For my anniversary this year, I decided to try an eco lodge experience in Guatemala on Lake Atitlan.  The Mayan word, Atitlan, means “the place the rainbow gets its color.” The lake is considered by some to be the 8th wonder of the world.  La Fortuna is glamping in paradise.  My trip report follows:

April 2015: Just returned from this amazing property where we spent three nights in Suite 1 and the last night in Suite 2. Where do I start?  No need to pack a hair dryer or curling iron or fancy clothes. They operate on solar power and while there are normal outlets for cell phones, there are no heavy duty wattages. Although we came in the dry season, surrounding areas were not as green, and the views were hazier from dust and agriculture burnings,  we actually did experience rain for brief periods. It was magical lying in the hammock and listening to the sound of rain on the thatched roof. Make sure to bring a variety of clothes for cooler and warmer temperatures. Quick dry materials worked well. I recommend hiking boots if you plan to do hiking nearby on steep climbs. The suites had windows that opened all the way around to provide an indoor/outdoor experience. The sounds of birds in the morning was incredible. First night was a little unnerving because of the variety of sounds in the “jungle” outside and going to the outdoor bathroom. But we realized many of the sounds were actually branches breaking off from heavy fruit. And we never met any critters in the middle of the night and virtually no bugs! The toilet and sink area did have a slight overhang which protected it from rain. If you get wet taking a shower, no big deal! Shower/tub works off propane heat and works best if you run the water for awhile to let the temperature stabilize. They provide what looked like locally made soap, shampoo, etc.

The meals were top notch and priced very reasonably! My husband and I tried to order different things so we could try each other’s entrees. Breakfasts were our favorites with french pressed coffee (raised on the property) and fresh squeezed orange juice (from oranges outside our suite). We tended to wake up early due to the sounds of nature and go to bed early since things were dark and quiet. Make sure you enjoy the lake in the morning before the waves pick up late afternoon. Kayaking in the morning was so peaceful! The lake water is 72 degrees which was a little chilly for me but my husband loved it! The lake water was so clear and the shades of blue were amazing. We loved sunning on the floating deck and watching the evening sky there as well. The wood fired hot tub was usually at peak temperatures from 4pm-7pm and had beautiful views of the lake. We loved the privacy of suite 2 but the views of the lake from suite 1 were outstanding especially from the loft area. I also liked the hammock location and bathroom logistics better in suite 1. Two full days relaxing at the property were plentiful. We also hiked up to the overlook above their property for great views escorted by their friendly dogs! For our last full day we caught a public boat over to San Juan. I highly recommend taking the tour of the textiles, medicinal plants and coffee cooperatives. We also rode in a tuk-tuk which was fun! Shopping there was a wonderful experience and most of the places were run by cooperatives which give back to the locals. The owner, Kat, was great about giving us advice for what to do there and where to eat.
I also highly recommend a private taxi to Panajachel from Guatemala City. The traffic on Friday afternoon was pretty hectic and it was nice to have someone familiar with the area to navigate, who spoke English and took us to get lunch on the way and interpreted for us. If you can arrive before 2 pm, the lake waters will be less choppy on the boat ride over which is about ten minutes. It was quite adventurous for us! We were pleasantly surprised that the airport and more touristy restaurants and shops took either credit cards or crisp new $20 bills. We only used the local currency a few times.It was nice to have wifi to be able to connect to the outside world a few times… I also recommend eating lunch at least once there to get the amazing cheese plate and eating dinner at least once in the reception area with property manager, Georgy, and the other guests. It was fun meeting other people. This is a once in a lifetime kind of experience for the adventurous who love nature!