Why should we stay at Lush?

Lush is a small family operation grounded in the arts of service, environmental conservation, equality, community development and sustainability. We have been environmentalists and considered our impact on the earth from the very beginning of our construction. We are committed to job creation for the local indigenous Maya Kakchiquel community. We are a family and we treat each other as such.

Our suites and rooms boast of the best lake and volcano views. We believe that Lush is the perfect mixture of comfort, art, nature and relaxation that you can find on Lake Atitlán.

• We are a secure and beautiful vantage point to explore Lake Atitlán.

• There is someone on duty 24 hours a day, our night guard and day staff are available for whatever help you may need.

• Each room has a safe deposit box to store your valuables in.

• We are a located next to San Marco’s Natural Reserve, giving you direct access to one of the most beautiful swimming and sun bathing sections of the Lake, as well as short incredible hikes and lush gardens to take short walks.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please consider our cancellation policy: full refund MINUS the first night and the 12% processing fees if you cancel your stay one month prior to arrival.

If you cancel less than one month  prior to your stay there is NO refund. 

Should you interrupt your stay, and if the owner’s responsibility is not implicated, there will be no reimbursement. Reservations are non-transferable. They are only valid for the person who has the reservation and can not be transferred to a third party.

What are the terms and conditions of my stay?

For a reservation we require a payment in full. It is upon receipt of your payment that your booking is confirmed.

By processing your payment, you automatically accept the general rental conditions.

We are built into the hillside of the mountain with a nature reserve right next to us. We do not use pesticides or fumigate our property. You will see critters. None of them are poisonous but if you are arachnophobic it is not the property for you.

Daily rates includes room cleaning service. 

Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at 11am. If you will be arriving before check-in or leaving after check-out, we have a safe place to store your luggage.

Can I reserve with my credit card?

Yes, you can pay directly via our website. We also accept reservations via Paypal or through direct deposit to our Guatemalan bank account.

How do I get from the airport to San Marcos La Laguna?

There is several ways to get here:

1. Our private shuttle service (Small Van style ride from Airport or downtown Antigua without AC) please inquire directly with us.

2. UBER (Usually expensive, but possible).

3. Rent a Car (If you are an experience adventurous traveller) GPS will do a really good job to taking you to San Marcos, once in town we can recommend parking spots and we will take you to the hotel. Please note we do not have parking at the hotel, but you can park downtown on public parking lots.

4. Tourist shuttles or taxis bring you to Antigua and then you can take another shuttle to Panajachel or directly to San Marcos.  If you arrive in Panajachel you must take a ferry to San Marcos.  Ferries run every half hour from 6:30am to 7pm from Panajachel.

5. Chicken Bus it. The cheapest way to do it, backpacker style, super adventure but risky in a few different ways, inquire with us about this.

Do you offer shuttle service?

Yes we do. For your comfort and security we can arrange a private shuttle to pick you up in different locations around Guatemala and bring you directly to San Marcos.

• To/From the airport is 170.00 US$

• To/From Antigua is 150.00 USD$

Prices are for entire shuttle up to 4 people.

Hours between 8am / 5pm daily. For trips starting between 5pm and 8am, we charge an additional 30.00 US$

Our Personalized Luxury shuttle service is an option as well for 800$ Round Trip.

What is the ferry schedule? How do the public boats run?

Things are still a little fluid and casual around Lake Atitlan. However in general, the boat services start around 6:00am. The last boat departing Panajachel is 7:00 pm. The last boat departing San Pedro is 5:00 pm.

Boats depart mostly every 30 minutes. Boats leave San Marcos in 2 directions toward San Pedro & toward Panajachel.  The first boat arrives in San Marcos in the direction of Panajachel at about 6:15am and to San Pedro at about 6:45am.  There are NO direct boats from San Marcos to Santiago. Ferries to Santiago leave from Panajachel and San Pedro.

Boats from Panajachel to San Marcos stop in Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tsununa, San Marcos, San Pablo, San Juan & San Pedro (in that order).

Please have correct change in the form of small bills. If you hand the boat captain a 100Q and expect to get the correct change you may not get it.

What time is check in? Check out?

Check in is at 3pm and hard check out is at 11am unless hotel management approves earlier arrival or later departure.

If you will be arriving before check-in or leaving after check-out, we have a safe place to store your luggage.

Please be aware of this and prepare to leave your room on time, otherwise a 10$ per hour will be charged to your card registered on file.

Do you have a honeymoon suite?

Yes we have a honeymoon suite: Mirador. It is a duplex featuring an open air bathroom with bathtub, huge floor to ceiling windows in the bedroom offering magnificent views of Lake Atitlán and the 3 volcanoes. It has a fully stocked kitchen with refrigerator, dining area and huge terrace with 360 degree views of the lake and the mountains around Lush.

Do you accept children?

We accept children at the hotel on a case by case basis. We have had guests with children many times without an issue but have had a few cases in which it did not work out. The general environment of the hotel is one of quiet, peace and tranquility. If you will have trouble getting your kids to use their quiet voices when on the premises, then we may not be the location for you.

We reserve the right to cancel the reservation if your children’s behavior does not meet these conditions.

What is included in the breakfast?

Every room includes breakfast for either the one person staying or the couple. We have a world class menu and it is considered the best brunch in town.

Breakfast is a choice of any of the plates of our menu, drinks not included.

How far is Lush from restaurants and the center of San Marcos?

We are 5 minutes from numerous restaurants, yoga facilities and other holistic venues. We are 10 minutes from the town center.

What should I pack?

Shorts, pants, dresses, skirts, tee-shirts, long sleave shirts, a sweater or light jacket, swimsuit, flashlight, insect repellant, your own little medical kit of what you may need, (tampons are not easy to find), comfortable walking shoes, sandals. Please bring a raincoat or poncho and rain boots for your stay during the rainy season.

Do you accept pets?

Pets are not allowed.

Do you have a parking lot?

We have private parking partners downtown were you can leave your car safely for a minor extra cost. The best idea is to call us when you arrive in San Marcos and we will help you to find the parking lot & then help carry your luggage to the hotel.

Call or text us at +502 5484-9042

What about mosquitoes?

We have very few mosquitoes here, but during the beginning and end of the rainy season there are a few. We have mosquito nets in case you need them.

What about spiders, scorpions and other critters?

The lake is in a rural, tropical area, which means there are bugs and other kinds of insects. This area has an ubiquitous flat spider which will be found in every property or house despite the best efforts of any cleaning team. It is absolutely harmless. Rural Guatemala is also home to a non-lethal scorpion occasional you may find one in our suites.

We are built into the hillside and do not use pesticides or fumigate our property, so you will find critters. None of them are poisonous, but if you have arachnophobia it is not the property for you.

Do you offer any special decorations for special occasions?

We can help you celebrate an anniversary, birthday or honeymoon by decorating your suite with bougainvillea picked from our vines on the property. Talk to us.

What services can I expect to find in San Marcos?

There are restaurants, cafes, a couple of live music bar'/restaruants, ice-cream shops, 1 bookstore, 1 pharmacy, lot’s yoga and meditation, holistic centers, workshops, dance events, full moon parties, a few convenience stores with a lot of locally produced goods to offer and quite a selection of imported products, several fruit and vegetable centers and numerous hotels.

What are the dining options?

There are numerous good restaurants within 5 minutes walking from the hotel. Our favorite spot in San Marcos is our very own Terrace which features brunch and dinner every day, an ever changing daily dinner menu and featured pop up chef dinners one or twice a week. But there is several really good places in town with a lot of variety of local and international food.

How far is the lake from the hotel?

We are 30 meters from the lakeshore, as well as a short walk to the Cerro Tzan’jujil natural reserve which has both swimming areas and a diving platform.

How safe is it in San Marcos?

San Marcos is very safe but we still hope you will take safety precautions. We are located in Guatemala which is the 3rd world and your level of wealth is in extreme contrast with what the local people have. So we ask that you are not ostentatious and use common sense. All apartments have a safe deposit box for you to leave your valuables in and we keep updated safety recommendations posted in the hotel.

Is there a bank in San Marcos?

No bank but there is an ATM machine. There are banks and ATM machines in San Pedro (15 minutes by ferry), San Juan (10 minutes by ferry) and Panajachel (45 minutes by ferry).