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Sacred Tree, Santa Cruz La Laguna: Our Home Base in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

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On my recent trip to Guatemala, my daughter and I stayed at a beautiful Airbnb rental, Sacred Tree, in the small town of Santa Cruz La Laguna on Lake Atitlán.

Location/Getting There

From Antigua, we took a shuttle to Panajachel that we booked through Guatego. The drive is normally 2.5 hours, but our trip took a bit over three hours due to traffic. I recommend you take Dramamine or Bonine the night before because the roads are winding and bumpy.

On the ride there, we saw a lot of stray dogs on the highway as well as TONS of trash, despite the signs that said no dumping.

The image shows the interior of a car, focusing on the dashboard and part of the windshield. Outside the car, there is a view of a road with a grassy area on the side, which is littered with trash. In the background, there are dense green bushes and trees.

Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America (over 1000 feet deep in some areas) and is surrounded by 3 volcanoes. The lake has 11 small towns on its shores. Panajachel is the main hub to get to all of the towns surrounding Lake Atitlán. Our driver dropped us off near the boat dock where we would take a boat (lancha) to Santa Cruz La Laguna.

A person with a backpack and a suitcase walks down a cobblestone path towards a wooden dock extending into a large body of water. Another person is walking ahead. The sky is overcast with dark clouds, and there is greenery on either side of the path. Several boats are moored at the dock.

A boat named "Lobina" is floating on a calm body of water. In the background, there is a large mountain with a cloud partially covering its peak. The sky is clear and blue, and a person is visible on the boat.

I was a little nervous that our luggage was going to fall off the boat:

The image shows the deck of a boat with a blue fixture in the foreground. There are several suitcases on the deck, and a person is standing to the left. The background features a canopy structure and a cloudy sky over the ocean.

The boat ride to Santa Cruz La Laguna was only about 10 minutes. From the town dock, we walked 5 minutes on this dirt path along the lake to Sacred Tree:

A scenic view of a grassy path leading down to a wooden dock by a lake. The path is lined with stones and surrounded by lush greenery and trees. In the background, there are forested hills and a cloudy sky. The lake is calm, with several boats docked along the shoreline.

Sacred Tree

The Airbnb property looks just like the online photos:

A scenic garden with a stone path leading through well-manicured grass and small shrubs. A person is sitting on a swing under a wooden frame, surrounded by lush greenery and trees. In the background, there is a two-story house with a mountainous landscape under a cloudy sky. Two green lounge chairs are in the foreground.

The property has several small houses that face the lake. Our room, Aether, was the top level of the front yellow house.

A two-story yellow house with a wooden balcony is surrounded by lush greenery and trees. In the foreground, there is a stone pathway leading to the house, and a circular rock garden with various cacti and succulents. The background features mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

My favorite thing about our room was the view from the balcony:

A scenic view of a lake with a mountain in the background, partially covered by clouds. The foreground features a well-maintained garden with a stone pathway, lush green grass, various plants, and trees. The sky is mostly clear with some scattered clouds, and the overall atmosphere is calm and serene.

The property has a heated swimming pool and a sauna:

A rectangular swimming pool with clear blue water is surrounded by a stone deck. There are two green lounge chairs on a grassy area to the right, and a tall hedge and trees provide a natural backdrop. A decorative wall with greenery is at the far end of the pool.

Our room had a king-size bed, bathroom, living area and kitchen:

A cozy bedroom with a rustic design. The room features a large bed with colorful pillows and a wooden headboard. In front of the bed is a white sofa with decorative throws. A wooden shelf with various items is against the wall, and a flat-screen TV is mounted nearby. There is a small wooden table and a floor lamp next to a fireplace. The room has a high ceiling and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The image shows a modern bathroom with a large mirror and a double sink vanity on the left. The countertop is made of a stone-like material. There are two wall-mounted faucets and a soap dispenser on the counter. A bathtub is visible in the background, positioned against the wall. The walls have a textured finish, and there is a wooden door on the right. The lighting is soft, with ceiling lights providing illumination. A framed picture is hung on the wall near the bathtub.

 

A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets and a large wooden island in the center. The island has two chairs and is set with two blue placemats. Stainless steel appliances, including a refrigerator and a stove, are visible. A window and a sliding glass door provide natural light, and there are suitcases on the floor near the island.

Purified water:

The image shows a large blue water dispenser placed on a kitchen countertop. The dispenser is filled with water and has a spigot at the bottom for dispensing. Next to it, there is a folded green cloth. The countertop is made of a light-colored material, and there are wooden cabinets above and below.

Closet:

The image shows a small, dimly lit room with a wooden door slightly ajar. Inside, there is a concrete shelf with a rolled-up colorful towel and a black box. The ceiling has wooden beams, and a light fixture is visible, casting a warm glow.

The only downside to the open layout was that the shower had no privacy from the rest of the room. Thankfully, the toilet had its own door.

We ordered breakfast from the property chef each morning and ate it on the balcony. I had a traditional Guatemala breakfast (eggs, beans, tortillas, fried plantains) and my daughter had pancakes. Delicious!

The image shows a wooden table set with a breakfast scene overlooking a scenic view of a lake and mountains. On the table, there is a plate with pancakes and fruit, a small dish of chocolate spread, a French press, two mugs, and a jar of milk. The background features a clear sky with some clouds and lush greenery.

On our last day, I splurged on a massage from a local that our host recommended. It was a bargain!

A massage table is set up on a covered patio overlooking a large body of water with mountains in the background. There are trees and plants around the patio, and a person is standing to the right, partially visible, holding an object. The sky is cloudy, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

My daughter and I loved coming back to the property after our daily adventures to read on the dock and swing away the afternoon with the fabulous view:

A scenic view of a lake with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky. In the foreground, a person is relaxing on a green cushioned lounge chair on a deck, with their legs visible. Another empty lounge chair is nearby. The deck is painted in red and blue stripes, and there is a railing along the edge.

A wooden swing set with two swings is positioned on a grassy area overlooking a large body of water, likely a lake. The top of the swing set has the words "SACRED TREE ATITLÁN" written on it. In the background, there are mountains under a clear blue sky with some clouds. A wooden deck with chairs is visible near the water's edge.

Dining Near Sacred Tree

Santa Crua La Laguna is one of the smaller towns on Lake Atitlán, but there are still food choices available. A few houses down is the popular Free Cerveza hostel that has a different dinner option each night. There are also a few small hotel restaurants within walking distance on the lake as well as a few more choices if you take the steep walk up to the town center (we hired a tuk-tuk one night for that). In addition, the chef at Sacred Tree has a limited dinner menu that you can order to be delivered to your room.

Overall, the location of Sacred Tree and the views were simply spectacular, and I would stay there again on my next trip to Guatemala.

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

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