3 Best Hotels in Santa Elena, El Peten

Santa Elena's spiffiest hotel puts you in mind of an old-time lighthouse, dignified in blue and white and sitting lakeside, with splendid views of Flores across the water. From the top-floor terrace especially, views here shine, with bright and spacious rooms, tile floors, and impressive windows. Although far from luxury level, it has standard amenities and nice spaces to lounge. The on-site restaurant will do in a pinch. It's under the same management as several other hotels in Flores, so if you can't get a room at one, you may have other choices.

You could lie in bed and count the birds flying by your window at these villas on Lake Petenchel, east of Santa Elena, where pyramidal angles invoke the temples at Tikal. All 56 rooms, in two-level bungalows spread out around the grounds, are tastefully decorated with colorful weavings and mahogany accents, and they have terrific views. Some 50 bird species have been spotted in the area. If you're interested in more wildlife, ask an attendant where to find the troop of spider monkeys that roams the grounds and the adjacent rain forest, or the local crocodile. Villa Maya is part of a small group of villa-type hotels around Guatemala. Vans shuttle you to and from Tikal.

With stunning views of Flores across the bay, this quiet, laid-back inn is actually located in the village of San Miguel, a quick drive from the island, or an even quicker boat ride. The rooms are comfortable, the proprietors are a wealth of knowledge and can even guide your trip to Tikal or other archaeological sites, and as you relax on the delightful property they make it feel like your home away from home. You can hike from the inn to El Mirador of King Canek, a treehouse with a 360-degree view that allows you to see the lake and island from a bird's-eye view.