Posada Las Marias

The staff were nice, and the new road makes it easy to reach in any kind of car. There’s only a little road noise in the morning. You don’t pay an entrance fee for the waterfalls, and the cave ticket is discounted. There’s no WiFi. At check-in they said electricity was available from 6 to 10 p.m. and for some hours after midday, but they didn’t mention that the rooms have no plugs at all. You can only charge your phone and other devices in the restaurant or reception, which isn’t ideal.

The place has a lot of history. From what I understand, it was the first hotel in the area, and the lobby has photos showing what it looked like in the beginning. It’s grown a lot since then, with spacious, family-friendly rooms at accommodating prices. There are lovely river views, a waterfall to visit, and a pool beside it that’s part of the river and good for swimming. You can also see Juancho Alvarado, their rescued crocodile who is due to be released back into the wild. The staff were very helpful and friendly, and it feels like a family-friendly place where you can be close to nature. It’s peaceful rather than a party spot, and makes a good base for enjoying the natural wonders of Semuc Champey.

The river right in front of the property is great for swimming, and there’s a fun rope swing. The manager was friendly and helpful, arranging our very early shuttle out of Lanquin. He also offered a cave tour with tubing back to the property, which was well worth it. Meals cost around 30 quetzales, nothing fancy but decent, and there’s no kitchen. This is a great place to stay on the days you’re visiting Samuc Champey, since you don’t want to make the trip from Lanquin to the pools or caves every day. They even gave us a free ride from Lanquin when we arrived. We had a dorm to ourselves, so it was basically a very cheap private room. It felt a bit damp, but airing it out helped. There’s no power or lighting for most of the day. In August, they switched the lights on around 6 p.m. when it got dark, then turned them off at 9:30. Plan when to charge your devices. There’s no WiFi, though you’ll still want a charged phone for photos at Samuc Champey.

We landed here by accident after our first choice turned us away because of my son, and I’m so glad it worked out that way. Everyone was lovely, and our room was just steps from the river. The caves and the national park Semuc Champey were about a 10-minute walk away.