9 amazing hostels to stay in, in Lake Atítlan
If you are like us and want to visit beautiful Lake Atítlan without spending too much on one of the many hotels or a luxury Airbnb, these are the best hotels in Lake Atítlan.
What is a hostel?
Hostels are budget-friendly accommodations for travelers and often have dormitory-style rooms. However, private rooms are also available at some hostels for people who want to meet other tourists but still enjoy their privacy.
Hostels also often have communal areas, such as a restaurant or bar, a kitchen, lounges, and even a co-working space, focusing on fostering a social atmosphere. They are most popular for backpacking and solo traveling and are people looking for a budget-friendly option. They also have communal organized activities.
Hostels can usually be found in tourist destinations or city centers of big cities. They are catered to travelers who are looking for a unique experience and who are looking to meet other people worldwide.
What is the difference between a hotel and a hostel?
Hotels focus mainly on comfort and privacy and offer room or concierge services. In contrast, hostels focus more on shared dormitories and activities, making them ideal for people who want interaction.
The best hostels in Atítlan
Now we have gotten into the difference between hostels and hotels; we will provide you with a list of the best hostels in Lake Atítlan. It is a beautiful tourist destination in the western highlands of Guatemala. Lake Atítlan is located in the district of Sololá and is only 3 hours and 15 minutes away from Guatemala City and just over two and a half hours away from Antigua.
A lot of people visiting Guatemala decide to stay in Atítlan. That’s why prices might sometimes seem quite harsh for Guatemala. If you still want to enjoy this beautiful place, looking for a hostel instead of a hotel can be good. That’s why we have created a list of the top 9 best hostels in Lake Atítlan. Let’s get into it.
1. Selina Lake Atítlan
We might be a little bit biased here. Because this is the hostel, Letisha and I stayed at ourselves when we visited this beautiful location in Guatemala.
The Selina Hostel in Panajachel, just next to the lake, is one of the best hostels we have ever visited. You can read a more extensive review about Selina Atítlan here. This beautiful hostel comes with its bar, restaurant, a lovely co-working space, and a pool. It also has tiki-style rooms, if you decide to pay more, and beautiful dormitories if you are looking for a more hostel-like experience.
It also has a beach, where you can have a welcome drink and get to know other like-minded tourists. If that’s not enough, they also have a fantastic pub crawl, but be careful because you might get too drunk to walk back.
Furthermore, Selina Atítlan offers multiple activities and trips from its location. You can also use its excellent shuttle service to return to the airport or Antigua. Although Selina is a bit more expensive than most hostels, this is the best option if you want to stay at a hostel at Lake Atítlan.
Pro tip: If you are looking to go to Antigua after you go to Lake Atítlan, you can get a discount if you stay at a Selina Hostel in both locations.
2. The Hub – Centro Sakbe
Another popular hostel you can choose in Lake Atítlan is The Hub, Centro Sakbe. This hostel is located on one of the islands of Lake Atítlan, in the famous town called San Juan La Laguna. The hostel is known for being eco-friendly and has beautiful views from the patio over the mountains of Lake Atítlan.
However, that is not the only special thing about this hostel; it also has rooms equipped with a coffee machine, a shared bathroom, and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms also have a balcony with views of the lake itself.
This hostel also has its activities, but they are charged extra. You can go to a movie night or a lovely pub crawl. If you are in Lake Atítlan, there is also a high chance that you are into something more active. The Hub also offers walking and hiking tours for the more adventurous travelers under us so that you can see some of the volcanoes around the lake.
3. Dreamboat Hostel
Another beautiful hostel to consider when traveling to Lake Atítlan is the Dreamboat Hostel, just like Selina Atítlan, located in Panajachel. For people looking to connect with other travelers, the Dreamboat Hostel is one of the best hostels in Lake Atítlan.
You will not get bored in this hostel, as plenty of activities and amenities exist. The property provides guests with a kitchen, restaurant, and bar. Furthermore, the hostel also has a private pool and a rooftop bar. However, if you like sleeping early, don’t get too worried, as the rooftop bar on the hostel closes at 10 PM.
Dreamboat Hostel is also an excellent location for people who both like privacy and like to live in a shared dormitory. The hostel has private rooms with their own bathroom and dormitories with 4 or 6 beds. Dormitories in the Dreamboat Hostel are mixed, so be aware if that’s not something you feel comfortable with.
4. Hostal The Friends
Hostal The Friends might be a good option if you are looking for a hostel in the center of Panajachel. This hostel offers multiple rooms, such as family rooms and dormitory stays. It also has multiple amenities, such as washing machines, a tour desk, and even a currency exchange.
One option that might make this a more excellent stay, especially for solo female travelers, is for Hostal The Friends to have separate dormitories for men and women. This might make it more comfortable if you are a female traveler traveling by herself.
People staying at this hostel especially like it, as it is in the center of Panajachel, which makes it easier to visit different places, such as the boats to other parts of Lake Atítlan. Another incredible perk of the hostel is bringing your pet to this hostel in Atítlan. Although the place has fantastic reviews, in terms of quality, it does not look that great compared to other hostels on this list.
5. 4 Elementos Hostal
We understand that this might look strange, but 4 Elementos Hostal is number 5 on our list of the best hostels in Lake Atítlan. This unique hostel is located in San Juan La Laguna, one of the towns near Lake Atítlan.
The property is unique because it is an eco-friendly hostel with only three rooms, so it has a more cozy vibe than most other hostels on this list. However, this makes it less fun for travelers looking to interact with others. Luckily, there is enough to do in San Juan La Laguna to make friends.
The hostel is also beautifully designed in a fantastic style typical of San Juan La Laguna. There are also many activities to do in this hostel. In comparison to other hostels, this one doesn’t focus on drinking activities but on more cultural activities. You can go horseback riding or even visit art galleries nearby.
6. Nomades Hostel
Nomades Hostel is also great if you want to stay at Panajachel. This hostel is perfect for travelers looking for a great escape near Lake Atítlan. If you go to this hostel in Lake Atítlan, it is ideal for people who love nature. This hostel has many plants, making it a great and beautiful green place.
People visiting this place also like it because of its cozy feeling. Sometimes, it is called “The Apartment,” which gives that extra cozy, home-like feeling. This hostel also has many activities, such as walking tours and pub crawls, perfect for people looking for a place to meet and befriend like-minded travelers.
The hostel also comes with great amenities. Each room at the guest house of this property comes with a private balcony so you can enjoy the views of Lake Atítlan and Panajachel.
7. Hostal Sweet Dreams
The name describes itself; if you stay at this Hostel, you will sleep well. This hostel is also located in Panajachel. Hostal Sweet Dreams has terrific beds, and you can also choose to stay in a mixed dormitory or get your private room in this beautiful hostel.
This hostel offers concierge services, a tour desk, daily housekeeping, and baggage storage so you can hike without carrying all your luggage.
Furthermore, the Sweet Dreams Hostal has smoke-free rooms, an outside terrace to enjoy the views, and even a private car if you have decided to rent a car in Guatemala.
8. Mandala’s Hostal
Contrary to many of the other best hostels in Lake Atítlan, this one is not in Panajachel but in San Pedro La Laguna. This hostel is for travelers who want to chill, relax, and experience the real vibes of this beautiful lake in Guatemala.
It also has multiple options, meaning you can stay in a mixed dormitory, a female-only dormitory, or even a private room with a private balcony with lake views. Furthermore, this hostel has a lot of other activities, such as horseback riding, private tours, and even a bicycle rental. This is one of the best hostels to stay in, in Lake Atítlan.
9. Free Cerveza Hostel
If you are really into active holidays, this one might be your best option. This hostel and glamping site attracts a fun crowd. The name says it all: if you want to befriend people and drink with them, this is the perfect hostel in Lake Atítlan for you.
However, if you are looking for fun activities, this can be an excellent pick. You can get free kayaks, sups, and more if you go to this hostel. It also has game nights and activities you can do with fellow travelers. To top it all off, the hostel has a full-service restaurant, bar, and one hour of free beers daily.
Why would you want to stay at a hostel in Lake Atítlan?
As we have alluded to in this article, Lake Atítlan is beautiful. This is why it attracts many visitors yearly; according to this NPR transcript, it even gets more than 300,000 visitors yearly. This is why prices for hotels and Airbnb’s in Atítlan can sometimes be quite steep. Instead of getting a hotel, booking a hostel at Central America’s deepest lake might be wise.
Another good reason to book one of the best hostels in Lake Atítlan is because of the type of tourist destination this region is. Many people come here to reconnect with themselves, while others are here for how many activities there are, which means that it attracts many active young people. If you want to befriend like-minded travelers, going to one of the best hostels in Lake Atítlan might be a good idea.
Is Lake Atítlan worth visiting?
If it wasn’t clear from this article, Lake Atítlan is worth visiting. This beautiful natural reserve has everything that you are looking for. Whether you want to go on a journey to explore yourself or go on an active holiday and hike one of the four volcanoes, You can even have a party holiday with friends surrounded by the beautiful lake and the fantastic views, and you can do everything here. It is also an excellent place for coffee lovers with small coffee shops that dry coffee beans right next to you while you drink them.
Lake Atítlan is worth visiting, whether for a couple of days or a week. If you don’t want to spend too much money on your trip, use our list of the best hostels in Lake Atítlan.
Sources
- https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1190427910
- https://booking.com/
- https://www.hostelworld.com/
- https://www.visitcentroamerica.com/en/visitar/lake-atitlan-and-sorrounding-towns
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