Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Carmelita
Tikal (12 miles) & Uaxactún (27 miles)
5
BIOTOPO
CERRO
CAHUÍ
N
Motul
Laguneta
El Burro
La Lancha
El Caoba
Jobompiche
El Remate
Laguna
Sal Petén
Zac
Petén
San José
Lago Petén Itzá
Ixlú
Ixlú
Laguna
Macanché
San Andrés
Tayasal
San Miguel
Laguna
Petenchel
Flores
Petencito Zoo
San Benito
Santa Elena
Ak'tun
Kan
Parque Natural
Ixpanpajul
0
kilometres
5
LAGO PETÉN ITZÁ
0
miles
5
Guatemala City (290 miles)
Las Gardenias
Village centre
T
5936 6984,
W
hotelasgardenias.com.
Simple but good-value place at
the main intersection, consisting of matching hotel and
restaurant buildings, side by side and each having an upper
deck, plus a supermarket. Decent a/c and fan rooms, all en
suite, and food ranging from
Q30 s
andwiche
s to
Q70
seafood specials. Rooms with fan
Q125
, with a/c
Q200
La Lancha
Aldea Jobompiche
T
7968 7183,
W
coppolaresorts.com/lalancha.
For true comfort, head
9 miles west
from El Remate along the north shore of the
lake to reach Francis Ford Coppola's third resort in Central
America. Winding paths lead through verdant grounds to
plush
casitas
designed from local materials and featuring
Balinese headboards, bright red-and-orange Guatemalan
fabrics, marble bathrooms and ample wooden decks
overlooking the lake - but not TVs or a/c. The rustic-chic
restaurant - think wooden canoes as planters - serves top-
notch
Rainforest-view rooms
US$159
, lake-view rooms
US$239
★
Mon Ami
Just over half a mile west of centre,
towards Cerro Cahuí
T
3010 0284,
W
hotelmonami
.com.
French-owned guesthouse with gorgeous, well-
constructed rooms and bungalows scattered around a
tranquil forested plot of land. All the accommodation has
style and character, enhanced by local textiles and artistic
flourishes, while the clean, inviting dorm is probably the
most attractive in Guatemala. There's excellent swimming
from the dock. Be s
ure t
o treat
yourse
lf to a meal here too
(see below). Dorms
Q50
, rooms
Q200
Posada del Cerro
Beside entrance to Cerro Cahuí
T
5376 8722,
W
posadadelcerro.com.
Perched in the
forest, high above the lake a mile west of town, this stylish
family-owned guesthouse offers lovely thatched cabins
that combine local hardwoods with modern fittings, and
have hammocks outside. One holds eig
ht dor
m beds.
Tasty
meals are served to guests only. Dorms
Q100
, cabins
Q330
guatemalteca
fare. Rates include breakfast.
EATING
★
Mon Ami
Just over half a mile west of the centre
T
3010 0284,
W
hotelmonami.com.
This charming
hotel's lake-facing
palapa
serves some of the best food in
town. It's not cheap, but the quality is outstanding. There's
always a good set lunch for Q35 and wine available by the
bottle and glass.
Daily 7am-9pm.
Restaurant Cahuí
Main road, near the football
pitch
T
4918 0423.
Friendly restaurant, serving meals
on a breezy covered porch that's linked by two precarious
swinging bridges to a lake-view platform that makes a
great spot for an evening sundowner. Decent
Guatemalan and international food for all meals, with
burgers for Q22 or a good mixed grill for Q45.
Daily
8am-9pm.
Restaurant El Muelle
Main road, south of centre
T
5581 8087,
W
elmuellehotel.com.
Smart restaurant,
separated from the lakeshore only by a very nice swimming
pool that you're allowed to use if you eat here. The wide-
ranging menu offers everything from sandwiches, burgers
and nachos for under Q30 up to succulent
pescado blanco
,
fresh from the lake, for up to Q200, and there's also a good
gift shop.
Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat & Sun 7am-9pm.
Restaurant Las Orquideas
Half a mile west of centre,
towards Cerro Cahuí
T
5701 9022,
W
lasorquideas
elremate.blogspot.co.uk.
Excellent Italian-owned
restaurant, a casual place where your welcoming hosts
prepare food around an open kitchen. They serve fine pizza,
bruschettas and pasta - spaghetti or tagliatelle mains cost
around Q65 - plus wine by the glass and espresso coffee.
Tues-Sun 11am-9.30pm.
