Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Atitlán

Keep any disappointment in check until you arrive. You turn into a quiet cove northwest of Panajachel, and will spot an ugly high-rise building. That isn't this hotel. This Spanish-style inn consists of a main building flanked by two-story wings that surround a pool. The extensive grounds border on a long stretch of shoreline and the Reserva Natural Atitlán, a wooded reserve crossed by footpaths and hanging bridges. The rooms, each with tile floor, carved wooden furniture, and handwoven bedspreads, have balconies overlooking the gardens or the lake. Even if you don't stay here, stop by for views of the lake at sunset. The restaurant is reliable, if a bit overpriced. The hotel also offers weekly rates, which include all meals if you like.