Atitlan Sunset Lodge

From the restaurant, the WiFi worked pretty well, though it wasn't great in our room. They had luggage storage, and coffee and tea were provided, but no shampoo or conditioner. The restaurant served breakfast from around 8 am, then lunch and dinner until about 8 pm. We also had yoga mats and could get into the water by stairs. We stayed in the rock apartment, about nine flights of stairs up from the lake. The sunset views were stunning, and there was a lovely reading nook. Hot water and good shower pressure too. Public water taxis can drop you right at the hotel. There's a nice path along the waterfront toward Santa Cruz. Separate from the hotel, I'd suggest taking a tuk tuk up the hill into town for 10Q per person. We were two women walking and got harassed on the way up. It seemed safer with a man or a larger group.

The lodge is beautiful and peaceful, and the restaurant was very good. Our Treehouse apartment was lovely, clean, and well equipped, though the stairs are a challenge if you have luggage. We also appreciated Sissi arranging a reliable early morning car and driver to the airport, at a better price than we found elsewhere. Communication before arrival was a bit difficult, though it all got sorted out. The WhatsApp business chat wasn't very useful. Once we had Sissi's direct WhatsApp, things improved, and she managed things well. At first we got the information we needed from the young woman at the restaurant and the maintenance guy, and meeting Sissi in person helped too. It would make a real difference to have a working lodge reception, with someone to welcome guests, offer a cold drink after a long trip, show them around, and explain the property. It seems like there is a staff position for this, and if Sissi fills it, there should be someone to cover her day off. Guests want to know there's someone there to ask questions, even if management is remote.

The Studio room was a good size, with a patio and a nice volcano view. But we kept finding ants in the room and on the bed every day. There was ant spray there, so I assume the workers knew about the problem. The shower had an unusual window where bugs could get in. Since the lodge is built on a hill, expect lots of stone steps up and down. Bring suitable shoes and a headlamp for nighttime. Sunset Lodge is remote, with the restaurant as the only nearby food option. The food was okay, not very flavorful, and there were lots of vegan choices and avocado on almost every plate. They have coffee but no espresso drinks. You can walk to other hotels near Santa Cruz for better espresso and different volcano views. Bring your own towel, too. We only got one each and had to use it for both swimming and showering. The lakeside setting is nice for a getaway. We swam off the dock and the water seemed clean. There are upper and lower sun decks, lounge chairs, and free paddle boards and kayaks. Santa Cruz is about a 20-minute walk along the waterfront path. We later learned a day pass costs 100Q and gives access to the lodge amenities. If we'd known beforehand, we would have chosen that instead.

The 100Q day pass was great. It came with kayaking, paddle boards, a hot tub, and a nice swimming area with chairs and towels. I wasn't staying at the property, though I imagine that might be nice too. The food was okay, but everything else about the day pass was great.