Zephyr Lodge Hostel, Lanquin, Guatemala

The owners of Zephyr Lodge chose the perfect spot for their hostel, perched on an outcrop just outside the town of Lanquin, which serves as the jumping-off point to the must-see tourist attraction of Semuc Champey. The vast majority of visitors to Guatemala will make the trip to the area, and Zephyr Lodge is the hostel of choice.

The dorms are spacious enough, and the bathrooms are clean, but the common areas are what make this hostel stand out from the crowd. A huge bar and lounge area looks across a recently constructed swimming pool, and the views over the surrounding valleys are incredible.

After taking a daytrip to Semuc, many guests, as well as those from other hostels, are drawn to the bar area to celebrate just about anything that they can think of. The staff is always ringleaders in all sorts of antics, with giant Jenga, a pool table and bar games providing ample sources of entertainment if you get tired of the pool.

© Matt Stabile | Flickr

Zephyr also offers a varied food menu, meaning everything you need is provided on site. It’s certainly a clever tactic allowing guests to run a tab, and many people end up staying for longer and spending more than planned.

While the whole experience is more expensive than other options in town, it is testament to the hostel and the atmosphere it provides that so many people would not consider staying anywhere else.

Zephyr Promo from Blue Kite Cinema on Vimeo.