There are many first-class hotels in Guatemala City and throughout the country. Many offer excellent service in restaurants, bars and nightclubs. La Antigua Guatemala (the capital until largely destroyed by earthquakes in 1773, a fate which also befell the present capital in 1976) also has a good choice of hotels. Chichicastenango, Cobán, Panajachel (near Lake Atitlán), Puerto Barrios, and Quetzaltenango also have a reasonable selection of hotels, although elsewhere accommodation is more limited. Throughout the country standards are inconsistent. Registered hotels are required to display room rates; the Tourist Office in Guatemala City will deal with complaints. A 10 per cent tip is normal in hotels where service has not been included. Most hotels charge a 20 per cent room tax.

Most large towns have guest houses and boarding houses offering inexpensive accommodation.

There are a few campsites dotted around the country but facilities are usually basic. A popular excursion is to stay overnight in camping grounds on the still active Pacaya volcano to see the glow of the ashes and lava from the volcano’s eruptions. Around Lake Atitlán, camping is permitted only in designated areas.

Los Tarrales, situated on the south slope of the Atitlan volcano, was declared a protected area in 2000. It offers an eco-lodge, two tree houses and a campsite.

Guatemala Tourist Commission (INGUAT)
Centro Cívico, 7A Avenida 1-17, Zona 4, Guatemala City 01004, Guatemala
Tel: 2421 2810 or (800) 464 8281 (24-hour toll-free number in the USA or (801) 464 8281 (24-hour toll-free number in Guatemala).
Website: www.visitguatemala.com

Los Tarrales Reserve
Tel: (502) 2478 4867 or 5208 0940.
Website: www.tarrales.com