Hidden around the corner, tucked away in the Mayan Highlands between dense vegetation, sits a breathtaking lodge constructed from locally sourced volcanic stone, adobe, and palm. After an international flight, three-hour bus ride, and a ten minute boat ride, we finally made it to the Laguna Lodge on the evening of Thursday, July 2, 2015.
The Laguna Lodge is an Eco-Resort and Nature Reserve located in Panajachel on the lakeshore of Lake Atitlan, surrounded by traditional villages and a trio of volcanoes. The property itself is absolutely stunning.
Indigenous antiques fill the lodge. All rooms are situated facing the lake. We were given a room isolated from the others. Upstairs, past the common area, an old skeleton key opened the large detailed wooden door to our room. Much like the rest of the property, the room was stunning. But, the view of the lagoon was even more spectacular.
Staring into the distance, I was pleasantly surprised – I was not expecting to be this taken away. Guatemala was never next on my list. Fourth of July weekend was approaching, and I did not have the slightest idea of where to go. My travel plans with my grandmother had to be postponed, leaving me clueless. With a travel list as long as mine, picking a destination is not difficult. Finding one within budget for a specific date range, on the other hand, is not easy.
Central America is relatively inexpensive. However, if you choose to travel to and stay in a very remote location, expect to pay a premium for everything. Dining options at and near the Laguna Lodge were limited. Zotz, the lodge’s award winning restaurant, only serves prefixed vegetarian entrees, which are very expensive. I was surprised at how creative and tasteful vegetarian dishes could be, but the prices were ridiculous. We ate dinner at the lodge on the second night and paid over $150 USD for dinner and drinks. Keep in mind, this was a vegetarian course. Not quite sure how vegetables can even cost that much, but I must admit that the dinner was delicious.
If you are going to hike the paths around Lake Atitlan at night, I would strongly suggest dressing for the occasion. And bringing a flashlight. Using my cell phone as a light, I looked down to see my first ever scorpion. That definitely scared me. The path was sketchy – thin bridges made out of old rotting wood, held up by wires, ties, and other plastics. You can take the hotel’s boat, but for a rather hefty charge. Although I have nothing negative to say about the hotel itself, the services were overpriced and expensive. Maybe because they knew they could get away with it. A monopoly, I suppose.
If you are looking to remove yourself from society for a couple of days, take a trip to the Laguna Lodge, where peace and quiet is plentiful.
We only had two full days at Lake Atitlan. One of the days was supposed to include paragliding from the cliffs of the eastern side of the lake. Unfortunately, wind patterns were not consistent and the activity was canceled. Our short time at Lake Atitlan was spent exploring the traditional villages around the lake, the most known being Santiago Atitlan and San Juan La Laguna.
Lake tours can be rather expensive when booked directly through the local hotels. Instead, take local transportation. There are public boats that stop at most docks along the lake. Public transportation costs pennies, unlike the hundreds charged by private companies.
Being creative, I also arranged for a stop at the Mayan Ruins of Iximche on the way to Panajachel, and a three-hour stop in Antigua on the way back to the airport in Guatemala City.
Guatemala’s colonial capital Antigua is renowned for its Spanish colonial buildings and colorful streets. The small city is surrounded by volcanoes and offers postcard-worthy views. A perfect place to end our long holiday weekend in Guatemala.
