Anzan Atitlan

I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel obligated to warn future guests before they book here. We reserved a 3-night stay and ended up leaving after the first night because the experience was not what was advertised. When we arrived, there were multiple spiders and ants in the room, including one crawling on the wall directly above the bed. When we asked about it, we were told not to worry because they “don’t harm you.” While Tara the daughter who was helping that week was kind and did remove one of the spiders, the response made it clear this was considered normal at this stay in addition to having scorpions especially during rainy season. There were also safety concerns. The room did not have a proper lock, and we were told we didn’t need to lock the main door. As travelers, that made us feel uncomfortable. Another important thing future guests should know is that this is not really a hotel. The owners live directly below the guest room, and it felt like they were aware of when we were leaving, returning, or what we were doing throughout the day. The listing made it seem more like a private accommodation with multiple guests, but in reality there is only one other room and the owners are living underneath, which made the stay feel much less private than expected. Additionally, Wi-Fi was shut off at 10pm, which was frustrating since internet access was listed as an amenity and this restriction was not clearly communicated beforehand. Because of these issues we left after the first night and did not stay the remaining two nights. Unfortunately, the owners refused to refund the unused nights. Tara herself was friendly and helpful during the short time she was there, but the overall experience and the refusal to refund unused nights was very disappointing. I would not recommend this place if you have any emergency and need to cancel. I would strongly recommend future guests read reviews carefully before booking so they understand what the stay is actually like.

The property was absolutely idyllic. Morning swims in the lake and long baths overlooking the lake were so relaxing as well as yoga on the balcony and a glass of wine at sunset. The breakfasts were so lovely. Tara organised everything for us in including our transfer to the hotel (private car and then boat) and helicopter transfer back to the airport. The dogs on the property were so gorgeous and we were obsessed with the parrot, Victoria who chatted to us in Spanish (but only when we approached her, if you’re not a fan of birds, she won’t intrude upon you).

We had an excellent stay at Anzan Atitlan. Dita is a very welcoming and friendly host, and Milcar was always on hand to help wherever needed. We stayed in the loft which had the most beautiful views of the surrounding volcanoes. We loved the tranquility. There is access to paddle boards which we loved and also a sauna for a small fee. Access to San Marcos is easy, either on foot (30 mins walk) or a short tuk tuk. We also loved exploring the surrounding towns which are accessible by boat.

Nothing

Anzan is the only place I will stay when we come back to Lake Atitlan. It is truly stunning and delivers everything you want from a refined, remote luxury stay on the lake, which is rare. We originally booked Sababa in San Pedro since most of the activities we planned were on the south side of the lake. We figured we would spend our last night at Anzan on the north side for some R&R and views of the volcanos. The moment we checked into Sababa, we knew we had made a mistake. We immediately reached out to Dita to see if we could switch over to Anzan, and choosing to move was one thousand percent the right call. Yes, the north side of the lake is quieter, and that is exactly the point. This is where you stay for a calm, zen Lake Atitlan experience. Getting around is still incredibly easy. Lanchas are simple to catch for day trips to explore other villages, and San Marcos is just a five minute tuk tuk ride away for dinner. Do not skip breakfast at Anzan. Make sure to book it with Dita. Breakfast is served with breathtaking volcano views and was some of the best food we had anywhere on the lake. Sadly most of the food on the lake was terrible. Dita was incredible throughout our stay. We felt so well taken care of from start to finish. We will absolutely be back!!

It felt like home.

We have been longing to return to Anzan Atitlan since the moment we left. It was probably the most special place I ever stayed at. The nature and views surrounding the beautiful house, the sauna, massages and the EXCEPTIONAL dinner prepared by Dita... Truly one of a kind.

Fantastic views, excellent care, cleanliness , great breakfast on the very front of the lake. No wonder Humboldt considered Atitlan the most beautiful lake in the World.

Should perhaps add night meals

The property itself is beautiful and picturesque

There is no food offered on location and boats stop running at 6pm. While the property is beautiful, you can’t stay there and relax because you need to travel for food. The closest town in 15 min away via Tuktuk but the roads are awful and dark. Also, I found the host unresponsive. I requested many of the things she offers on her site including a massage and dinner but it was non responsive or unable to plan as she needs at least 8 people. She also decided to take pictures of us by the lake on her phone unprompted that she later sent to us which I found just bizarre and uncomfortable.