27 Best Hotels in The Highlands, Guatemala

This small hotel is in a secluded cove, and each of its stone-floor, stucco bungalows is shaded by avocado and papaya trees. Ask the friendly German owner to make you a tropical drink, one of his favorite pastimes. If piña coladas aren't your thing, request a massage—he is rumored to be the best masseur on the lake. The restaurant serves up great curries and other international dishes.

Magnificent views are the big draw at this rustic retreat. Rooms, in several wood-and-stone bungalows, are small but neat. The delicious home cooking is served family style in the main building, which resembles a New England farmhouse. The menu ($) changes constantly, but each meal comes with fresh vegetables and bread hot out of the oven. Electricity is solar-generated, with gas used to fuel the supply of hot water.

This slightly ramshackle hotel a few blocks off the plaza is a popular spot with travelers on a budget. Rooms on two floors of a converted residence face a small courtyard overflowing with plants. Several are arranged dorm-style with bunks, and sleep eight to 10 people. Though simple, they're clean and comfortable. There's a separate lounge where you can chat with other guests.

This longtime budget standby just two blocks off the Parque Centro América has undergone a complete remodeling to upgrade its furnishings and facilities. Spacious, carpeted rooms on the upper floor contain private bathrooms; those on the first floor, all with partial brick walls, offer shared baths. All have colorful spreads and drapes. Everyone has access to shared kitchen facilities.

The Alps are nowhere to be seen, but at the very least, the sun-splashed breakfast room at this cozy little hotel does the name justice. The rooms are smallish but not cramped. Wooden masks and other handicrafts adorn the walls. A pleasant terrace is a great place for relaxing after a taxing day of roaming the markets. The hotel is down a small unpaved road near 7 Avenida, and removed from the cacophony of market central.

San Juan La Laguna's best (and only) lodging option, the Uxlabil has its own thatched dock and extensive grounds with a medicinal herb garden, Mayan sauna, and Jacuzzi. The simple rooms have textured walls reminiscent of beach sand, rather hard beds, and traditional-textile bedclothes.

Although they're a bit run-down, these nine bungalows are adequate and have fireplaces that keep you cozy at night. The best part of staying here is having round-the-clock access to the hot springs, which close to the public at 6 pm. The cabins themselves have no hot water, though.

Who would've thought that out-of-the-way Huehuetenango would have such a top-notch hotel? Spacious rooms, excellent service, and a central location make it the town's best lodging option. Third-floor rooms have great views, especially when the bougainvillea is in full bloom. At the restaurant ($) you can choose between a table in the shady courtyard or in the cozy dining room warmed by a fireplace.

This hotel in an older building a few blocks north of the plaza has a variety of rooms facing a cobblestone courtyard. The plant-filled portico leading to most rooms is scattered with inviting chairs and tables. Rooms are simply furnished, and a few have fireplaces. The hotel even offers its own rooftop market with 45 vendors on Thursday and Sunday market days.

A series of A-frame cabins climb the hillside garden here up from the hotel's private dock. (The views are lovely, but the walk can be bracing.) Inside the cabins, expect rustic wood and blindingly white walls decorated with primitivist art. We like the whimsical, partially open bathrooms. (A hummingbird might be your companion in the shower.) You'll receive a 10-percent discount if you pay in cash. Thursday evenings this becomes one of Santa Cruz's places to hang out. The folks here present a weekly documentary film. The Q20 admission includes the price of one beer or herbal tea.

Nebaj doesn't have much in the way of lodging; the best bet is this friendly whitewashed hotel set around two courtyards. Some of the basic but spacious rooms overlook the garden. A few rooms in an annex next door have nicer furnishings and even toss in cable TV.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Here is the place that gives San Marcos its New Age-y reputation. The tranquillity of the lake provides the perfect setting for this yoga retreat, which offers day-, week-, and month-long courses. Pyramid-shaped cabins concentrate energies for spiritualists seeking that elusive transcendence. The reasonable price includes accommodations, classes, and use of the sauna and other facilities. You stay here, you're expected to participate. (Guests staying at other lodgings are welcome to enroll in courses, too.) As they are fond of saying here: This isn't a hotel.

The friendly owners here operate their own small tour company, and are likely to be your guide or driver if you use their services. The layout isn't complicated: four levels, three rooms, and a communal veranda on each level. Those at the top have great views of the lake. Rooms are bright, colorful, and simply furnished. Although it's on Calle Santander, the place is far enough removed from the string of bars and restaurants to feel quiet and secluded, but still within walking distance of the action.

This small hotel has a distinctly homey feel. The spacious rooms are clean, if a tad musty, and tastefully decorated with típica. All rooms have fireplaces for the chilly evenings. To get here, climb up the stairs to the top of the arch that crosses 5 Avenida and turn left.

Full of old-fashioned charm, this little inn has bungalows set along a narrow swath of garden stretching down to the lake. Exposed stonework and unfinished wood paneling lend the place a slightly rustic feel, but the rooms are enlivened by the festive colors from local textiles. The hot water can be unreliable. You'll get a 10% discount if you pay in cash rather than with a credit card.

This charming hotel overlooking the lake is notable for its floral-pattern stone tiles. Simply decorated rooms have wooden tables and iron candlesticks. Those in front have patios with great vistas. A small restaurant serves simple meals, while several terraces are perfect for a quiet cup of afternoon tea.

A turn-of-the-century building just a half-block off the Parque Centro América houses this charming budget find. Each of the five carpeted rooms is decorated with local artisan work and abuts a long, wide, bright hall that serves as a sitting room, with rocking chairs and lots of plants. All have their own baths, although Room 1's bathroom is across the hall. The one triple room at the end of the hall is huge, with one stone wall and a nonoperating fireplace that has been converted into shelving. You'll receive a small discount if you pay in cash.

This lodge amidst a coffee plantation has well-tended gardens strung with hammocks for afternoon naps. The tastefully decorated rooms are on the small side, but they all have private terraces. Alas, there are no views of the lake. The restaurant (¢–$) serves up international favorites.