Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
view of Lake Petén Itzá from a room at La Lancha
$100-200
Lake Petén Itzá is not without a large resort. The
Camino Real Tikal
(tel. 7926-0204/09,
www.caminoreal.com.gt
,
$120 d) is a 72-room complex that has been in operation for over
15 years. A planned expansion may soon make it twice as large. The Camino Real has all
the comforts you would expect from an international resort chain. The modern rooms are
housedinconcretestructurestoppedwiththatched-roofexterior.Therearetworestaurants,a
bar,coffeeshop,andswimmingpool.Recreationalactivitiesavailabletoguestsincludesail-
ing, kayaking, and sailboarding. A large ship does lake tours and transfers from the Mundo
MayaInternationalairportcanbearrangedbeforearrivalviaafreeshuttleservice.Discoun-
ted accommodation packages are often available by calling directly or booking via a travel
agency.
For Petén's ultimate in style and luxury, head to fabulous
La Lancha
(tel. 7928-8331,
www.coppolaresorts.com
)
, farther west along the lakeshore in the village of Jobompiche.
Part of movie director Francis Ford Coppola's impressive portfolio of properties, including
two other hotels in Belize, La Lancha is Petén's best-kept secret. Its 10 comfortable rooms
are housed in lake-view casitas ($150-210 d) or rainforest casitas ($120-175 d, depending
on season). All rooms have exquisite Guatemalan fabrics and Balinese hardwood furniture.
The rooms' wooden decks are graced with hammocks where you can lounge the day away
watching the sky's reflection onplacid Lake Petén Itzá ororder drinks from the bar via your
in-room “shell phone.” Rates include a continental breakfast and the restaurant serves gour-
met Guatemalan dishes for lunch and dinner for about $20 per person.
