As you might expect from a regional tourist hub, Panajachel has a range of accomodations at all price levels.
Mario's Rooms, Calle Santander, Q60 per night for room with no shower (shared, not ensuite) with two guests. "So friendly and helpful! We would have missed the best fireworks ever if it weren't for the help of the owner/staff here. A beautiful courtyard, nice rooms." tel 7762-1313.
Hospedaje Sanchez, on the Calle el Chali, one block from the Calle Santander. If you do not mind shared bathrooms, then this is an excellent place. It is clean, quiet, and comfortable. Cost is about $5 per night. It is particularly nice to have an upstairs room, where the window on the back wall lets in gentle breezes from the lake. Great lake views from the roof. Convenient to the main road, but you will feel that you are deeply in Guatemala. The Sanchez family are very sweet people, who respect your privacy, but are willing to help you with anything. Phone: 7762-2224
Villa Lupita, Budget Option US$ 5 per room with shared bathroom. Lovely, family owned place. Clean and cared.
Grand Hotel, Calle Principal, tel. 762-2940. This hotel can get busy at weekends due to an influx of visitors from Guatemala City.
Primavera,a mid-scale hotel right in the middle of Panajachel. Renovated in 2000, most of the rooms are on the second floor. Cost is about $40US per night.
Hotel Utz Jay, on Calle 15e de febreo between Calle Santander and Calle Ranchos Grande. Quiet rooms for USD 20 set around a pretty courtyard. Private baths with hot water, and a sauna on the grounds. Breakfast available, but not included. You can also book tours here. utzjay_garcia@yahoo.com.
Bungalows El Rosario, on Calle Del Lago between Calle Rancho Grande and Calle Ramos. Set on a short cobblestone drive back from the street, with about ten double rooms around a private courtyard. Rooms are clean, simply built with stone and concrete, livened up with bright paint and a few traditional woven cloths and wooden masks for decoration. All rooms have private bathrooms with showers, and hot water available from 6:00h to 22:00h. The idyllic setting is marred by loud disco music from the adjacent restaurants until mid-evening, with the laughter and chatter of other guests after then. Q150.00 for double occupancy, Q100 for single occupancy (as of December, 2005). When we were there, they raised the single room price to Q150 on a busy weekend night. There are reports that prices also rise on other peak nights and seasons.
Guest House Casa Loma, on a small side street off Calle Rancho Grande near the Calle de Buenas Nuevas. Has private parking. No information on rooms or rates as of December 2005.