Places to stay in Pana

At times the locals can host their visiting friends, but usually it's not possible.  Following are some hotels that we've researched - both high-end and economical. This is NOT a complete list, nor is it a guarantee of a great experience, but they're places we feel like we could happily stay in.

Feel free to check TripAdvisor or other review sites to see what other visitors said about the hotel.

OUR FAVORITE

• Utz Jay is a hotel owned by a sister (one of Jehovah's witnesses). It is in a great location near the lake and near shopping and restaurants. It is leafy and has a beautiful garden and a Mayan sauna. Here are the TripAdvisor reviews. 

HIGH END

• Hotel Atitlan - Beautiful hotel and grounds, spectacular view, lots of amenities. Downside - it's not within easy walking distance, so you'll need a taxi to get into town. But the view and amenities are worth it!
• Posada de Don Rodrigo - great location near main commercial street, nice view, lovely rooms, with lots of indigenous art and crafted items.  

There are more lovely high-end hotels in Pana, so I'm sure it won't be hard to find something you'll enjoy.

MID-RANGE?

• Don Moises - Some friends stayed here and said it has a spectacular view of the lake. I think it might even have a small kitchen. But it is a little ways out of Pana, and would be difficult to walk to. You'd probably need a tuk-tuk (for about $1.25 per person I think). 

ECONOMICAL

• Larry's Place - great location, nice grounds, and it looks clean.  When I talked with the manager, he quoted 80Q, which is $10 - but the website quotes prices that are a bit higher.  May need a face-to-face negotiation to get the best price! 
• Hotel El Sol - inexpensive.  It's on the "Maya" side of town, in Barrio Jucanya, so a bit more walking to get to the center of town, but people who have stayed there have said it's a great deal, and it has excellent reviews in TripAdvisor. 
• La Posada De Don Jose - a modest little spot with rooms off a main road, up from the mercado (market). Brothers have stayed there comfortably. There is a kitchen that you can use. 
• There are many more economical hotels that are clean. Please let us know if you find one you like, or want to know about one you have read about! We might be able to help. 

OTHER OPTIONS

• Towns like Santa Catarina or San Antonio Palopo are the next villages to Panajachel, connected by a road. You can get taxis to get to/from Pana. You would get a very authentic experience of Guatemala, but there's not much to do there. 
• Towns across the lake are another possibility. There are some inexpensive but comfortable hotels and hostels there, with a fair amount of things to do. It is a boat ride (about a half-hour) from there to Pana, about 25q ($3+) each way. But be aware that after the midweek meeting, you will not be able to get a boat ride back across the lake. 
• San Pedro: The biggest, perhaps. Lots of tourists and ex-pats, hippies, and a surprising number of Israelis! Lots of restaurants and activities. Coffee plantation, horseback riding. 
• San Juan: The next town from San Pedro. Smaller and less touristy than San Pedro. There is a congregation and Kingdom Hall there, only in Spanish. More 'authentic'.
• San Mateo: Beautiful, green, peaceful. A bit more New Age. 
• Santiago Atitlan: I don't like that town. Street vendors are extremely aggressive. 

If you are coming for an extended stay (a month or more) and if you are looking for a longer-term rental, please know that many of the agencies may either charge too much or put you in a place that may not be ideal. You may be better off coming and staying in a hotel a few days while you check out rentals.

Tip - be aware that during some timeframes, like "Semana Santa" (Holy Week, around Easter) or Christmas, hotel rooms will be very difficult to find. Before you book your flights, check out availability of hotels!