Description
Perched on a hillside and enveloped by a forestful of parakeets and howler monkeys, the lodge is set above the turquoise waters of Lago Peten Itza. From the main lodge, winding paths lead to either lake view or rainforest view casitas. The accommodations are brightly decorated, with stunning natural design features inspired by native art furnishings.
The main lodge with its thatched roof and open views of the lake and jungle canopy below offers guests delicious local Guatemalan cuisine with an Italian twist.
Tours of Lago Peten Itza will take you to the village of El Remante, famous for its wooden artifacts, and the charming little island town of Flores which is scattered with colonial buildings and native architecture. A visit to the ruins of Tikal, buried deep in tropical rainforest, is a must. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is one of the most impressive of all the Mayan archaeological sites with over 3,000 structures to explore. It was, after all, the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya.
Accommodation
La Lancha features 10 stunning casitas with hammock decks and private bathrooms. Each casita is well equipped with modern amenities and boasts antique Balinese and Guatemalan furniture and large marble-tiled bathrooms.
Childcare
Children are welcomed but there are no specific facilities.
Facilities
La Lancha features a swimming pool, open-air bar and restaurant serving authentic Guatemalan cuisine, and gift shop selling painted masks, handmade ceramics and textiles.
Activities
Complimentary activities involve canoeing, hiking and birdwatching. Activities at an additional charge include fishing and kayaking at the lake, horse riding and walking trails through Cerro Cahui National Reserve.
When to travel
There’s no bad time for visiting Guatemala, though the rainy season – called invierno (winter) – makes unpaved roads more difficult from mid-May to mid-October, and into November and December in the north and east. In the lowland jungles of El Petén, the mud at this time will slow you down, guaranteed. Humidity – never low on the coasts or in El Petén – increases during the rainy season, too. The dry season – verano (summer) – is from about November to April, and this means sweltering heat in El Petén and along the coasts and comfortably warm days in the highlands.
The height of the foreign tourist season is from Christmas to Easter. Things become acute around Christmas, New Year’s and Easter, when Guatemalans take holidays too– in many places you’ll need to book ahead. Another high season runs June to August, when throngs of North Americans descend on Guatemala.
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Location and directions
Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala
Set in the rainforest high above the shores of Lake Petén Itzá. In Guatemala’s largest and most northern department, the Petén, La Lancha is located an hour away from the Belize border and only a 45-minute drive from the magnificent Maya ruins of Tikal and the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
How to get there
15 hour international flight to La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City. La Lancha is reached by an hours domestic flight to Flores and then a 40 minute car transfer.
