Balam Ya

The perfect stay in Atitlan. We loved the Balam Ya villas so much. The grounds are breathtaking and waking up to the volcano view every morning was unbeatable. We stayed in the Villa Loft, which is the smallest villa but the room was impeccably clean and very comfortable. The hotel is peaceful and quiet. We ate lunches/dinners at some other nearby hotels which were nice, but we continuously said how grateful we felt to be staying in a more tranquil and private setting. A huge thank you to Marvin who welcomed us to the property, provided a comprehensive check-in, and was available via Whatsapp for our every question. Marvin also connected with David, our tuktuk driver, who offered door to door service each time we went into town, and was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the town! Definitely use David's services if you stay here! Last thing I will mention is that the hotel is located on a steep incline, which makes coming and going tiring if you go by foot. It's also a 10 minute drive from Panajachel. Thanks to David's tuktuk service, we were rarely climbing up to the road ourselves. However, it is not an accessible property.

In search of a much-needed sabbatical, I booked Jade villa for 10 days. Despite being the “rainy season,” the weather was perfect, allowing me to enjoy all of the calm and gorgeous outdoor spaces on the property. The staff is delightful—so friendly and always excited to provide assistance. The villa amenities are luxurious. While there, I booked two in-villa massages (highly recommend!) and an in-villa típico breakfast, which was delicious. I also enjoyed visiting many of the nearby villages. If you’re looking to visit Lake Atitlan, stay at Villas Balam Ya!