Colors of Petén ~ Isla Flores, Guatemala
Part One
The island is tiny, but don’t be fooled, there’s a lot to choose from when it comes to restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. Once you’re in Isla Flores, this little colorful world is your oyster and everything is within a 5 minute walk.
Many of the guides and blogs I read recommend staying in Flores a maximum of 3 days, but we wanted to take our time and have a chilled week in Guatemala. We’re no “Spring-chickens”, we work while traveling and prefer a slow-pace travel style. We stayed 8 days, took it easy and enjoyed living more like locals than touristing day in and day out.
Depending on how many big excursions you’re doing, 2–4 days is plenty to explore Isla Flores and the valley of San Miguel which is a stone’s throw away by lancha (boat).
You can easily walk around the entire Island, but should you choose to ride around or head back inland, the tuk-tuk will take you anywhere you want to go in Flores.
Our Digs…
Villa Del Lago was our pick for our 7 night stay. Why? Price, location, looked nice online.
This place was immaculately clean and overall a pretty nice hotel with friendly staff. It’s right on the east side of the lake towards the entrance of town. The room and bed were comfortable, the air conditioner worked great, the bathroom was spacious and it had a small desk perfect for work. If you know to ask in advance or are lucky to get one, there’s a couple of rooms with a private balcony and full lake view.
The hotel offers a variety of breakfast options from 7:15–10:30ish for $50Q which includes coffee and juice. The breakfasts range anywhere from a typical breakfast plate w/ beans and plantains to ham and cheese paninis, it’s really not a bad deal. But the hotel itself has no bar or restaurant, only breakfast.
As in most Flores hotels you can book your tours right from the reception, convenient and very straight forward, no need to haggle on price. This hotel also offered laundry service which was a really nice perk as we decided to head to Caye Caulker for a few days before heading back to our headquarters in Hopkins.
The only thing I’d wish I’d look for before booking was a fridge in the room for the length of our stay. Overall a very pleasant stay for a very affordable rate and one I’d definitely recommend.
Other popular accommodations…
You’ve got choices galore — I’m a big fan of booking.com, they tend to be really accurate with pictures, reviews, descriptions and prices.
A few places that stood out as we walked around:
Santana Hotel on the west side of the lake, the rooms that face the lake had balconies with hammocks.
Hotel Casazul on the east side of the lake, also looked very inviting as we walked by it.
Hotel Casona de la Isla off the main strip on the west side and this one also has a pool.
Hostels are popular in Flores, as I believe they are throughout Central America. I’m sure I’ll be learning more about them as I continue to roam about.
The Hotel Peten Hostel is a popular one, right across from the lake. It’s the oldest hotel in Flores and from looking at reviews some said you could tell by the condition of the rooms. But it has a pool, a nice perk for those 100+ degrees afternoons. It’s also in a very prime location.
The most popular Hostel is Los Amigos. From what I heard, they’ve got it all. Atmosphere, restaurant, bar, tours and special activities. It’s considered a luxury/chic hostel with both dormitory options and private rooms. Online the prices range from $20US — $100+US per night depending on the room types and dates.
Though it was on our list, we didn’t make it to Los Amigos.
On to tempt your taste buds!
There is no shortage of restaurants and bars in this little gem of a destination.
Here’s just a few we tried ~
Maracuyá — Cute spot with lots of plants, different levels with both in and outdoor seating. It’s a bit on the pricey side for Guatemalan standards. We ate here on our first night in town and shared an awesome pizza with peppers and beef. Their breakfast bowls looked pretty amazing, I’ll have to try one next time.
Cool Beans — Quickly became a favorite spot. The owners are very friendly and have put a lot of love and detail into their place. Super chill vibe, great beer selection and always cold. Good coffee at a good price and fresh yummy food, the burgers are amazing! Plus, Kiki the cat is a sweetheart! 😻
Delirio — Talk about detail! Everything in this cozy coffee shop is matched to pink and white perfection. And that perfection keeps on coming with their coffee drinks. It did not disappoint!
El Camarón Bar — No frills, casual, inviting outdoor lake bar. (sorry, no pic)
Nu — Classy, healthy options, friendly staff full of cool info about the area. You can also rent kayaks here. We shared a decadently colorful salad with freshly homemade falafel. Yum!
Raíces — On the Island, a great spot for drinks. We had a frozen mojito that was absolutely delicious with fresh mint, limes and even cucumber.
Raíces on the Lake — As you come into the Raices restaurant in the southwest corner of the Island, they’ll greet you and ask you which restaurant you want to dine in. If you choose the lake, you’ll take the restaurant’s cat across the way to San Miguel and be dropped off at their lake location. It is a nice treat. Food and drinks were good here as well.
Imperio Típico — The location we went to had great food and attentive staff. Is also right on the lake on the east side with an open view. We were graced with a full moon over the lake view that night.
La Danta — Another spot full of plants, colors, details and decorations. The food was probably my favorite here! The freshly made empanadas with chaya were scrumptious. And the ladies serving were very sweet.
Maple & Tocino — Famous for their shakes topped with a donut. We were hungry for something salty and more substantial that afternoon, so we didn’t go for the sweet treats. Maybe next time 😉. But we did enjoy a really fruity, cold cup of white sangria that I highly recommend you try. (sorry, no pic)
Captain Tortuga — The best surprise! Came here on our last morning for coffee and a little morning snack. To our surprise all breakfasts include fresh cookies and a small bowl of hot oatmeal. Ate more than expected, but what a cool surprise. (sorry, no pic)
Las Tiendas (little convenient stores) are in every corner with cold beers at a whopping 6Q, your wallet will stay full and happy while your thirst is quenched.
This is making me hungry and thirsty! How about you?
Of course, there’s more…
Stay tuned for everything there is to do in Isla Flores.