La Iguana Perdida Hostel

Guatemala , Lago Atitlan
Santa Cruz La Laguna, Santa Cruz La Laguna Solola
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50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

01 Mar 2026

Kavni

Super friendly staff, great food and great vibes!
We only stayed for one night but they had plenty of activities on offer.
The room was very clean however shower is an eco shower so the hot water did run out after a short time

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2026

David

Great location and vibe. The food is delicious and my room had a great view. Loved the activities and entertainment. The hot water wasn’t working during my stay but I later found out it’s possible the petrol for the heater simply needed replacement and the staff can do that. I’d stay here again in a heart beat.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Feb 2026

Elsa

Great 👍 room and very gentle staff

Partner

4/10

Poor

31 Jan 2026

Priscilla

This was my first time staying at a hostel, so this review is from that perspective. I arrived around 8pm due to my flight, which I had communicated in advance. While the person who checked me in was friendly, the process felt disorganized and like they weren’t really prepared for my arrival. I also couldn’t get dinner because they only cook for guests who sign up by 3pm, which I didn’t know and couldn’t do while traveling.
The hostel isn’t very service-oriented, and after talking with other guests, it seems this is largely because the staff are volunteers. A lot of basic information was vague or hard to get. I stayed in a private room, and it was clearly not cleaned prior to my arrival. The floors looked like they hadn’t been swept or mopped in a long time, and the sheets smelled like they hadn’t been changed between guests. I had to ask twice for them to be replaced.
The bathrooms also didn’t seem to be cleaned daily, despite multiple people using them. Towels and mats were changed, but that was about it, no disinfectant or proper cleaning seemed to happen. There’s also no space to put toiletries while showering or getting ready. The mattress was very hard and felt old. The reusable cups by the water dispenser smelled bad and didn’t seem properly cleaned, which was off-putting.
You might enjoy this place if you’re not too concerned about service or cleanliness. The one real highlight is the location. It’s beautiful, and the views are genuinely stunning.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2026

Regina Margarita

Lovely room, perfect view, very kind and helpful staff, good food, an overall very pleasant stay:)

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jan 2026

Kim

Excellent vibe with really friendly staff. The travelers passing through were nice to know - altho briefly.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

Ernesto

Yes, the room was spotless and staff is very helpful and friendly.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jan 2026

Elizabeth

Gorgeous room with a lakeside view! Fabulous staff, friendly and accommodating. Lovely food and the family dinner is a must. We met some fab people here, sad to leave

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2026

Kimberly

Our room was fabulous. It was large, clean, had a nice shower, and best of all, had an amazing balcony looking over the lake. We also enjoyed the meals, particularly the breakfast and lunches made to order. The food was good and you can’t beat the views.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

20 Dec 2025

Joe Han

Avoid at all costs. This place is run by drunk volunteers. I had food poisoning from their “community dinner” and entirely regret this stay. No one helpful at all.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Dec 2025

Neiki

This hostel is a great choice in Santa Cruz. It's right in front of the dock so no rolling your suitcase over rocky paths. It's also a 4 minute walk to the party hostel Free Cerveza if you want to get that energy and use their dock, and a 10 minute walk to nice kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming.

I stayed in a Private the whole time. The first was Balto and the second was Toliman. Toliman was gorgeous and had a lake view - would be great for a couple. I think I preferred Balto because at night it was cozier and quieter.

Family dinner is wonderful at this hostel and such a core part of the experience. I participated every night and loved it. The food was great and the company was amazing. There are also different activities each night and the Open Mic Night is a blast. People from all over the town come for it.

The highlight was Sam who was our hiking guide for the sunrise hike. The hike itself was gorgeous; on top of that Sam was really an expert not just with knowledge of the area but also with ensuring our safety and enjoyment. It's technically a short and easyish hike but I have chronic pain and limitations. Sam ensured that I was doing okay, had me hike at the front of the pack to help control the pace, and even gave me cookies because the sugar helps your body. We also learned so many interesting things about the volcanos, the lake and the local Mayan culture.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2025

Alexandru

Amazing place!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Nov 2025

Beatrice

Great staff, nice food and drink options, loads of organized activities and best of all the VIEWS

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Nov 2025

Christian

Wonderful vibe from all staff members and great location and accomodations.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

18 Oct 2025

Michelle

It is a great glamping property that any liberal hippie would love.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Sep 2025

Antoine

Lovely cozy place

Business

10/10

Exceptional

25 Aug 2025

Patrick

Really cool hostel with massages, sauna and other cool activities

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2024

Emilia

The hostel is located right at the base of Santa Cruz which made it super easy to grab the lanchas. My friend and I stayed in a private suite which was really nice and cozy. The grounds of the hostel itself are stunning and so relaxing! They host family-style dinner's every night which was so wholesome and was a great way to meet new people. The only cons I will say is that there's only wifi in the common spaces, and wifi doesn't reach the rooms. Other than that, I loved my stay!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Nov 2024

Myra

Great vibe in this hostel but had a private room that was awesome….large, king size bed, overlooking the lake, private patio with hammock, private bathroom. Quiz night was fun - we won - shot of tequila! Family style dinner was good, As were the a la carte breakfasts. Directly across from the lancha pier.

8/10

Excellent

16 Oct 2024

Fatou

Breathtaking view!!!

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

05 Oct 2024

Autumn

Overall the hotel is nice with beautiful plants and scenery. The beds are not very comfortable and the water is either really hot or cold. But for the price it is a nice place reasonable place to stay.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2024

Sam

A great, friendly, welcoming hostal.

A great, friendly, welcoming hostal. Fully recommended for individuals or families.

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2024

Vincent

We enjoyed our stay of 1 night! We signed up for the dinner which was really good and fun. Almost everyone at the hotel attended the group dinner. There were animation, games and a quiz. Would definitely recommend to stay there if you are in Santa Cruz.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Mar 2024

Hector

Place was really cute, super well decorated, everyone was welcoming, a bunch of different languages are spoken, food was great (we had tacos), rooms were really clean, overall great experience 10/10 would recommend

Business_and_leisure

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2024

Berglind

Loved my stay at the La Iguana

I had a beautiful stay at the La Iguana. I loved the room and the hammock on my balcony. I really liked the atmosphere there. The yoga classes and the sit down family dinner at seven. Great food and a very nice way to meet fellow traveler’s.
The only negative thing I can say about my room is that the walls are paper thin and there were moments I felt that the guest next door very in my room chatting along!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jan 2024

Great spot. Lots of fun

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2023

Drew

Great!

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2023

Erich

Our stay was amazing. Great location and very helpful staff. We participated in the pool tournament and had a great time!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2023

Rohan

Best Hostel

This hostel was great! While I don't stay in hostels much, this was the best I've experienced. The staff are great, the family dinners are a great way to meet people and there's always an event in the evening where people get to socialize. I stayed in a private room which was clean and spacious although had to share the bathrooms which was a bit more inconvenient given my room needed a ladder to access it. For me being a bit of an introvert and needing a push to make friends this was the best place for it. The staff and people were the best part of this place.

Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Oct 2022

Edward

Diving Lake Atitlán

Went for the scuba diving, amazing staff and a great dive experience. Dive instructor was awesome and very helpful, making the experience that much better. Everyone was friendly and the food was better than expected, with the communal dinners being quite good. Little noisy into the evening and at night but not bad enough that it's difficult to sleep.

Self

8/10

Excellent

11 Jun 2022

Laura

A pretty place but lacking some care

The hostel itself looks lovely and welcoming when you first arrive. The staff are friendly and helpful and the place has a lovely peaceful air to it. The family dinners were also well run and lovely getting everyone together at big tables.

The longer I stayed the more issues came to light though. They are small things but make a world of difference.
1. Our room had no door handle which was painful when there's two people and it will swing open if you don't lock it from the inside or outside.
2. Showers were lukewarm at best and the weather here just isn't warm enough to make that a nice experience.
3. Food in the restaurant was average and my order was forgotten or mixed up frequently.
4. Room just wasn't comfortable. There was no where to hang wet towels, bed was like a rock and walls were paper thin to the room above and next to us.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

05 Jun 2022

Sean

Backpacker hostel. Location is great. You get what you pay for. Nothing great about the room.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2022

Aurelio Ayala

The morning always reminded me of a bad frat party! No trash cans around. The staff is amazing!

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2022

John

The hotel was comfortable, relaxing, with great food. The staff is amazing. It’s a bunch of volunteer Travelers that stay for 6 weeks or more. They create an very cool vibe.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2022

Kyra

La Iguana is a melting pot of travelers from all across the lake and a great place to stay for one night or one month. The staff is wonderful, the food is delicious, and the Saturday night “family dinners” are an experience I will never forget!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2022

Elina

Private room lovely room, buzzing environment

I stayed in a lovely private room with a balcony overlooking the lake. But there are many different options and ways to travel which would make your experience very different. This is a hostel, so it's busy and buzzing, the restaurant generally packed and you can't even get hot water before 8am, so not great for a morning coffee drinker. The staff are super busy, but very friendly and the atmosphere is nice. The yoga classes are lovely and the location for Santa Cruz ideal.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jan 2022

Konrad

Lovely place

Great place run by great people.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2022

Surin

Quiet, private, beautiful lake view, places to hangout, helpful staff. BBQ dinner was just ok, but overall food was good and nice ambient.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2022

Traci

Every visit here is magical, from the staff to the inviting spaces, I’ve never been more pleased staying away from home that with Iguana!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2021

Alexis

Great quiet spot

The staff is great, friendly and always helpful. Location is fantastic just opposite the arrival pier.
I had a single room, basic, but comfortable enough, shared bathroom, but clean. Better than what you find generally in most hostels.
Barbecue on Saturdays, vegetarian option available, and real nice. There's quite a few travelers staying here so it's always a fairly busy place where you can meet new people, with interesting stories.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2021

Verified traveler

Stay here! But make sure you're vaccinated first..

Absolutely loved our stay at La Iguana Perdida - we wish we had stayed longer! The location is amazing - right on the lake and surrounded by nature. The food and drinks at the restaurant are delicious and affordable. The only thing we didn't feel comfortable with was that covid precautions were basically non-existent.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2021

patrik

Great staff

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2020

Shawn

We loved it except the electricity was out for 24 hours and there was no hot water for the shower our entire 2 night stay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Mar 2020

Liz

Great place to stay. Loved spending time in the hammock looking out over the lake. Incredible value for money. Friendly staff, adorable hostel dogs. Ok mattrasses.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

21 Feb 2020

Elizabeth

Fun hostel

It’s a fun hostel right by the boat pier of Santa Cruz. My private room was great, but I think they forgot to clean the sink before I arrived. Not an amazing room, but it was what I expected from a hostel. It was spacious and nicely decorated. I appreciated the water bottle in the room. Service was awesome - at checkin they gave me an overview of activities and I signed up for dinner. The pasta at dinner was ok, but the chocolate cake was amazing! I enjoyed chatting with others at dinner and stayed to play games afterwards. The games were surprisingly fun and a great way to spend the evening laughing. I did not do any other services but would have liked to have participated in the yoga class and tours if I had stayed longer. The friendly staff made it a great stay. I’m sure I’ll stay there again.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jan 2020

Vinay

Lovely spot

Beautiful location right by the lake, friendly staff and the two rooms (Toliman and Atitlan) with private lake-view patios are just outstanding.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Really amazing place!

Really amazing place!

4/10

Poor

21 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

I was given a different room than what i booked & paid for and was told that it was still the same price when i asked for a refund for the difference. Expedia advertised that there’s free wifi but there is no wifi. It’s a lovely place to stat but wouldnt recommend if you are looking for a clean, neat, private room. Bedsheet was not the cleanest, more of warm shower than hot shower, room door and lock does not really work perfectly, you can still break through the windows. Windows do not lock or close perfectly.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Gorgeous property with a fun vibe. Good place to meet fellow travellers. The staff is mostly English speaking volunteers. Decent food, cute bar. Right near the ferry dock so it's easy to visit other towns on the lake (we liked San Marcos and San Juan and hated San Pedro). Two nights was enough but we honestly could have stayed a week and just relaxed. It's a bit pricier than other places, but I understand why. Worth it!

10/10

Exceptional

20 Nov 2018

Leah

Right off the boat, it is right there after 10 steps. The view is amazing, and the food is great. All the staff members are so friendly and considerate, I didn't plan to stay here more than one night but I extended my stay. I first thought there is nothing to do at Santa Cruz (yes, it is true) so I thought about going to other villages, but it was not worth of moving around to different hotels. Just stay at one stop and make trips to other villages on the lake.