Hotel Villa Maya

The wildlife was splendid. We saw howler monkeys from our balcony, countless basilisks wandering around, and sometimes parakeets visiting the grounds. Jays imitated all sorts of sounds, like leafblowers, and of course there was Juancho the hotel‘s crocodile. The rooms are spacious and well equipped, with nice balconies and views of the lake and forest. The staff were super friendly and accommodating, especially Guyamet in the restaurant. A few things didn't work for us. The food was disappointing overall, especially dinner, which didn't live up to its reputation. Prices seemed high for only mediocre taste. The beds were large but had rather hard mattresses, and transportation was quite expensive, though we eventually agreed on a fair pickup price. Some public areas could use a makeover, particularly the pool deck. The long walk called the „monkey trail“ really is long, so don't start it for sunset. We expected to be back in an hour as indicated, but it took more than 1.5 hours and we were in pitch black, luckily with a flashlight, then had to rush back. Also expect lots of families with children, especially during festivities.

It's quiet and surrounded by jungle, though a bit outside, so it's a good area to spend a few days. The staff are super nice and make you comfortable, whatever you need. We took a tour to Tikal from the hotel and had a beautiful day and experience. We'd definitely come back.

It's a beautiful resort, but it is a resort. The deer were cool, though the macaw in its cage was sad to see. The food was terrible, especially for the price and compared with what's available in Flores. Management may be an issue: every staff member seemed deeply unhappy and did only the bare minimum, whether arranging taxis or serving.

Villa Maya is such a lovely mix of luxury and nature, and we saw our first squirrel monkey within minutes of arriving. The restaurant food was delicious. I loved staying here and want to return. I have nothing negative to say, everyone should visit.