La Lancha by Francis Ford Coppola

The room wasn't large, but it was packed with useful touches: an easy-to-use coffee machine, lovely-smelling soaps, a hair dryer, two yoga mats, and lots of storage. The decor thoughtfully highlights local craftsmanship, and the hotel clearly makes an effort to cut down on plastic and paper waste. Since I was traveling alone, the manager arranged a private guide for me. He wasn't cheap, but he was well worth it, one of the best guides I've had. I asked him question after question, and he answered them all. I booked through Expedia and used its inbox to message the hotel, which worked well, despite some reviewers mentioning clunky back-end issues with HQ in Belize. I felt pampered in Petén and had a fabulous experience throughout. Don't hesitate to book.

Salomon was happy to work with our broken Spanish and listen to us. Great guy, and a 10/10 bartender. The staff were all super nice and around whenever we needed them. The on-site options were great, including paddle boarding, kayaking, and a sauna, and we could also book trips to Tikal and elsewhere from here. It's a hidden-away paradise, what an unbelievable spot.

The seating areas are nicely thought out, and the staff were lovely and helpful. I found the restaurant okay by Guatemalan standards, though probably not if you're from Europe. I've had a hard time with food in Guatemala because it hasn't been tasty enough for me and tends to be too heavy. The average room is much too small and poorly laid out, with little space to put down a suitcase or hang clothes. The lighting was pretty dreadful.

We had a lake-view room with an incredible view, and the food was fabulous. The staff were amazing and arranged a private trip to Tikal for us. The whole journey was fantastic, from arriving at the airport through the boat ride to the resort. I highly recommend La Lancha!