9 Best Hotels in The Pacific Lowlands, Guatemala

A wonderfully friendly Finnish–Guatemalan couple operates this bright, cheery hotel on the beach road west of town. The Guatemalan half of the pair brings her artist's talents—ask for a tour of her on-premises studio—to the rooms, which are decorated in bright tropical colors, with one or two beds per room, two chairs, small armoire, and a stone-basin sink and shower in the bathroom. A small staff whips up great food and serves it out in the thatch-roof rancho next to the pool.

Set a bit outside the center of town, Monterrico's most sumptuous lodging comes courtesy of the folks who brought you Panajachel's Hotel Dos Mundos. It's another winner, even if such luxury seems a bit out of place in this funky beach town. Bungalows are arranged around the beachfront grounds, and contain tile floors, carved-wood furniture, and individual porches. The combination of ceiling fans and air-conditioning keeps things delightfully cool, as do a dip in the pool or a refreshing drink at the large rancho-style restaurant and bar.

The second word in this lodging's name is missing an I, but this newest of the area's lodgings isn't missing any comfort. Just outside the tiny hamlet of Hawaii, 8 km (5 mi) east of Monterrico, the place is hopping for such a remote locale. (The paved roads ends just outside Monterrico, meaning you negotiate the last few kilometers on a dirt road. Rooms and apartments are bright and modern, and all have terrific ocean views. The hotel offers a 20-percent discount on its normal rates Monday–Thursday nights.

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.

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.

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.

You negotiate a rough road to get here—it's a few kilometers north of the entrance to its namesake ruins—but a stay on this working coffee, rubber, and macadamia plantation is worth the trip. The colonial-style rooms are in the plantation house, and, except for having to share bathrooms, are quite nice. Two large, newer, separate bungalows are designed to be their own mini-Mayan palaces. The lodge has a lot of mix-and-match packages that contain lodging only, all meals, or several tours, among them horse and bicycle rides, as well as tours of the nearby ruins.

This is a realistic option only if you have a car, but the Utz Tzaba is a good small-resort choice. (The name means "beautiful coast.") Rooms make a semicircle around the lush green grounds fronting the beach, and have high ceilings and tile floors. Bungalows sleep up to seven people, and come with one or two bedrooms and fully equipped kitchenettes. (The bungalow rate does not include breakfast for that reason, but rooms do.) A separate kids' pool and playground make this a good option if you're traveling with the family. Internet access is difficult in this part of the country, but these folks offer Wi-Fi.