Casa Amate

Roberto, the groundskeeper, was a big help, and the boat taxis made it fun to zip over to nearby villages. We had a great time in San Pedro. The house itself was gorgeous and so peaceful, well worth the climb up all those stairs. I do wish some of the doors or windows had screens, though. Definitely recommend it.

The setting is fantastic, and the design has so many great little details. Such a fun house to stay in.

The kitchen could win design awards, with its natural rock features built right into the cliff. Roberto keeps the grounds looking beautiful every day, and even made us banana bread. The house has four amazing levels cut into the mountainside, with views over Lake Atitlan and the volcanoes. We arrived by boat taxi from Panachel, then climbed the hundreds of beautifully carved steps up the trail. The place feels like one of those unbelievable houses on a travel show, except it’s real. They can also shop for groceries and bring them to you for a very reasonable fee if you’re staying a while. I can’t wait to come back to Guatemala and spend longer at Casa Amate.

The house is beautiful, with four bedrooms and another bed in the living room. It’s about a 10-minute boat ride from Panajachel, and there’s plenty of room. The views from every room are great. I only wish the stereo had Bluetooth.