Best Hostels in Lake Attitlan

7 Best Hostels in Lake Atitlan for Solo Travelers, Party & Chill in 2023

So you are going to Lake Atitlan Guatemala for that long-awaited adventure? So, here is what you need to know. Guatemala is a country of 16 plus million people. The capital and largest city are Guatemala City, which is 77 miles from Lake Atilla. Located in the Guatemalan Highlands which are a part of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan is surrounded by three famous volcanos-Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro, and Indian Nose Mountain. It’s 1,120 feet deep, the surface area is 50.2 square miles, and it holds 4.8 cubic miles of water. It feeds into two nearby rivers instead of the ocean. The lake basin is volcanic, and it fills an enormous caldera formed by eruption thousands of years ago. The Maya people influence the Lake Atitlán community. Lake Atilla is among the most beautiful lakes in the world, and it is Guatemala’s largest national and international tourist attraction. Some of Lake Atitlan’s communities include Panajachel, San Pedro, Santa Cruz, and San Marcos which host some of the best hostels in the world.

hostels in antigua
Check out: Best Hostels in Antigua (Guatemala)

Selina Lake Atitlan

**SPECIAL 10% SELINA DISCOUNT* Use Our Coupon: “TRAVELING-SELINA” while Booking on Selina’s Website to Get Exclusive Discount.

HostelWorld (*8.8) Booking.com (*8.4) Map Starts at ($14) for 10 bed-dorm

**Prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (July)

Selena Lake Atitlan is a hostel & co-living space for digital nomads & backpackers in Panajachel that gives their guests a unique way to relax and immerse themselves in the community and meet some like-minded people.

The guests have the opportunity to stay in private rooms and double rooms. The bedrooms are nice and clean, the bathrooms are spacious, and the beds are very comfortable. The hostel features a bar, coworking space,  garden, and an in-house restaurant, where Latin American cuisine is served. 

Some of the amenities also include free Wi-Fi, a cinema room, and a pool. Pets are allowed in this hostel. One of the advantage of Selina Lake Atitlan is that it’s centrally located. Travelers are minutes away from scuba diving in Santa Cruz, yoga in San Marcos, and hiking in San Pedro. 

Selina is excellent for socializing, nightlife and tours.

Mr. Mullet

HostelWorld (*9.8) Map Starts at ($9) for 8 bed-dorm

**Prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (July)

Mr. Mullet is a hostel in San Pedro that gives their guests the chance to stay in four beds, six beds, and eight beds dorms for a very reasonable price. The dorms have power outlets, individual lights, and gas-powered hot showers.

Free Wi-Fi is available and the lockers are large enough to accommodate travelers’s belongings. A restaurant and bar are in-house, and they serve Mr. Mullet’s famous free breakfast daily. The bar is fully stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There is a recreation room available for pool competitions, beer pong, and nightly parties where guests dress according to a variety of themes. 

Mr. Mullet’s Dorm is easily accessible to entertaining, restaurant, and tourist attractions. It’s only a few minutes away from hiking tours of the Volcano San Pedro, climbing tours of Indian Nose, horse riding tours, and 2-wheel or 4-wheeler rentals. 

Eco-Hostel Mayachik San Juan La Laguna

HostelWorld (*7.9) Booking.com (*8.7) Map Starts at ($10) for 8 bed-dorm

**Prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (July)

Located about a 15-minute walk from the center of San Juan de la Laguna, Eco-Hostel Mayachik is a great option for travelers seeking a quiet retreat in nature, away from all the crowds.

It features spacious, shared dorms as well as private bungalows that spread around the property, which is basically one enormous garden. As the name suggests, the buildings are energy efficient and all built from sustainable materials.

They also have a restaurant that features vegetarian and vegan dishes with a Guatemalan twist that are made from ingredients grown in their own veggie garden. The restaurant is open to the public, so you will have a chance to meet like-minded travelers that stay around Lake Atitlan.

But that’s not all. Another thing which makes Eco-Hostel Mayachik unique is that there is a sauna. You can also get a massage there or practice yoga on their yoga platform.

Free Cerveza

HostelWorld (*9.3) Map Starts at ($10) for 4 bed-dorm

**Prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (July)

Free Cerveza is a hostel in Santa Cruz that gives its guests a chance to stay in private or shared tents or private or shared treehouse rooms. Tents are meant to give guests the feel of summer camping. All treehouse rooms have electrical power outlets. There is an in-house restaurant that serves a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dinner consists of Free Cerveza famous family-style 3-course dinner with free beer. There is also a fully stocked bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 

The hostel comes with FREE WI-FI, yoga classes, and a sauna available for relaxing. To continue with the summer camp theme, guests can enjoy unlimited use of tubes and paddleboards. They can also take adventure tours in kayaks, guided hiking tours, or swim or sunbathe off the private docks.

Free Cerveza follows all the trends and it’s eco-friendly! It was renovated with environmental-friendly materials and modern technology, which includes compost toilets, recycled wood, and LED lighting. 

Free Cerveza overlooks three of the most famous volcanoes – Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro in the world. It’s only a 10-minute boat ride from all Panajachel has to offer. 

Free Cerveza is fun, private, relaxing, and offers great food.

La Iguana Perdida

HostelWorld (*9.3) Booking.com (*8.6) Map Starts at ($7) for 8 bed-dorm

**Prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (July)

La Iguana Perdida is a hostel in Santa Cruz that gives guests the chance to stay in modern bedrooms with private baths. Many of the bedrooms have stunning views of Lake Atitlan. Their guests will also have an opportunity to experience spectacular sights under the water volcanic rock formations of Lake Atitlan. With ATI Divers who offer diving lessons and the only dive shop on Lake Atitlán, La Iguana Perdida guests can easily enjoy this experience underwater. Think of the excitement of scuba diving in a volcanic lake! 

Free yoga classes and free Wi-Fi is available in this hostel and there are cool activities at La Iguana Perdida. Some of the activities include hiking, swimming, kayaking, a pool table, a dartboard, a book exchange, and a TV room. The hostel has a fantastic in-house restaurant. Their famous family-style dinners, which is a 3-course meal that consists of soup, homemade bread, the main course (the veggie option is available), a beverage, and dessert are delicious. The hostel fires up the grill on Saturday nights and the guests dress up in costume for the party and BBQ.

Socializing, activities, and entertainment come together at La Iguana Perdida. 

Casa Felipe San Pedro La Laguna

HostelWorld Map 

**Prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (July)

Casa Felipe is a hostel in San Pedro that gives its guests the chance to stay in their private rooms and dorms. The beds are comfortable, and the mattresses and pillows are made of rustic cotton, which is 100% biodegradable. Casa Felipe is the first hostel in Lake Atitlan, and they are the first hostel to go green. Their main goal is to care for their guest and protect the environment. They grow fruits, herbs, and exotic plants in their garden. Casa Felipe replaced all the light bulbs with LED lighting to conserve energy and reduce costs. They also provide water in portable bottles to reduce carbon footprint.

For your cooking convenience, the hostel offers a large fully equipped kitchen and herbs from their garden. For guests who don’t like to cook, there is a restaurant and a Guatemalan-designed bamboo bar that serves homemade dinner daily and serves colorful and delicious drinks every evening. 

Casa Felipe is centrally located in the calm area of Lake Atitlan with easy access to boat transportation, entertainment, and restaurants. Boat rides are available every 20 minutes from Panajachel, and buses arrive multiple times a day from Xela. Antigua Guatemala, which is the formal capital of Guatemala, also offers a shuttle to parties, local markets, and tourist attractions, such as trips to Mayan ruins. Casa Felipe’s activities include:

  • hiking the San Pedro volcano
  • climbing Indian Nose Mountain
  • riding horseback to explore the coffee plantation
  • kayaking to enjoy the beauty of Lake Atitlan.
  • enjoying the views from Indian Nose 

Hostel Fe

PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Hostel Fe is the best hostel in San Pedro that gives their guests a chance to mingle and enjoy themselves by providing daily entertainment. Their Friday Night Quiz is legendary. Bedrooms and bathrooms are clean and separated from the bar so that guests that wish to sleep can do so peacefully. All private rooms are new and have been refurbished recently.

The Wi-Fi at this hostel is free. The hostel boasts a fantastic lakefront bar and restaurant. The staff is very nice, friendly, and welcoming and they have extensive knowledge of routes, tours, and shuttle information for all areas in Lake Atitlan. They help guests schedule tours, hiking tours, climbing tours, horse riding tours, and 2-wheel or 4-wheeler rentals.

Conclusion

So, the list is complete six of the best hostels in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Don’t panic! Most of the work has been done. Every hostel listed above is different in amenities and atmosphere. Lake Atitlan has accommodations for everyone.

The preference could be further by the traveler’s location. Lake Atitlan’s amazing communities have something for everyone:

Panajachel

Panajachel is the busiest and largest town on Lake Atitlan, and it is surrounded by beautiful mountains, three famous volcanoes, and Lake Atitlan. It provides a base for tourists visiting the Lake Atitlan community. If you didn’t arrive in Panajachel, then you will probably leave it.

Aside from the astounding volcano and mountain panorama, Panajachel provides a perfect mix of travel connections, accommodations, restaurants, nightlife, expat community, and access to tourist attractions. These amenities make it a favorite destination for tourists as well as weekending Guatemalans. There are tours available from Panajachel that take a deep dive into two of the fascinating eras of Guatemalan history. The Mayan ruins at Iximché, followed by a trip through the colonial city of Antigua. This family-friendly tour is an excellent introduction to architecture and the history of the region.

San Pedro

San Pedro is small, but it is beautiful, and it has the lowest prices on Lake Atitlan, making this a popular spot for long-term travelers and backpackers. San Pedro has excellent accommodations, excellent food, and a nightlife scene. There is plenty to do in San Pedro. Hiking the San Pedro is by far the most popular.

San Cruz

San Cruz is quiet, serene, and beautiful and is only accessible by boat. It is a lovely area for diving. It is excellent for guests who like their privacy and are content with relaxing and reading.

San Marcos

San Marcos is tiny, amazing, and beautiful. And, it has the strongest pull for the mythical meaning the town attracts the hippie community. San Marcos is home to a scenic trail that leads to an excellent platform where travelers can dive or jump into the lake! The trail is called Reserva Natural del Cerro Tzankujil.

Choose the best hostel that meets your needs. The choice will make both sides happy.

Good Luck! 

FAQs about hostels in Lake Atitlan

What’s the best hostel in Lake Atitlan for solo travelers?

Selina Lake Atitlan is the best hostel for solo travelers in the area. It’s a community-like hostel and co-living space, a great choice for digital nomads, backpackers, and solo travelers. It features numerous communal areas, such as a bar, garden, pool, and restaurant. It’s also centrally located if you wish to explore the surroundings or engage in the local nightlife.

How much is a hostel in Lake Atitlan?

Staying in Lake Atitlan is relatively cheap. Prices for a bed in a dorm range from USD$ 7 to USD$ 14 per night, while rates for private rooms in hostels are around USD$ 20 per night.

What’s the cheapest hostel in Lake Atitlan?

La Iguana Perdida is a perfect option if you’re traveling on a budget. The rates start at USD$ 7 per night. Each of the modern bedrooms has a private bathroom, and some of them even provide views of Lake Atitlan. There is also an on-site restaurant that offers fairly-priced meals to feed hungry travelers.

Are hostels in Lake Atitlan safe?

Lake Atitlan is generally a safe area, and so are its hostels. However, it’s always best to be cautious and aware, especially when you’re traveling alone.