La Lancha is sets in one of the wilder spots in the world – secluded in rainforest on the shores of Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala. Owned by movie director Francis Ford Coppola, the lodge is located a 30 minute drive away from the famous Mayan ruins at Tikal. Weather Nov to Jun is the best time to visit.

There are ten naturally built brightly decorated “casitas” that are inspired by antique Balinese and Guatemalan furniture but well equipped with modern amenities. The lodge featuring two rooms with queen-size beds, decks with hammocks and private large marble bathrooms. 

Activities: Canoeing, hiking, bird-watching, fishing, kayaking at the lake, horse riding, walking trails. The hotel offers spectacular views of the glassy lake’s waters and the greenery of Guatemala. There is also a restaurant specializing in regional dishes, open-air bar, swimming pool and gift shop.

It is a charming boutique hotel overlooking Lake Atitlan. Set against a backdrop of three magnificent volcanoes – Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro, the terraced villa provides spectacular views of the lake. In 2001 “Conde Nast Travelers” add this property in the hot list of top new hotels. Located only three hours from Antigua, you can even arrive at the hotel by helicopter as they have their own private landing pad.

This villa is the height of exclusive luxury accommodation in Guatemala. The design is a brilliant mix of Guatemalan local culture and antique Spanish wooden furniture. The Guatemalan heritage is present in the bright colored walls, vintage mirrors, and the traditional musical instruments decorate on a wall. The hotel is the perfect place for honeymooners, relaxing and romantic getaways.

There is a 50ft swimming pool, private beach and restaurant offering an extravagant choice of European, Guatemalan and Mexican dishes. But there are a number of other activities: boat trip, lake excursions, horseback riding, hike on the volcanoes, kayaking and water-skiing in the lake, and you can visit to one of the 12 Mayan villages surrounding the lake.

Rooms rates: $125-$1099
No children under 15 are allowed.

The library of school-committed Villa of the Children in zone 6 of the city of Guatemala, Guatemala is a part of set of buildings that lodge thousand children who live in extreme poverty and with a future very limited. In there, the Korean catholic nuns offer them an education opportunity, feeding and hosting with no cost.

The building was constructed to serve a group of students, who come from the poorest sectors of the country and here they receive free education. The library had to be a building that connected them with its origins and to comfort the children in the distance of his families and born place. For all these reasons it was constructed with the idea of that kind of ceilings and bricks, as well as the abstraction of the forest in the volume of the launching slips.

With such a design it is obtained the balance that the architects were looking for. Balance between translucent and solid, dynamic and satic. An enameled brick was used that avoids the painting use and facilitates its cleaning. In addition it was used exposed concrete, stainless steel and aluminum hard anodozing .

Located 548km (341 miles) north of Guatemala City, the ancient site of Tikal was once home to an estimated 100,000 Maya. Unlike many other ancient Mayan sites, the wonders of Tikal are hidden deep within the rainforest. Every year, visitors come to gaze at its towering 70m- (230ft) high pyramid and ancient plazas to the accompaniment of jungle sounds. The site has more than 3000 structures including temples and palaces and is located in Tikal National Park, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many species of wildlife. There is also an on-site museum, which contains a collection of objects found during excavations at the site.

You will find another quality of the Tikal area to be its abundance of wildlife. Tikal is surrounded by an immense and lush rain forest with an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. You can spend days to a week or more exploring and watching the animals, birds and insects. For best explanations you can get Tikal National Park Guides to show you around. The Monkeys and toucans are common but most common are the Coatimundis. Your trek in Tikal will be one of the most impressive parts of your travels.