If you’re heading to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala and you haven’t heard of La Casa Del Mundo it’s time to become educated on this picturesque hillside hotel.
Located in Guatemala along Lake Atitlan’s northern coast La Casa Del Mundo is only accessible by boat.
Don’t let the logistical challenge of reaching La Casa Del Mundo deter you, because guests who accept the challenge of getting here will be well rewarded!
Want to travel with Wes? Check out my Guatemala small group trip here!
In this post we’ll go over everything you’ll want to know before visiting La Casa Del Mundo in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala.
Along the way I’ll go over some highlights from my stay and share with you some of the beautiful views we were able to enjoy during our stay.
Disclaimer: this website uses affiliate links which may allow me to earn a commission when used at no additional cost to you.
When you’re done reading this post be sure to hop over to my YouTube channel where I put together a full length video highlighting our stay at La Casa Del Mundo!
La Casa Del Mundo is the ultimate destination for peace and quiet
I really can't imagine a better place to get away, relax and unplug from the hustle bustle of modern day life than the cliffs of Lake Atitlan.
As you wander around the property you'll find an endless number of hammocks and seating areas to relax and enjoy the views of Lake Atitlan.
What makes this hotel so special?
The fact that you can only access this hotel by boat is the first thing that should jump out to you.
Visitors planning to visit La Casa Del Mundo will likely be traveling on from either Antigua or Guatemala City.
From either town you're looking at roughly a three hour shuttle drive to Panajachel which serves as the hub for the Lake Atitlan region.
Panajachel is the most developed area here and is somewhere you'll definitely want to explore during your trip.
It's in Panajachel where you can take a water taxi or private boat out to La Casa Del Mundo. Once you reach the docks of Panajachel you'll find water taxi workers who can direct you to the proper boat.
Just be mindful that some locals will try to sell you a more expensive private boat ride instead. Be sure to confirm the price before getting onto any boats to avoid scams or over paying.
In general the water taxis of Lake Atitlan run after sunrise until just before sunset. If you need to arrive or depart La Casa Del Mundo outside of these times you'll need to arrange a private boat.
Fortunately, the service level at La Casa Del Mundo is top notch.
For our departure from the hotel we needed to leave earlier than the water taxis started, but the hotel was able to arrange a boat for us and ground transportation back to Guatemala City to catch our flight home.
Be prepared to climb some steep steps during your stay
There's no way to sugar coat it - getting around the grounds of La Casa Del Mundo will require some leg work. While the cliff side location results in out of this world views, it also means to get around the property you'll be climbing a lot of stairs!
Lake Atitlan sits at about 5,125 ft (1,562 meters) above sea level which means the air is thin for anyone coming from lower elevations. The elevation can make getting around a bit more challenging than you'd expect!
La Casa Del Mundo offers easy Lake Atitlan swimming access
The perimeter of Lake Atitlan is relatively steep in most areas. And swimming isn't always ideal near the docks of the larger towns.
At La Casa Del Mundo the steps here lead you directly down to an area where you can swim in the water of Lago Atitlán.
I would generally recommended that you swim early in the morning when the waters are the calmest. As the lake heats and afternoon storms roll into the area the water is usually choppy late in the day.
If you're interested in kayaking you can rent them from the hotel! Just be sure to reserve them in advance so you don't miss out on the best times.
Just remember that late in the day the water can be choppy. I'd suggest renting kayaks early in the morning if possible!
This is a luxury hotel but in a less developed part of the world
La Casa Del Mundo is considered a luxury hotel in this area. The amenities here will be much better than what you'll find in other hotels around the lake.
During our stay we spent a few nights in Panajachel at the Dreamboat Hostel before finishing up at La Casa Del Mundo. Spending some time in one of the cities before La Casa Del Mundo can be a great way to divide your time in this area.
This also ensures you have a more customary Lake Atitlan experience before venturing off to one of the nicer properties in the area.
Be sure to reserve the wood fired hot tub
One of the cooler amenities that La Casa Del Mundo has to offer is a wood fired hot tub with views of the lake! It's perfect in the evening when things start to cool off.
The hot tub has limited capacity and it can book up in advance. Be sure to ask the hotel about it during your initial booking process so you don't miss out on a reservation!
La Casa Del Mundo makes for a great home base to explore Lake Atitlan
Panajachel is the most commonly used home base for exploring the Lake Atitlan region since it is the largest city in this region and offers the most in terms of accommodations, restaurants and other amenities.
However, La Casa Del Mundo also serves as a perfectly suitable home base for exploring the lake. Just be mindful that the water taxis generally only operate between dawn and dusk so don't get stuck across the lake without a ride home!
Other important things to know when visiting
The cell phone service around Lake Atitlan isn't too bad for phone calls or text messages. This theme is consistent across other populous areas of Guatemala.
If you're looking to do more data intensive tasks on your phone like social media or web browsing, you'll be better off doing so back at the hotel when you can access the Wi-Fi
The hotel prefers cash but will accept credit card payments if you're okay with paying an additional fee.
I'd recommend planning to pay your bill and room charges with cash, but just know that if you end up needing to pay with credit card it should also be an option. Be sure to confirm directly with the hotel what their latest policies are on accepting cash versus credit.
Also note that tap water around the lake is generally not safe to drink. The hotel will provide you with clean drinking water during your stay.
Check out my Small Group Trip to Guatemala
Interested in traveling with Wes to Guatemala?
I'm super stoked to be offering small group trips that explore some of my favorite places in the land of volcanoes.
If you've always wanted to visit Guatemala, but weren't comfortable spending the time to research and plan it yourself, let me take care of the dirty work for you!
Not only that, but you'll have a great guide (that's me!) to help ensure everything goes smoothly.
I've custom curated the itineraries to make sure we hit all of the best stuff, all you've got to do is show up and enjoy!
You can read the Guatemala Small Group Trip itinerary here to learn more.
Learn more about La Casa Del Mundo on YouTube
Check out these activities available in the area
Looking for more ways to fill out your trip itinerary? Be sure to check out the list of activities below from GetYourGuide.
Additional Travel Planning Resources
My Favorite Cheap Flight Hacks
Tired of paying full price for airfare? You're not alone.
Paying for flights is one of the biggest travel expenses and unless your destination is within driving distance, it's difficult to avoid.
But there are a number of useful hacks and tricks I've used over the years to ensure I pay the bare minimum when I fly and I've compiled all of them into a guide to help you save on airfare costs.
Hire Wes to Plan Your Next Trip
Need helping planning your next big adventure? Whether you need assistance finding the perfect hotel or are looking for a fully planned adventure itinerary, I'm here to help!
You can check out all of my travel advisor service offerings here.
Hiring me to plan your next trip is a great way to maximize your limited vacation time. Let me save you the hassle of trip planning while you benefit from my experience planning travels to over 25 different countries!
Explore Group Travel Opportunities
Interested in making new friends and traveling to bucket list destinations? Be sure to check out my upcoming group trip opportunities!
Not only will you have the opportunity to Travel with Wes to some of my favorite destinations, but all of the logistics will be taken care of. All you need to do is show up and enjoy.
My current trip offerings are outlined below. If you're interested in joining me on a future adventure, you can submit your interest for group travel here.
- Learn more about my Northern Lights group trip to Norway
- Chase volcano views on this group trip adventure to Guatemala
- Hike the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park
Don't see any group trips you're interested in? New destinations are always under consideration so be sure to check back in!
Learn More About Travel With Wes
If you're interested in learning about why I started this blog, head over to my about page. You'll learn all about my story, how I got into blogging and tips for using this travel blog.
Tips for Planning a Trip Abroad
Planning trips abroad can be tough. Especially if it's your first time or you're visiting a new country.
I've put together a guide that will help you work through all of the things you need to consider when planning a trip abroad.
Things like packing the proper outlet converter, seasonality of desired activities and making sure to have backups of all your important travel documents are just a few tips I'll cover in this guide.
Check out my YouTube Channel
If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!
I publish highlights from all my adventures to my channel. It's a great way to find inspiration for your next trip and along the way I'll drop tons of useful tips to plan your visit to the destinations I cover.
Connect with me on Social Media
Social media is a great way to connect with me! You can use the links below to follow me on your favorite social platform:
- Follow me on Instagram
- Follow me on TikTok
- Join my page on Facebook
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
- Follow me on Pinterest for travel inspiration
- Connect with my Fora Travel Advisor Page
- Shop Travel Gear on Amazon
I love hearing from readers, so drop a comment on a post or shoot me a DM with any travel related questions that you've got. I always respond!
Is La Casa Del Mundo worth visiting?
I can’t speak highly enough of our time at La Casa Del Mundo. This place is really a destination in and of itself and it really encompasses what makes the Lake Atitlan region so special.
The relative remoteness of the hotel, it’s position built into the cliffs of Lake Atitlan and the great accommodations and food make this place a slam dunk.
Not only that but you get really good value for your money. If a hotel like this was located along the Amalfi Coast, you’d pay a small fortune to stay there.
Hopefully you found this guide helpful. Be sure to check out La Casa Del Mundo’s website as well to ensure you have all of the latest up to date information! You can also get great rates on rooms at La Casa Del Mundo here.
