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.
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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.
You can find places to relax like this all over La Casa Del Mundo
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.
Views of La Casa Del Mundo approaching on a water taxi
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!
When you look closely, you can see just how many levels there are to La Casa Del Mundo
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.
La Casa Del Mundo offers lake swimming access near the area shown here
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.
A shot looking out towards the lake from a walking path near La Casa Del Mundo
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.
Views from the dock at La Casa Del Mundo
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.
Everywhere you look at Casa Del Mundo you'll find beautiful vegetation
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!
Taking in the views from Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala
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.
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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.