of Zephyr Mountain lodge here.
The rooms are quite basic but fully equipped with everything you need, including hot water. There is also a restaurant, nothing fancy but just good meals for affordable prices. It is also possible to book tours to the caves of Lanquin, natural wonder Semuc Champey or an afternoon tubing or canopying. Keep in mind that the Zephyr lodge in Lanquin is a hostel type of hotel (meaning backpackers and parties around the pool). But its unique location and lovely private rooms with view, made me forget the hostel vibe completly.
Do you want to read more about what to do in Lanquin? Have a look in the Lanquin travel guide with many things to do, including the caves and Semuc Champey, the natural wonder of Guatemala, how to visit and best time to visit.
Where to stay in Guatemala City
Hotel San Carlos
Guatemala City is full with hotel chains and hostels. And it took me a long time before I found a nice boutique hotel. During my last visit I was going to stay for more than two nights in the city. And therefore I wanted to stay at a central location near the airport and close to my favorite neighborhoods such as zona 4 and zona 10. I ended up staying at Hotel San Carlos and I couldn’t be more happy.
Check the availability and rates of Hotel San Carlos here.
This small boutique hotel is located at la Avenida de la Reforma, close to the airport.. You hardly have the feeling of being in crowded and chaotic Guatemala City. The rooms are spacious and well maintained and there is a nice courtyard with swimmingpool. An uber takes you within 10 minutes to zona 4 with a great amount of fancy restaurants, bars and shops. It is for sure one of the best places to stay in Guatemala City.
Did you enjoy reading this list with boutique hotels in Guatemala? Check out my recommendations for the best boutique hotels in Colombia.
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More about Guatemala
Do you want to read more about beautiful Guatemala? In this article you’ll find the 20 best things to do in Guatemala, including off the beaten path destinations, best time to travel, travel itineraries and information about safety. Have a look in the Guatemala archive for a cityguide for Antigua and travel guides about Lake Atitlan, Lanquin, the famous market of Chichicastenango, the Acatenango volcano hike and a boat trip on the Rio Dulce to Caribbean Livingston. Interested in archaeology? In this article I’m taking you to the Maya ruins of Tikal and Quiriguá, a smaller and less visited Maya site with beautiful Maya stelae.
More hotels in Central and South America
Looking for more boutique hotels and lodges in Latin America? Have a look in my next articles.
- Best boutique hotels in Colombia
- Best boutique hotels in El Salvador – Discover unique places to stay
- Best boutique hotels in Ecuador – Discover unique places to stay