120 Best Hotels in Guatemala

This hotel has the feel of a backpacker's lodge without backpacker prices, but it's in the park, and despite the less-than-luxe mattress, you'll awaken to birdsong. Jaguar Inn has a decent if overpriced restaurant with shaded outdoor seating. Rooms of different sizes have tile floors, fans, and wooden furnishings, with Guatemalan fabrics. You can also camp here on a crowded platform for about Q110 (US$15) per person, including complete supplies and use of bathrooms and showers (we don't recommend this option). The inn optimistically promises electricity from a generator 24 hours a day, but hot water is only available from 6 am to 9 am, and 6 pm to 9 pm. The hotel will pick you up in Melchor near the border for US$90 one-way for two people.

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.

Rooms are simple here—expect tiled floors and two beds each—but the hillside location just above the dock gives you the best views in town, especially if you lodge on the top floor. All guests have access to the rooftop terrace.

This hotel has clean, simply furnished rooms, the best four of which overlook the lake. A third-floor balcony with wooden lounge chairs is the best place in town for an afternoon siesta. Although the restaurant always looks closed, it's open for business. Just call out "¡Buenas tardes!" until one of the workers appears. The Italian dishes are authentic and filling.

At first blush, you wouldn't choose a hotel near the center of a port town, but this hotel in the center of Puerto San José does things up big and draws a ton of weekend vacationers from Guatemala City. The place is thoroughly sparkling and modern, with air-conditioned comfort, a great pool, with one for the kids on the side, and a yummy restaurant. If you find yourself needing to stop in Puerto San José—we admit that's far from a likely possibility—this is a good bet.

This four-story hotel in the heart of town offers clean, if basic, accommodations. Ask to see a few rooms, as some are much better than others.

Founded in 1892, this family-run establishment is one of Guatemala's oldest, still-operating lodgings. Over the years the distinguished hotel has maintained its tradition of good service. The wood-floor rooms, furnished with antiques, surround a few small courtyards leading off the lobby. Dinner is served in a fine colonial-style restaurant.

Make this your first choice in San Pedro. It costs no more than the other budget options, and provides you with a big step up in quality. Rooms are on two floors—those on the top floor have good views—and are bright and cheery, with either a double or a pair of twin beds.

The common areas, with lake views and cheery colors are lovelier places to be than the simple rooms, but the oldest hotel in Flores remains a reliable one. A plunge pool graces the atrium of this classic lodging, almost like a functional fountain (which can actually be a little off-putting unless you don't mind swimming in front of guests checking in). The lakefront location is excellent. With so many options nearby, it's best to dine outside the hotel. The same owners also operate Hotel de La Casona del Lago, among others.

The hotel whose name translates as "fish of gold" is best known for its Italian restaurant. Stop by for dinner even if you aren't staying here. Thatch-roof, tile-floor bungalows are scattered around the grounds, each with carved-wood furniture and ceiling fans that keep each unit surprisingly cool.

Retalhuleu's prestige address is this medium-size, colonial-style hotel a couple of blocks from the Central Park. It is frequented by business travelers during the week and vacationing families on the weekend. The large rooms are arranged on two floors around the pool area, and contain dark-wood furnishings and two beds each. Ask for a room that doesn't overlook the busy 5 Calle.

The poolside restaurant is the best in town.

At the end of Calle Santander, this excellent hotel—there's a branch by the same name in Antigua, and a stay at both branches in one trip gets you a 10-percent discount on the rates—has some of the best views of the lake. The rooms make use of handwoven fabrics from the local communities. Ask for one of the newer beachfront rooms with slightly more modern amenities and better views. Relax by the pool or in one of the hammocks hung along a breezy corridor. There's a small on-site museum that gives insight into the history of the Maya.

A night in this restored colonial mansion—it’s actually three adjoining residences, one of which is a national monument—is a journey back in time. All rooms have soaring ceilings and gorgeous tile floors, and are set around two large courtyards and several smaller gardens. A tile fountain trickles in the dining room, which is on a garden terrace; to the side, a woman prepares tortillas on a piping-hot grill. Indulge in a serving of Antigua flan, a dessert layered with figs and sweet potatoes. Light sleepers, beware: the lively marimba band can sometimes play long into the night. The lodging is part of a two-hotel chain, with another branch in Panajachel on Lake Atitlán; a stay at both places in a single trip gets you a 10% discount off the rates.

A pair of conjoined colonial homes—leading to a pair of two colonial garden courtyards—makes up this friendly lodging a block from its namesake church. Rooms are simply furnished with wood furniture and colonial-style art. A few of the larger rooms have their own kitchen and are large enough to accommodate a family. Elsewhere in the hotel, you'll have access to shared kitchen facilities. The hotel offers discounts for long-term stays, as well as baggage storage if you plan to travel elsewhere around Guatemala.

Friendly owners are a nice plus at this budget find with mostly second-floor rooms in the center of town. Of the hotels we recommend in Panajachel, this one is closest to the bar action on Calle Santander. The noise is really only a problem on weekends, but rooms 1, 8, and 9 do not face the street and make for quieter evenings. Their bay windows face a center courtyard occupied by the sedate restaurant downstairs. Those three rooms are larger than the others and have fireplaces, too. We like Room 9 in particular; it has its own interior balcony.

In a lovely old building, this hotel is a welcome retreat from the frantic pace of the streets outside. The large, elegant lobby has an antique chandelier and a sweeping staircase. The high-ceilinged rooms, though a bit plain, are nevertheless comfortable. If you don't mind the noise, ask for one with a view of 6 Avenida—it's a great way to view the action without having to fight the crowds.

The well-manicured gardens of this small complex lead down past a shallow pool, bricked Mayan sauna, and Jacuzzi to a private beach. Although many of the condos lack good views of the lake, their barrel-roof brick ceilings and understated Moorish design more than make up for it. This is a great place for groups or families—each bungalow can sleep six, and has a separate living area, fully outfitted kitchen, and private terrace.

This pretty colonial house puts a little space between you and the bustling Zona Viva. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the reception area look out onto a sunny courtyard dotted with statues. Sloping stairs lead up to the individually decorated rooms. Other rooms in an annex are newer, but they lack the charm of those in the main house.

This little hotel has a definite charm, most of it emanating from the engaging couple that runs it. The simple rooms, with handwoven bedspreads, surround a sunny courtyard. Clotheslines full of the day's laundry stretch to the roof next door. The shared baths are clean, but hot water is available only in the morning.

Most rooms here face a peaceful courtyard with cast-iron tables and chairs and lots of greenery. Several on the second floor share a balcony that overlooks the avenue. A small café behind the courtyard is a great place to relax after a day of exploring the city.

The cluster of bungalows, set farthest from the park entrance, wraps around a well-manicured garden and a pool, which you will be very happy to see after trekking through the ruins. There are several types of accommodations: bungalows (the best choice), junior suites in two buildings, and rooms in the main lodge building and in an outbuilding. The bungalows have thatch roofs and stucco walls decorated with traditional fabrics. Electricity is limited. A restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner has a menu with daily specials. Some bookings require a breakfast and dinner package. Try to avoid this as the food is underwhelming.

Any lodging with its own heliport must cater to an affluent clientele, right? Yet rates are very reasonable here. Opt, if you can, for one of the 14 rooms across the street from the reception. They are scattered throughout a pleasant garden. With their stucco walls, big wooden doors, armoires, antique furniture, tile floors, and hammocks in the breezeways (and some rooms with fireplaces), they echo an old Guatemalan hacienda. Eight other rooms sit either above the reception area or near the parking lot. Beef is the specialty in the restaurant ($–$$), along with great lake views.

This three-floor lodging sits on a quiet street, just one-half block off Calle Santander. Rooms come with cabinet, bed, and table—not much else—but the place is a good, peaceful budget find.

Surrounding a covered courtyard illuminated by skylights, the spacious carpeted rooms at Hotel Villa Real Plaza all have fireplaces that you'll appreciate on cool evenings. Those in a newer wing are superior to those in the dimly lit older section. The restaurant (¢–$$) has an interesting menu, whose offerings range from chicken cordon bleu to a variety of meaty stews. You'll receive a small discount if you pay with cash.

This hotel was once the general store that gave El Estor its name. Now run by the loquacious Oscar Paz, it has clean, cozy rooms. The wide wooden balcony is a great place to observe the town's waterfront. Before checking in, make sure the town hall next door has no plans for a dance; otherwise the thumping music will keep you awake until 4 am.

When you pass through the front doors of this hotel north of the main square, you enter a courtyard overflowing with greenery. The older rooms, set around a portico, are brightened by locally made fabrics. They can be a bit noisy, however, especially those facing the street. The newer ones in the back are quieter, but lack character.

Traditionally Monterrico's most happening place gives you several lodging options that will work out, no matter what your budget. They range from multi-person dorm rooms to fully equipped bungalows—they're made of concrete and are still a bit on the basic side, but comfortable, nonetheless. If you're feeling flush with your quetzals, and are here with a small group, opt for the two-story, stone-and-brick deluxe bungalow, the only unit here with air-conditioning, hot water, and television.

Even if you don't stay here, stop by for a meal

—everybody in town usually does at some point during their stay.

Built atop a cliff overlooking the azure waters, this gorgeous inn unquestionably has a great vantage point for gazing at Lago Atitlán. All the rooms have views, but those from Number 1 and Number 3 are the most breathtaking. If you can tear yourself away from the windows, you'll notice that the beautifully decorated rooms have wood-beam ceilings, red-tile floors, and stucco-and-stone walls hung with local handicrafts. If you want to get a closer look at the lake, kayaks are available. Meals are served family style in the cozy restaurant (¢–$).

You enter this stately hotel through iron gates, then step into a small reception area that leads to a comfortable lounge with a fireplace to keep out the chill. The restaurant spills out into the courtyard; its cast-iron chairs are surrounded by arches covered with dangling philodendrons. Traditional tile floors grace the rooms, which are furnished with antiques. Rooms in the front open onto a balcony, but those in the back are quieter.

The traditionally backpacker-oriented "Lost Iguana" is part hotel and part summer camp. It hasn't forgotten its roots, but has upgraded some of its offerings, which range from simple to splendid. The restaurant ($) serves up good family-style meals, and the dormitory rooms can hold up to eight of your traveling companions. For a bit more privacy, choose one of the stone-floor, thatch-roof bungalows—each has its own balcony—lit with kerosene lamps. (Even the nicer rooms are a good value.) Guests tend to be fairly young—most come for scuba-diving courses. You can also choose between Spanish, art, or weaving classes, too.

Stop by for the Saturday-night barbecue, even if you aren't staying here.