Vacation Rentals by Owner

Words can't describe....

Guest: Peter (Bristol)
Date of Stay: 01/25/12 Review Submitted: 01/31/12

We recently stayed in Casa Paloma for 2 nights and it was perfect! The grounds in which it is situated are stunning - couldn't believe our eyes when we reached the main house to see the view from the front terrace, possibly the nicest view I've ever seen. The house itself is beautiful, really well thought out with huge kitchen, lovely living spaces with open fires and magnificent views across the lake from every room. Joyce was a pleasure to deal with, as was Tim the property manager who was always only a phone call away if we ever needed anything, and checked on us to make sure we were ok. Miguel and Mateo are extremely nice and friendly and always on hand during the day of you need anything. We are both dog lovers and Mia and Pedro were such a nice surprise - we played with them a lot! We made good use of the outside grill for barbequing some steaks and the gardens and terrace are ideal for eating al-fresco. I had planned on asking my girlfriend to marry me on Lake Atitlan and once I saw Joyce's place I knew it was the perfect spot - during our stay I asked and she accepted and it couldn't have been better. Thank you so much Joyce for sharing your piece of heaven with us. We will definitely be back! Peter & Aine

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

So much more beautiful than the pictures!

Guest: Liz (St. Paul, MN USA)
Date of Stay: 10/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/11/11

We were lucky enough to stay at Casa Paloma for one week in October, 2011. The house itself is beautiful and spacious. It has the warm feeling you get when staying at a friends house.....there was lovely local art work, candles and beautiful flowers. So much nicer than some of the very sterile impersonal houses we have stayed in! Without ever meeting Joyce, I feel like she shared so much of her warmth and personality with us through this beautifully constructed and decorated home. It took us a little while to get used to one of the bedrooms and the second bathroom being outside of the main house but this ended up working out perfectly and allowing both couples in our party to have "private space." The views from everywhere in the house were so incredibly that it was difficult for me to put my camera down! The house was very clean and furnished with everything we needed and either Mateo or Miguel brought us incredible fresh tortillas every morning. We had breakfasts on the patio overlooking the lake and volcano that I will dream about for years to come! Joyce was delightful to deal with and Mateo and Miguel took such good care of us while we were at the house. They were working on things daily so well maintained is an understatement. The one unfortunate thing about our stay was that there had recently been VERY significant flooding. Miguel and Mateo raised the dock for us but the sauna was underwater as was the lakeside path to San Marcos. This meant that we had to climb the hill and walk down into town. The steps up to the top of the hill and the walk to San Marcos was a bit daunting at first but we rapidly got used to it and had giddy tuk-tuk rides back to the house from town in the evening (I can't tell you how hard we laughed putting 4 huge gringos into one small tuk-tuk!) We had great food in San Marcos, we went all over by tuk-tuk, we kayaked, we swam off the end of the dock, we played with the dogs and we chatted with Miguel and Mateo (as best we could with limited Spanish.) Joyce suggested that we might want to bring some school supplies/shoes to a local school. We did this and had a lovely visit at Escuela Caracoal. It is easy to visit other towns on the lake, either by boat or by tuk-tuk and I would highly recommend doing so. We stopped in Pana to get groceries but found that really the small stores in San Marcos had everything we needed. Thank you Joyce for sharing your beautiful paradise with us! Pure delight!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The most beautiful place in the World

Guest: Rex and Lyn (Darwin, Australia)
Date of Stay: 10/15/11 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

We arrived in Casa de Joyce after a nightmare drive on the landslide-ridden road from Guatemala City. We could hardly see the water-logged jetty as we landed. What a relief to be greeted by Tim, Mateo and Miguel and made immediately welcome AND to find the Casa itself delivered everything it offered. Four adults and 11 month-old Max spent 8 nights here and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It did rain for the first four days but we enjoyed the comforts of the house and then emerged, hermit-like, when the sun declared itself still alive, to savour the lake, its beautiful scenery and the quaint towns and villages on its shores. We were marvelously looked after by Tim, Miguel, Mateo and Inez (and appreciated the company of Domingo-the boatman- and his family) throughout the week. We recommend this location and the Casa to all potential guests whatever their preferences. In our case we had a most wonderful family holiday. We have been to Lake Como and we agree with Aldous Huxley that Lake Atitlan is more beautiful AND has three towering volcanoes overlooking it!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

An incredible stay at Casa Paloma

Guest: Guy F. (Tulum mexico)
Date of Stay: 08/02/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

We had the most perfect time there at Casa Paloma. The house had just the right touch of comfort with tasteful artistic decorative accents. The gardens were a pleasure to stroll through after early mornings meditations. A swim and a little yoga on the dock was rejuvenating.The kitchen was a pleasure to cook in with the most picturesque views of the volcanoes. The house was clean and well maintained. Miguel and the staff were extremely attentive, friendly and cared for all our needs.The close walk to town and restaurants were a plus . It was the most incredible stay at Casa Paloma. My wife and I are looking forward in returning there on our next trip to the lake.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Serene lakeside hideaway

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

Casa Paloma is set is the most beautiful garden filled with gardenias, heliconia, palms that surrounds the house and up the hill. The terrace and the numerous windows in the house overlook the most stunning view of the lake and the Volcanos. The house is large and well equiped with lots of little spots for private relaxation. The town of San Marcos is a small haven for new age adventures and great little places to eat.(Don't miss Cafe Fe). We also loved the zipline in Panajacel. This is a special corner of Guatemala, with wonderful people, beautiful scenery and delicious food. Our two weeks went by too quickly.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Perfect Getaway!

Guest: kespinal (Boston MA)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/19/11

This was by far the most spectacular getaway imaginable. The house is surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens and is set right on the lake. With a pizza oven, wood burning sauna, kayak and private dock, you have everything you could possibly need right on the property. That being said, San Marcos is a wonderful little town and is within walking distance. There are great restaurants (our favorite was Ganesh Collective) and if you are in the mood for a massage or yoga, you are headed to the right place! Tim, the property manager is extremely helpful and is there to help with anything you may need. He was a pleasure to work with, see him in town and get to know him. The gardeners are also wonderful – friendly and happy to help with anything you may need (setting up the perfect fire at night was our frequent request!) The two property dogs are the BEST! They will take good care of you while you are there – greeting you with wagging tails at the gate when you return from town and escorting you down the majestic stairs to the property. All in all, this was the best getaway my husband and I could have imagined on our one year anniversary and we hope to return soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

More Beautiful than the Pictures!!!

Guest: Alisha (Rockville, MD)
Date of Stay: 04/03/11 Review Submitted: 04/20/11

Joyce's home was so beautiful and relaxing! We enjoyed walking to San Marcos, taking the public lancha to Panahachel, using the kayak, playing games at night and eating breakfast outside on the veranda overlooking the lake- among many other things. Best part about the home: it was very well kept and more beautiful than the pictures. The volcano and lake views were outstanding! Best kept secret about the home: great warm shower head out on the 2nd floor patio overlooking the lake. I would take a shower even when I wasn't dirty :) Thank you Joyce and thank you Miguel for helping us in every way possible while staying at Casa Paloma!!

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Highly recommended

Guest: dan k. (New Hampshire)
Date of Stay: 02/27/11 Review Submitted: 03/21/11

Travelling with another couple, all in our 50's, we arrived at this beautiful property with the wonderful support and guidance of the owner Joyce. Through emails and phone contact, she was able to facilitate an easy transport from the airport, to the dock at Panajachel, then a 20 minute boat ride to her dock. From there, we walked each day into the culturally diverse town of San Marcos for provisions at the local grocery as well as for lunch, massage and use of the public dock as a launching point to visit other towns on the lake. At a cost of only a dollar or two for each one-way trip, the diverse experiences in each town were the highlight of our trip. From San Juan, the most typical and textile-rich destination, to Santiago as the biggest town on the lake (50,000 people) each destination has a unique feel that we all appreciated. Typical day for us involved such a trip with lunch at the destination town, then back through San Marcos for provisions for the evening meal. Swimming, use of the kayak and sitting out on the porch admiring the incredible beauty of the volcanoes across the lake (and a fantastic electrical lightening show one night) were daily events. The house is wonderful, large areas for cards and socializing, with tucked-away nooks for quiet times. Gardeners were on-site each day; no english but helpful and pleasant in keeping up with the maintenance on the grounds. Our collective spanish is limited, but we did just fine piecing together effective communications throught the trip. Property manager, Tim was always available by phone if needed, and did give us a nice intro tour of San Marcos when we arrived. The support people Joyce has in place were key in making this a wonderful week for us. One question you might ask is "would you go back", to which we would all offer a resounding YES!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Guest: Tom Simpson (Toronto/Washington DC/Baltimore)
Date of Stay: 12/23/09 Review Submitted: 12/23/09

From Canada and the United States, we met at Joyce's home on Lake Atitlan. Several generations, varied interests and tastes and we each found what we were looking for. Hard to imagine that 6 people travel together and for totally different reasons all 6 want to return. The pictures do not do the home justice - it is far more beautiful than presented and we were instantily surprised. It is hard to say what is most special - and each would have their own observation. Lily - the manager is a little bit of perfection and we thank her for her attention to detail. At all times we felt safe and secure and each day as we walked into San Marcos we were greeted with joy. In 8 days we managed to see 6 villages, remember to go to the Nature Reserva in Pana and Zip Line - best I have done in the world - and do market day in Solola, Pana, Santiago, San Juan and for the adventurous few, a day in Chichi. It is the people that I will remember the most - and they are the reason that I will return. Each village a unique set of values. Each with different crops and clothing - yet all celebrating their families and their children. And it all begins at Casa Paloma - a base from which you can rest, explore, read, learn and recharge. The freshness of the air and the food and the unrivalled beauty of Lake Atitlan - thank you Lily and Joyce.

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Guest: Isabel Baquet (Decatur, GA)
Date of Stay: 12/04/09 Review Submitted: 12/04/09

We had the wonderful experience of staying at Joyce's house about a week ago. "Paradise" is the word I would use to describe it and for a greater description; this house offers you peaceful beautiful scenery, unbelievable views of Volcanoes, the most beautiful Lake and well tended gardens with flowers throughout. The house itself is beautiful, decorated with paintings and local crafts. It also has a well stocked kitchen, including CD's to listen while cooking! The pictures pale in comparison and the service by Lilly, Chepe and Andres was friendly, useful and fast. Lilly also stocked the house with groceries before we arrived so we had fresh milk and fruit for our toddlers. She also arranged the trip back to the city at a reasonable rate. You also have to visit San Marcos, it is very close to the house. The city is unspoiled and you can find places for a good massage and wonderful restaurants! Also, I must add that Joyce was a pleasure to talk to, she didn't overstate any detail of the house, she was very straight forward and made choosing Casa Paloma easy. We really enjoyed our stay and look forward to going back and staying at Joyce's house again!

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Guest: David Schiff (New York City)
Date of Stay: 08/06/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/09

The most marvelous place to be on Lake Atitlan. Spectacular gardens, total privacy, yet only a seven minute walk to the magical village of San Marcos. I've stayed at the house many times and hope to go back.

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Guest: The Coburns (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 01/04/09 Review Submitted: 01/04/09

Our week in Joyce's home and tree house was exactly the vacation we had hoped for. We wanted to be set in one place, not dependant on vehicles and have a chance to relax while taking in some new experiences. Mission accomplished! Thanks so much for making it possible.

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Guest: Elizabeth and Jym (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
Date of Stay: 02/29/08 Review Submitted: 02/29/08

A beautiful spot on a beautiful lake and the house is perfect for 2 people or a family. Did feel that it is not truly accurate when it describes it as a 2 bedrooms. The main house is one bedroom and one sitting room. There is accomodation in the sitting room and bedroom for other persons but in our case, we took a non related friend and as there was open access to the one bathroom from the bedroom, it was a little cozier than we expected! The kitchen was lovely and the views spectacular and eating our breakfast in the garden was a high point every day. Matching and non chipped china would have made it perfect. Thanks for a lovely week.

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Guest: Peter French & Jevne Diaz (Baltimore, MD)
Date of Stay: 08/24/07 Review Submitted: 08/24/07

Our family just returned from Lake Atitlan and Casa Paloma. It's one of the most peaceful places we've ever been. There is no room in the house that doesn't have wall-to-wall windows overlooking this gorgeous lake surrounded by volcanoes. The garden is beautiful and the swimming off the dock is fantastic. The lovely village of San Marcos (a 10 minute walk along the lake) is a strange mix of "New Age-type" gringos and Indigenous Guatemalans; this mix largely seems to work. We hired a "Mayan Joven" to lead us on an 8-mile hike from Joyce's house to Santa Cruz. I highly recommend this - it supports a good group and the chance to converse with someone locally (if you speak Spanish) for hours was a great cultural exchange.

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Guest: Molly Neuman (Brooklyn, NY USA)
Date of Stay: 08/21/07 Review Submitted: 08/21/07

Our stay at Casa Paloma was transformative in so many ways. Every memory I have of our stay is full of happiness and energy. The home is wonderful and peaceful and every morning we would wake up and open our eyes to the site of the mighty and powerful Lake Atitlan and had to pinch each other to believe it was true. The people of San Marcos are incredibly lovely and it filled us with pride to know that we were staying and what could be the most beautiful house on the lake. I do hope to go back again and again.

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Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 04/06/07 Review Submitted: 04/05/07

It's been several weeks since I left Lake Atitlan, and there is still not a day that I don't think about it with longing. My husband and I stayed in Joyce's treehouse, and eventually, her home, in late January and early February and it was a trip that will stay with us the rest of our lives. It gave us a time to breathe, and remember things long forgotten in the course of our busy lives - the feel of gentle breezes off a lake, the sound of the birds at sunrise, the simple joy of eating fresh food while sitting in the sun with friends. We experienced new things as well. We were struck by the sheer physical beauty of the Mayan people, with their dark eyes and wide smiles and gracious ways. In our visits to their villages, we learned a little about their rich and glorious culture. We ate fresh tortillas and bought fresh crabs from the fisherman, Mr. Domingo, off Joyce's dock. We napped in hammocks and swam in cool blue water. Visit Shangrila. It is not to be missed.-- Lori Brasier and Mike Bencsik, Waterford, Michigan

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