Hotel El Sol

This hotel has private rooms and also contains a shared dorm space or hostel. The owner is very friendly but you need to speak Spanish (limited English). We have never seen such clean and beautiful tile floors. The double bed is comfortable and the private room has a small but functional bathroom. There is a very small TV with cable but only Spanish channels. Location is a bit far from the boat dock for Santa Cruz, San Marcos and San Pedro (about 1.5 miles each way) but it is a Q10 per person tuk Tuk ride to the embarcadero! Even though it's a long walk to the Calle Santander area, the neighborhood is relatively quiet because there are no discos or partying nearby. You will likely be hearing stray dogs barking and roosters crowing at 5:30 AM but we like to rise early anyway. "El Rincon Del Chef," the #1 restaurant in Panajachel is about 200 meters from the front door. Hotel El Sol offers a small but cozy breakfast room and cooked to order breakfasts for a good price. The owner provided laundry service, very nice to return home with a suitcase full of clean clothes! Hotel El Sol may not be for everyone but we found it to be a nice place to sleep while visiting Lake Atitlan. The price is relatively cheap for the quality you receive.

Yes this hotel is quiet and the owner is polite but it is a strange place and a bit grimy. It is super cheap so that is worth considering but i wouldn't stay here again. The walls in our bathroom were mouldy and the whole place is in desperate need for some updating. There is a lot of wasted potential, such as the huge roof terrace with great views but nothing up there except bare concrete and there is no other outside space except the enclosed driveway with a swinging chair in the corner. Also, in the lobby there is tea and coffee supplies for 1Q each but no way to make hot water, it doesn't make sense. It's also really far out and yes you can get a tuktuk for 5Q pp but we like to walk but it's a good 30 minute walk into town. Great if you are driving or are really not keen on going into town but i think there are better places for the same money.