The Best Hotels to Book Near Villa Nueva, Guatemala

Mother Nature is your host at this rustic-modern rural retreat, 30 minutes’ drive from Guatemala City. Think exposed stone walls, oversized tile slabs on floors, with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors that look out onto lush, landscaped gardens. For full immersion, go for some lengths in the palm-fringed pool, perhaps a fizz in one of the hot tubs, or even the hot springs at the neighboring Santa Teresita resort. Breakfast on local dishes before you check out nearby Amatitlán, home to the fourth largest lake in Guatemala.

Herringbone parquet floors, shiny green metro tiles, cowhide bedheads and access to the well thought-out courtyard garden busy with bamboo, palm and plants unite rooms in this modern hotel close to Guatemala City’s Zona Viva neighborhood. Coffee aficionados – and jet-lagged arrivals – will love this hotel’s caffeine lean, with dedicated coffee menus and a complimentary cup of the strong stuff for newly arrived guests. Breakfast on eggs and fried plantain before a stroll around the shops and restaurants of this lively barrio.

It’s all about getting outside at this contemporary, ecofriendly hotel in Villa Canales, 20km outside of the capital and just 3km from El Mirador – a pre-Columbian Mayan settlement, with heady views of Pacaya Volcano peak. The tour desk here can sort a tour to get up close to it. Grassy-roofed pods contain cozy rooms with brick walls, wooden floors and fireplaces, as well as private patios. Dine poolside on fusion cuisine with flavors of Guatemala.

From the inviting outside pool framed by wooden decking and canopy beds, to the large, bright suites with city-view balconies, plus a gym and spa that punch above their weight – this is a boutique with resort-style benefits. It’s closer to the center of Guatemala City than Villa Nueva, near the capital’s wide Avenue of the Americas, but the area is quiet and family-friendly, with a leafy strip of park just outside. The Markis restaurant dishes up a mean omelette and frijoles (black beans).

If it’s atmosphere you’re after, this little jewel box of a boutique has it in full. In the shadow of the towering Agua volcano, its ivy-draped stone walls, cool terracotta tiles and flaking bell towers make you feel as if you’ve stumbled onto the set of an Indiana Jones film. Swim in the infinity lap pool, surrounded by lush greenery, and spend evenings cuddling into the secretive nooks recessed into the walls. Take time out, too, to explore Unesco World Heritage-listed Antigua, an hour from Villa Nueva.

Also in Antigua, this hotel offers lush, charming gardens and characterful colonial architecture a five-minute walk from the main plaza. Rooms and suites are rich with historical features – from floorboard and crackling fireplaces, to exposed stone walls, and handwoven rugs. Shake off the jet lag at the Ceiba Spa with an indigenous temazcal sauna session, before dressing up to dine on zingy beef carpaccio at Los Moros Restaurant, or dive into some nibbles at the poolside snack bar.

Less like a hotel, and more like a super-modern, super-smart block of adult-only condos, you’ll feel like a local A-lister when you check in here. Rooms ooze sophisticated chic, blending rich woods, neutral tones and textured fabrics, while sleek kitchens gleam with stainless steel appliances. After a day exploring the sights of Villa Nueva and Guatemala City – you’re close to Park Las Americas – kick back in the immaculately manicured, lantern-lit garden for a coffee or sundowner cocktail.