Natural Beauty 2 miles to Panajachel

The apartment is completely refurbished and clean. Set on a semi-private lane above the lake. It is private and quiet. Breakfast fixings are provided. Easy walk to town. The use of the palapa (covered outdoor living, and bathroom) are for guests prior to 7 pm as well as a covered deck at the top of the house. Flat screen TV, cable, hot water and high speed internet. Weekly maid service. Laundry service is available at an extra charge. There are no kayaks provided due to blocked lake access. Visit our beautiful apartment with private entrance on a secluded drive 2 miles from Panajachel. Wake up each morning to breakfast on the Palapa (open air, bamboo and palm living area) with views of Lake Atitlan, which according to Aldous Huxley is the most beautiful lake in the world. The apartment has a living room, dining area, fully equipped kitchen, bath with tub and shower, walk in closet, office space and hand made furniture. Because of the natural setting of the house and the unpaved road it can get dusty. Maid service is included. Hosts Phyllis and Blaine will give you an orientation to the area including the various cultures of the indigenous people living in the villages around the lake. You can hike a volcano, use our kayaks, explore the markets and enjoy purchasing colorful Mayan handicrafts. Or if the spirit moves you, volunteer teaching English to the locals! This is a nature lover's paradise! Set in a secluded area a few minutes by tuc tic from bustling Panajachel. Enjoy the music at night, the restaurants and cafes, shops and a Nature Reserve with zip lines, butterfly garden, monkeys and other exotic creatures. Make sure to use insect repellent. If you prefer the busy nightlife you may want to consider staying in town. Transportation is easy. You can walk into town, hire a private tuc tuc for $1.30 per person, jump on a pick up for 25 cents or drive your car. There is ample parking at the house. There are few places like this apartment. The terraced gardens, and lake views are stunning and the accommodations are very pleasant. The weather ranges from about 55 degrees to 85 degrees year round. There is never a need for heating or air conditioning! But a space heater is provided. There is also high speed internet. The open Palapa is for everyone to use prior to 7 pm, and there is the top "Crows Nest" with panoramic views! Laundry service provided for an additional fee. The housekeeper comes weekly and is helpful. If you need anything from town she will be happy to shop for a small fee. There are no lake views from the apartment but plenty from the upper levels of the property. The gardens are gorgeous. We will be happy to provide you with information about the area. Please bring insect repellent and sunscreen (we live in the highland tropics). Also, water pressure varies at times but you can usually get hot showers. Our area is private and reasonably quiet (for Guatemala very quiet) you will hear chickens and dogs. There are several friendly, and quiet Mayans nearby who wear their colorful traje (traditional clothing). During holiday periods you can watch firework displays from all around the lake from the Crow's Nest. There are inexpensive tuc tucs and pick up trucks to towns. Public boats take you to villages to remoter villages. We can provide you with phone numbers of tuc tuc drivers. We also can set you up with a reliable driver for longer excursions. This is a recommendation from our previous tenant: To any and all future tenants of apartamento de Castillo Blanco I am Skip Caldwell from Colorado of the United States. It has been my pleasure to rent the above mentioned apartment from January 1 till March 31, 2014. The apartment is located 2k from downtown Panajachel. Some folks may think this is a great distance from the central tourist area; however, after living in Panajachel for 7 seasons, I find the distance perfect! If one is so inclined one can walk to town in a leisurely 20 minutes or easily have Tuk Tuk pick you up at your door. The walk takes one through the Maya aldea of Jucan-ya! I have walked the distance, from the apartment, more than "many" times and always find it quite enjoyable and above all else, very safe! In addition, it is also 2k towards the small but truly authentic Maya village of Santa Catarina Palopo. Both walks offer breath taking views of beautiful Lago de Atitlan. However, the greatest view is from Castillo Blanco, the upper palapa, which is located just a few steps from the apartments door. And, if all this beauty isn't enough, then the warmth, comfort, and knowledge, which the host/owners' offer, will certainly seal the deal! If it is not obvious by now then I will state, "you are missing out on a great way to experience Guatemala and Lago de Atitlan if you let this opportunity slip away." I will not; I will be returning again , soon! Respectfully, Skip Caldwell