Breathtaking Lakefront Property in Semi-Private Cove

• Update on previous review

  Update on previous review

  • Guest Jen D.
  • Date of stay 04/08/13
  • Review Submitted 05/22/13
  I reviewed this property a couple of months ago, and only gave it three stars. I may have been a little too hard on the place. It really was gorgeous and well kept. My main concern was access to the third bedroom, which wouldn't be a problem for some people. It was also a fun challenge learning to communicate in Spanish. It taught me a lot more vocabulary. I am changing my review to 4 stars after more reflection. It is a wonderful place to stay. The owner was also very accommodating and helpful.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

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• Excellent week

  Excellent week

  • Guest Heather
  • Date of stay 04/18/13
  • Review Submitted 05/01/13
  We had a great time at the lake after a week in Antigua – very different and just right for a two-centre break. We met up with Juan in Pana and he organised a private boat to the house (your luggage might get a bit wet!). Elena and Nicolas (and Rocky the dog!) were very welcoming and looked after us well – all the staff are lovely people. The house is stunning, very spacious, with comfortable furniture and wonderful views. There are two huge ensuite bedrooms, one with two double beds, and the view from the terraces is amazing, especially from the top floor. If you need the third bedroom, be aware that this is accessed through an outside door on the first floor and up an exterior stone staircase (bring a torch), and doesn’t have a bathroom. There is a separate toilet on the ground floor of the main house but anyone in the top room has to use the ensuite showers in the main bedrooms. This wasn’t a problem for us but might not suit every group (or anyone who tends to get up in the night!) Yes, you will need at least basic Spanish to communicate with the staff – mine is horrible but they are very patient and we managed well enough. It was expected that we would fetch food ourselves but Elena cooked breakfast for us every morning, and dinner in the evening when we weren’t sampling the local restaurants and bars. We had delicious fish for dinner a couple of times, which Nicolas caught for us from the lake – you can’t get fresher than that! We visited the hotel next door for one meal and several times for drinks as it was so convenient and had lovely gardens. The slope up to the road from the house is a bit of a killer but I was a lot fitter after a week! The hotel has a gate a little way up the slope so just call for them to open it – the staff are very friendly. Several of the little bars and restaurants in town had only been open a few weeks or months, and in April we were often the only customers, but if the Mojito House is still there, try it, as the food and drinks are excellent. We also had a good meal and delicious brownies at Blind Lemon’s. It was fun discovering little places tucked away down the tracks. We enjoyed using the boat to explore the cove, and visited two or three other villages on the local boats, although we all preferred San Marcos. The walk to the ‘trampoline’ look-out and up to the Mayan altars is well worth doing. Most days were hot, with cooler evenings. Swim in the lake, lounge in the hammock - you can't help feeling relaxed here!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Yep, this is our place. It really is a cool place to stay. I miss it more each time I read the commentaries. I love my staff. They are so bound to serve and cater and take good care of you in every way possible. They love what they do and they want you to love them and the property just as much. That's why we take such good care of it. We take all the comments as serious as possible and try to accommodate you in any special way that we can as well. Don't be afraid to call me and ask questions and find out everything before traveling. I love helping my guests plan and know what to expect. I want you to be happy with us and have a really terrific vacation.

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• Number of bedrooms misleading, access to town a bit difficult, but a beautiful place

  Number of bedrooms misleading, access to town a bit difficult, but a beautiful place

  • Guest Jen D.
  • Date of stay 04/08/13
  • Review Submitted 04/21/13
  This is a beautiful house in a beautiful area to be sure. The staff were extremely helpful, friendly, and trustworthy. When we arrived, we expected to have 3 bedrooms, and to be able to put our baby in his own room. However, to access the 3rd bedroom, you have to go outside on the roof and up a short flight of stairs to a locked heavy metal door. Although the bedroom was nice, we never would put our baby up there by himself, and since there is no adjoining bathroom, I doubt many people would want to go outside and down the stairs in the dark to get to a bathroom in the middle of the night. The other major issue is that the only access to any restaurant or to the town/stores is to climb up a steep path with extremely steep steps. It would be hazardous if it were raining. There is no way you could do this with a stroller, and small children or older guests would have a very difficult time with this. My husband and I are in shape, but even I found it challenging. This limits you to not being able to go out to dinner if you don't want to climb down this path in the dark afterwards. We arranged to have our dinners cooked for us because of this. Elena the cook was wonderful and very kind. However BE AWARE that none of the staff speak any English whatsoever, so you will be completely on your own with communication. There was mention of a caretaker that spoke English, but we did not meet him or her. There is also no grass for children to play on, so it's not so kid friendly. There is a picture of a grassy area in the photos, but there was no place for our toddler to run around and play except for on the front porch, which worked ok. I would recommend this place to an older family, not one with small children.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: This property is located in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala. From the photos and description it is evident this is a beautiful house located on the Lakefront in a village at the end of a dirt road. Most people that come to our property find this is exactly what they were looking for not sidewalks or escalators. It is a terrific place to get away from all that. It is a place to hike, swim, fish, climb, have fun running through the jungle trail or meditating on our secluded private property in a grove of trees. There are three bedrooms. The third floor does not have a private bathroom. It has never been a big deal as the bathroom is located very close directly below on the next level. There is also an additional bathroom on the first level. Logically children would be best suited on the second floor a bit closer to the master bedroom. There are beds for four children or adults in the second room, including a private bathroom. Our staff are local people, yes real authentic Tzutujil and Kakchikel Indians with training in providing high quality European and American level service. The speak their native languages and Spanish. They also understand some English. We also have two English speaking assistants available, including a unique style of Spanish conversation training that is fun and interactive with the staff and locals in the pueblo. There are several fabulous restaurants on the lake front and many others within 2-5 minutes of the dock. The Jinava restaurant is within 75yds of the house and others are @10-15 min walk or one of the services that I provide to all my guests is a free row boat ride with my caretaker to anywhere on the cove or in San Marcos. This takes about 10 minutes and is a wonderful romantic way to travel relaxed under a Lake Atitlan sunset or starlight sky. This is safe and effortless for you. A small tip is appreciated by Nick or Juan for this service. He will also pick you up when you finish dining. We pride ourselves on providing you top notch friendly service and impeccably clean accommodations. Elena cooks wonderful local cuisine, fish, meat or does vegetarian meals. You can have as many of them in house as desired or you are welcome to eat out. The house, beds, furniture and nearly all of the amenities are new or less than one year old. I am sure we'll be able to more than satisfy your expectations. We look forward to having you stay with us!

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• Magical Place great for relaxation and soaking in the sites

  Magical Place great for relaxation and soaking in the sites

  • Guest Ahmad
  • Date of stay 01/30/13
  • Review Submitted 02/17/13
  Lake Atitlan is a magical place. We have never been to a place where you look out to a volcano right off a lake. The views from the house were spectacular. We stayed there for our honeymoon and wanted to disconnect from all the stress of the Michigan Winter. This was the absolute answer. We will share with you a single typical day in this home. Wake up to breathtaking view of the volcano. You are right on the water, so looking at the surrounding mountain and the lake is a sight you will never get tired off. Elena, the housekeeper will come in to prepare breakfast and do the house cleaning. Elena is a very sweet lady, all she wanted was to make us happy. Get out on the upper balcony and sunbathe while the lake warms up. Or go down to the first level balcony and relax on the hammock. Around noon time, the lake has warmed up a little and time to take a dive. Take the rowboat for a tour of the cove and enjoy seeing birds and ducks that swim and fly around the lake. Time to relax again, have a smoothy on the hammock. The lake has many little villages surrounding it, so a short walk to the market in San Marcos and you can take a lancha to any of the towns. If you want spectacular views, go to Santa Catarina and go up to the look out point. Or go to Panajachel and visit the natural reserve, then walk down to hotel Atitlan for the most upscale meal in the lake. Back in the home, the sunset is enchanting as you watch the sun descend behind the mountain. Dinner time comes and Elena is going to prepare you a delicious meal. She is a great cook and she will shop for you. Make sure to try the local fruits, papaya, mango and pineapple are great. At nighttime the sky is full of stars and we enjoyed sitting on the upper balcony to look up at the sky. We greatly enjoyed our stay. Kent the owner was very helpful arranging transportation out of San Marcos. Nicholas the caretaker is very friendly and was happy to help in anything we needed. Overall, our stay was very pleasant. Though we felt like stepping in a different planet, the people were very warm and the beauty was so captivating this will be a trip that we will never forget. Our advice when staying in San Marcos is to come with an open mind. This is a lakefront property, and you are in the arms of nature, so you must love the outdoors to truly appreciate this place.

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

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• Great place! Best Cove on the Lake!

  Great place! Best Cove on the Lake!

  • Guest Kevin R.
  • Date of stay 01/14/13
  • Review Submitted 01/28/13
  My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and it was just what we wanted. To preface all of this: Guatemala is not America so do not expect it to be. With that said this was a steal of a deal. Incredible view, great balconies, great staff, great cook(esp for $60 per week, the meat is tough just as a warning),clean (really clean), and comfortable. View is so good you really don't need to leave. The owner Kent represents the place very well and it helped that he now lives in the states and we were able to talk to him on the phone. My only complaint was that none of the staff spoke English (I didn't know this before I came...honestly kent probably mention but we were a little preoccupied with the wedding). I last took spanish in the 9th grade so I was a little rusty. An expat from town came the first day helped get stuff setup. If you don't speak good spanish this is a must. The staff will get as much out of the way as you want, but they are not American and therefore don't think like Americans (they are delightful people). It was nice to have them there and we enjoyed learning some spanish from them. The private boats is nice if you have a lot of luggage for the first day but you could do without if you know a little spanish.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

  Owner response: We are always learning and improving our guest's experience. We love our guests....and we try to convey it in Spanish, in English, Tzutujil or with a better meal and service (tender steaks available =). We have added another staff member who does speak English to help in those cases where no Spanish skills are available in your group.

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• Luxury Cultural Immersion

  Luxury Cultural Immersion

  • Guest Steve
  • Date of stay 01/06/13
  • Review Submitted 01/21/13
  This is a great place to have an authentic Guatemalan experience, but retain some comforts of home. The house is well laid out for three couples or a family, secure, and walking distance to San Marcos as long as you can handle a little hill. All necessary amenities are there, and the public lancha system is nearby and convenient. While the house is nicely appointed, Nicolas and Elena are the true gems of this experience. Both are eager to make your stay unforgettable, and will work with you to provide any service you might need. Both are leaders in the local community, trustworthy, resourceful, congenial, and helpful. We highly recommend you include Elena as your chef as the cultural immersion, good food, and hospitality are well worth the small fee charged. She went above and beyond to make our young children feel special, even making delicious fruit liquados each afternoon and delivering them down to the kids on the dock so that they might feel refreshed. This service was above and beyond the expectations we agreed upon. Great place to relax with family and enjoy the sunrise and sunset, or from which to launch your daily Guatemalan adventure. San Marcos is a pleasant town with most amenities. You can walk vitually anywhere in the village, grocery shop, dine out at decent restaurants, or catch a tuk-tuk to neighbouring vilaages. Owner Kent is an easy person to work with, and made specific arrangements for Spanish lessons at the home each day with a well qualified teacher (former Spanish teacher from New York). Just ask for what you need...

  Recommended for: Families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, adventure seekers.

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• Beautiful 3 bedroom lake house

  Beautiful 3 bedroom lake house

  • Guest Jeff
  • Date of stay 11/12/12
  • Review Submitted 11/19/12
  We throughly enjoyed our short stay at this beautifully remodeled house sitting right on the lakefront in San Marcos La Laguna. The floating dock allows for easy access to the property and adds to the many comfortable amentities of the house. The views of the lake are breathtaking, especially in the early morning. The caretaker Nicholas and the cook Elena worked overtime to accommodate and assist us in everyway. We will recommend a house stay to friends and family and hope to return soon for another stay.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, girls getaway.

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• Wonderful Trip

  Wonderful Trip

  • Guest KBT
  • Date of stay 11/12/12
  • Review Submitted 11/18/12
  We spent four nights and absolutely loved it! The house is beautiful and spacious. It provides a breathtaking view from morning to night. The caretaker and cook were very gracious, friendly and eager to meet our every desire. We enjoyed the easy access to all the towns around the lake. There are a wide variety of adventures to easily find. Just casually strolling around the streets and hidden pathways of San Marcos was an adventure itself that we enjoyed. We will definitely plan to return here!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

  Owner response: It was our pleasure to serve you and just hearing your words of appreciation make it all worth it to us at El Castillo Xetujil. Once we meet, you all become our amigos. We are always working to improve the property and everyone's experience. In early Oct. we added a 10 foot boat and swimming dock for everyone's convenience and fun.

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• Beautiful place

  Beautiful place

  • Guest R and G
  • Date of stay 09/12/12
  • Review Submitted 11/07/12
  We love this place. It is quiet and gorgeous. A great place to swim and boat as a family, and very private. We all felt so peaceful and relaxed there. Clean, cozy and comfortable!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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• Very peaceful!

  Very peaceful!

  • Guest Greg
  • Date of stay 10/08/12
  • Review Submitted 11/05/12
  The house is very clean and quiet. We went swimming several times in the lake right in front of the house. Great views of the volcano! Would recommend this house to anyone who is looking for a good base camp at Lake Atitlan.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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1-5 guests ......May 1 - Nov 1 = $ 600/week; July, Aug. Nov 1 - May 1 = $ 800/wk.
6-8 guests ......May 1 - Nov 1 = $ 750/week; July, Aug. Nov 1 - May 1 = $ 950/wk.
9 guests.....upon special consideration
Certain weeks of the year are considered high season and rates can vary.  
Nightly rates quoted upon request. 

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.