Chiminos Island Lodge

Top choice in El Petén


Jutting out from the western shore of Laguna Petexbatún, this magical lodge shares its promontory with a largely unexcavated Maya citadel that includes a ballcourt and stellae. Five spare but elegantly furnished bungalows, with private bathroom, fan and porch, are spaced well apart from one another and reached along trails through the forest.

Built of natural hardwoods and equipped with wraparound screened windows, they give the feeling of sleeping in the jungle without all those nasty bugs and bats. Naturally prepared food is served in an open-air restaurant/clubhouse, and folders full of absorbing archaeological information and articles about the area are available to peruse.