Our Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Review: Sustainable Hotel in Lake Atitlán
An honest review of the Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ in San Juan La Laguna, one of the best Lake Atitlán’s sustainable hotels.
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Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is one of the best places to stay in Lake Atitlán, known for its sustainability focus and peaceful setting just outside the centre of the charming San Juan La Laguna.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ was the very first sustainable hotel we ever stayed in, but more than that, it was actually the first place we visited in Central America! After landing in Guatemala City following 3.5 months of backpacking through Mexico, we were straight on a transfer to Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ for some rest and relaxation at Lake Atitlán – and it was absolute bliss.
If you’re seeking an eco-hotel Lake Atitlán that’s not only committed to preserving the environment and supporting the local community, but is affordable too, look no further. In this review, we break down what it’s really like to stay at Eco-Hotel MayAchik’, including the rooms, food, location, pricing, and who it’s best suited for. If you’re planning a Guatemala trip and deciding where to stay in San Juan La Laguna and want an honest, practical take before committing, this will help you decide if it’s the right fit for your trip.
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About Eco-Hotel MayAchik’
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is a small, sustainability-focused hotel on the hillside above San Juan La Laguna, one of Lake Atitlán’s most community-driven towns.
The name MayAchik’ means ‘The Magical Mayan Dream‘, with the hotel centring around rest, environmental responsibility, and positive engagement with the local community.
The hotel is independently owned and locally operated, and sustainability isn’t just glossy marketing, but built into the hotel’s ethos and infrastructure.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is not to be confused with Eco Hotel Uxlabil, another sustainably-minded accommodation in San Juan La Laguna, or Fuego Atitlán in the neighbouring town of San Marcos. We’ve covered more hotels around the lake like these, and compared villages and their vibes, in our Lake Atitlán Travel Guide.
Where is Eco-Hotel MayAchik’?
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is tucked into the hillside above San Juan La Laguna, in the southwest shore of Lake Atitlán. It’s one of the most beautiful villages on the lake, covered in colourful murals, with a strong focus on local cooperatives, which makes it one of the best places to visit in Guatemala.
The hotel sits just outside the centre of town, around a 10-15 minute walk or quick tuk-tuk ride from the main plaza. It’s surrounded by lush greenery, with epic views of the surrounding mountains.
From La Aurora International Airport, it’s roughly 3-4 hours by road, depending on traffic and how you reach the lake. Most travellers transfer via Panajachel or San Pedro and then take a boat across, or arrange a direct shuttle to San Juan.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Rooms
The property has 11 bungalows spread across the hillside, accommodating up to 46 guests. The rooms, which are spacious wooden cabins, are positioned between gardens and trees rather than clustered in a single block, which gives the whole place a more private, spaced-out feel.
The rooms include:
We chose to stay in Bungalow Quetzal, as we were enticed by the views, and we think we made the best choice of all the bungalows. It was very spacious, with a comfortable bed, mosquito net, a private bathroom, lots of space for our backpacks, and a small table and chairs. But the real highlight was the view – we could see El Rostro Maya (the Indian Nose) from our bed!
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Views
Because of its elevated position, Eco-hotel MayAchik’ has open views toward the mountain ridgeline known as El Rostro Maya (the Indian Nose) – the same formation that you climb on the famous sunrise hike, which is one of the best things to do in Lake Atitlán. We’d go to sleep to the sound of rain pattering on the roof and dripping off the leaves outside and wake up to misty mountain views of Lake Atitlán’s most famous ridgeline – dreamy.
While the property does not have lakefront views, we think this more than makes up for it. Plus, the whole hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens, which are so peaceful, with birds tweeting in the treetops. We barely saw other guests unless we went into the communal spaces – it really feels like a retreat, and was just what we needed in month 4 of our 6-month backpacking trip.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Facilities
The hotel is set in an organic garden environment with multiple communal spaces and facilities, including:
We spent a couple of nights on laptops, catching up on the 3.5 months of Mexico posts we had to write for the months prior, before starting our Guatemala posts. We were often accompanied by a couple of doggies or the cats that the hotel looks after, which was so great, as we were missing our families’ pets at home.
The staff are bilingual (Spanish and English) and so lovely. They were always so helpful, arranged a private transfer for us when we booked, and a lovely driver met us at La Aurora International Airport and took us straight to the hotel. Having just landed in Central America for the first time, this really helped ease us in. They also helped us arrange a tourist shuttle to Antigua after our stay, and even walked us to the bus stop in San Juan, so we knew we were getting on at the right place.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Vegetarian Restaurant
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ has its own on-site restaurant that serves delicious vegetarian and vegan meals, made with fresh, seasonal, and sustainably sourced ingredients.
The Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ menu includes Guatemalan staples like eggs, pupusas, plato tipico (traditional Guatemalan breakfast), and even pepián, as well as veggie takes on international dishes like pancakes, soups, salads, vegan curry, chilli, burgers, pizza, and pasta.
There’s plenty of tea and coffee options, with optional homemade plant-based milks (almond, macadamia, and peanut), soft drinks like lemonade, hibiscus tea, smoothies, and tamarind juice.
They also serve alcohol like beer, wine, and Dan even tried a Michelada, a popular cocktail that’s like a beer-based Bloody Mary with tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a chilli salt rim – it sounds like a lot, but it’s surprisingly good!
If you’re travelling in Guatemala as a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll know how hard and tiring it can be to have to check what you can and can’t eat all the time. We found some great vegetarian restaurants in Antigua, but weren’t expecting the same level of international vegan options in Lake Atitlán. The restaurant being totally vegetarian-friendly was so great, and allowed us to really relax.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Tours
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ also offers tours and guiding service, and can help you arrange a variety of excursions around the lake, whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure or something cultural.
The hotel can arrange:
Tours are coordinated through local guides and community operators, so you won’t just learn lots, but you’ll be giving back to locals, too.
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ Sustainability
Sustainability at Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is built into how the property functions day to day. The hotel operates with solar panels to reduce reliance on the local grid, and energy-efficient lighting and appliances are used throughout the property to minimise electricity consumption.
Water management is also considered carefully. The hotel uses compost toilets in its bathrooms, significantly reducing water usage compared to conventional systems. A rainwater harvesting system is in place to collect and reuse water where possible, and guests are encouraged to refill reusable bottles at the on-site filtered water station rather than purchase plastic bottles.
Waste separation and recycling are part of the daily operation. The hotel works with Atitlán Recicla, a recycling initiative operating within the Lake Atitlán basin and supported by the Friends of the Lake Association (Amigos del Lago de Atitlán), to ensure recyclable materials are properly processed.
Food sourcing for the vegetarian restaurant follows sustainability guidelines, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and responsible suppliers. The property also prioritises local employment, contributing to the economy of San Juan La Laguna and supporting community-based tourism.
How much does it cost to stay in Eco-Hotel MayAchik’?
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ prices vary by season and room type.
Dorm beds are the most affordable option, with prices averaging around 100Q (~$13 USD) a night.
Private bungalows increase depending on size and whether bathrooms are private or shared, ranging from 250-400Q (~$30-50 USD) a night.
Larger family bungalows (Aguil and Lagartija) are priced accordingly, at around 400-650Q ($50-85 USD) a night.
Rates for Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ are competitive compared to other eco-focused stays around Lake Atitlán, especially those in places like San Marcos, where you can be paying hundreds of dollars a night. We found it to be incredibly affordable and one of the cheapest private rooms on the lake.
A key deposit of 50Q (~$6.50 USD) is required upon check-in, and will be refunded upon check-out after returning the key and towels.
Who is Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ for?
Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is best suited to travellers who actively want a quieter, sustainability-focused base rather than somewhere central and social. If you’re drawn to gardens, mountain air, and mindful practices, this setting is perfect.
But if you’re looking for lakefront docks, nightlife, or quick walks everywhere, it might not be for you. Because the property sits above San Juan La Laguna, you’ll have to be okay with a short walk in exchange for privacy and separation from town noise. Some might also find the facilities a little basic, and composting toilets aren’t for everyone (although we never mind them).
Remote workers and longer-stay travellers will likely appreciate the indoor and outdoor seating areas with plug outlets, the calm atmosphere, and the vegetarian restaurant on-site. But, while the WiFi was always good, we did experience a couple of power cuts – something that can’t be helped in the smaller towns. On those evenings, we happened to make friends with another British couple and played cards well into the night. In the end, the lack of power actually ended up enhancing the off-grid feel.
If you’re put off by no lake views, or still aren’t sure if Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is for you, you could always split your stay between two towns – choose Santa Cruz for a classic lakeside retreat or San Pedro for more amenities like backpacker bars and then stay in San Juan for a more authentic insight into local life and the chance to relax at Eco-Hotel MayAchik’.
How to get to Eco-Hotel MayAchik’
If you’re arriving into Guatemala by air, you’ll land at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. From there, the 90-mile (140 km) journey to Lake Atitlán takes around 3-4 hours by road, depending on traffic.
The easiest way to get to Lake Atitlán is to simply book a private transfer, which can take you door-to-door directly to Eco-Hotel MayAchik’. The hotel can arrange this for you, from the airport or another city like Antigua, Xela, or Guatemala City.
If you’re relying on public transport, the most popular route is to travel to Panajachel, the gateway to Lake Atitlán on the north shore, by shuttle, private transfer, or chicken bus. From Panajachel’s dock, you’ll take a public boat (lancha) across the lake to San Juan La Laguna. Boats run regularly throughout the day, but services taper off in the late afternoon, so timing matters if you’re arriving later.
Alternatively, you can arrange to take a tourist shuttle to San Pedro, which is one town over from San Juan. Some routes also serve San Juan directly, which would be most convenient.
Once in San Juan, Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ is around a 10-15 minute walk from the town centre. Tuk-tuks can take you there, too.
Book your stay at Eco-Hotel MayAchik’
It’s rare to find places like this that are not only genuinely committed to making travel more sustainable but are also accessible and affordable. Eco-Hotel MayAchik’ has done a wonderful job, with comfortable cabins in a beautiful setting, and we can’t recommend them enough if you’re looking for an eco-hotel on Lake Atitlán to add to your Guatemala itinerary.
Read next:
A Traveller’s Guide to Lake Atitlán: Itinerary & Essential Travel Information
Where to Stay in Lake Atitlán: 12 Towns & Top Hotels
25 Amazing Things to Do on Lake Atitlán
How to Get to Lake Atitlán & Getting Around by Boat + More
A Complete Guide to San Juan La Laguna: Lake Atitlán’s Artistic Town
A Succinct Guide to San Pedro La Laguna: Lake Atitlán’s Backpacker Town
A Short Guide to San Marcos La Laguna: Lake Atitlán’s Hippie Town
10+ Best Lake Atitlán Hikes & Trails From Easy to Expert
How to Hike to Mirador Kaqasiiwaan & El Rostro Maya (Indian Nose)
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