Coatepeque Vacations from $287

This hotel is a little treasure. Super clean. Very new (or perhaps recently remodeled) and with nice rooms with hot water. Attention to detail is obvious regarding construction and the staff is typical with wonderful Guatemalan service and courtesy. It’s a little mansion with marble and nice couches to sit in the common area where you can chat with family. Pricing is very reasonable. Now, it is off the beaten path, pretty deep inside San Felipe, a great place, for visitors to see a slice of Guatemalan life. Not a lot of foreigners here but you always feel welcome when you are warm to those around you. Take a walk down to the hammock bridge (wear repellent) and see evidence of the lava river that recently displaced many folks. GPS is a bit tricky getting to the hotel. Be aware of this but don’t give up. We suggest Waze. Google Maps got a little turned around. Parking would be near impossible but the hotel will let you pull into the parking the spots actually in the hotel portico. BTW they let us check in early (12pm), yet again how accommodating service tends to be in “chapin” culture. As for food, we didn’t eat at the hotel and used google to find some places to eat (El Fogato and a taco shop, La Chingada) and both were good. We walked around on a Saturday as total strangers in the dark and felt COMPLETELY safe. You’ll get plenty of “good evenings” and “good nights” when you give them. Reserve without concern. You’ll enjoy your stay at this Jaguar Mansion.