La Iguana Perdida

An unforgettable stay! The staff were incredibly attentive and went above and beyond to accommodate us—even after we accidentally booked the wrong date. Communication was seamless and responsive via WhatsApp, which made everything easy and stress-free. The property itself is a hidden gem. There’s plenty to do on the lake, and the sauna with hot and cold plunge pools was a fantastic touch. We loved the many private areas to unwind, and the wine cellar was simply stunning. The beautiful dogs roaming the property added such a warm, homely feel, and we even had the pleasure of meeting the owners. A standout perk: fresh coffee delivered to our bungalow each morning. Plus, they offered a private boat option if we didn’t feel like using public transportation. Every detail was thoughtful. Highly recommend!

It’s hard to find the words to express the gratitude I have for the La Fortuna staff, dogs and owners. My dad and I were traveling internationally for the first time to celebrate my birthday and Enrique made our stay absolutely perfect. His local tips and recommendations and his assistance in booking really turned this vacation into the trip of a lifetime (the ATV villages tour for sunset was by far the most fun we’ve had in so very long). The food was beyond our expectations and the service was above anything we have experienced in Guatemala. We stayed in Deluxe Suite 5 and it was spotless, comfortable and a total dream with the private pool and lakeside volcano views. And waking up each morning to Sanza, Biscuit, Nellie & Casino ready to greet us was just the icing on the cake. I could go on and on but you just need to experience the La Fortuna magic on your own. A friend told me Lago de Atitlan always gives you exactly what you need. And now I truly understand. Thank you Enrique, Isabel & Diego. We miss you all already! ❤️

Forget any of the negative reviews about staff----the current group running La Fortuna are amazing (& no owners in sight). We loved our time, and made new friends with other guests and with the staff members who offer a warm welcome to this paradise. Yes, the bathrooms are outdoors, and the property requires some climbing & navigation, but La Fortuna is magical. Our Suite #2 was private and straight out of Disney's Swiss Family Robinson. Meals are great and reasonably priced, and the wine cellar provides some true bargains. An amazing hour-long massage cost $35! Hike to the top of the mountain accompanied by the resident dogs or visit other villages on the easily-hailed public launches. Our only recommendation is to upgrade the kayaks which don't support the weight of adult males! Thanks again to Enrique, Isabel, Gabriel and the other staff who made our visit so memorable.

Where do I even begin?? This place is paradise. I traveled solo as a personal retreat, hoping to recharge and rebalance after a difficult year. The moment I arrived I knew I'd made the right decision. The staff are incredibly warm, friendly, and helpful. My Petit Bungalow #4 was perfect. It's very small but incredibly comfortable. The mattress is chef's kiss!! I loved the little porch and spent a good chunk of my time there. The staff was available via WhatsApp for any needs, including meal and wine requests. I was thrilled to discover their expansive onsite wine cellar! The cherry on top was the food. It was truly like dining in a high-end restaurant. Delicious, impeccable, good portions, and beautifully presented. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend La Fortuna! Now for some minor things to be aware of, to manage expectations: 1. The Petit Bungalows are indeed SMALL! Essentially they fit the bed and a small area for luggage. I enjoyed it (as a solo traveler) but it may be a tight fit for more than 2 people. 2. Be aware of the wood burning smell, which is consistent night and day. Since it's an eco lodge, the wood is burned for fuel and the sauna. I found it very strong the 2nd and 3rd nights. 3. The paths and cobblestones are very uneven and wet in the mornings due to sprinklers. Bring shoes that have excellent traction. 4. Bathrooms are aesthetically lovely and private but they're OUTSIDE the bungalows. This makes for a chilly late-night and early morning potty so bring something (like a robe) you can throw on. Overall, I really loved that La Fortuna was a perfect mix of rustic and luxurious. I applaud the owners and staff for what they've accomplished here and hope to return someday!

This is a hotel/restaurant full of backpackers and other travellers of various ages. It’s a buzzy place and every evening there is a communal supper consisting of three courses (differs each evening). The meal starts at 7pm and you all sit at communal tables and everyone mixes with everyone else and it’s all very lively. Happy hour happens every evening either between 5 & 7 or between 6 & 7. There are a few cocktails on offer including G&T’s at Q14.00 which makes for a very cheap drink at a fantastic price. The food is good and filling. This venue offers other opportunities during the day such as yoga, scuba diving, interesting walks and many other activities. We only ate there but the place was packed every night. Booking a meal is essential.

We had a great stay here in January. The hotel, as shown in the photos, is beautiful. The location on the lake is idyllic. The staff is lovely and extremely accommodating. The owners were very helpful in helping me plan transportation from Guatemala City to Antigua to Lake Atitlan and back to Guatemala City. I really appreciated this as I was finding it difficult to pre-book transportation for our family of 5. They were responsive to all my questions I sent via email - thank you! The hotel staff were lovely - Enrique was our first welcome to the hotel and we had so much fun chatting with him. The staff were great at helping us plan boat transportation to visit Santiago, arrange massages on site, and work with food requirements (allergies, vegetarian) for 2 of our daughters. I loved the nightly Happy Hour and just hanging out in the bar/lounge/restaurant. We met some really nice people and had a lot of fun. There are so many places around the property to just sit and take in the view. There's also a short hike up to a viewpoint which we forgot to do! :) The VW bus sauna was fun. It was extremely windy when we visited due to a storm over the Pacific so it was too cold for the pool, but we enjoyed the sauna and hot tub. We had Deluxe Suite #5 and one of the Petite Bungalows. The Suite was stunning - very spacious, very clean. The open bathroom was gorgeous. Due to the crazy winds, we didn't have hot water one night (the pilot light had blown out) so that was a bit of a bummer. It was also a bit difficult to shower with the strong winds blowing - there is a privacy curtain that you can pull down but it didn't seem to stop the wind much. The Petite Bungalow is indeed petite, but the girls liked having their own space in the jungle. The bathroom was adorable. I read other reviews that complained about the steps. Yes, there are a lot of steps - the hotel is built into a hillside! I had read the hotel description, checked the website, and read reviews - so this wasn't a surprise to me. I was surprised though that the staircases don't have handrails. And some of the staircases were steep... so take that into consideration if you have mobility issues or are scared of heights. At 53 years old with a bad knee, I had to walk carefully but it didn't hold me back from doing anything I wanted to do on property. I even visited the super cute wine room in the basement of the lounge. I would definitely recommend this gorgeous property and I would love to come back again.