Casa Palopo Becomes First Relais & Chateaux Hotel in Guatemala

A guestroom in Casa Palopo.
A guestroom in Casa Palopo.

A private home turned luxury boutique Hotel, Casa Palopo is the first property in Guatemala—and only the second in Central America—to became an official member of the Relais & Chateaux hotel group.

Perched on the shore overlooking Lake Atitian and eluding a colonial elegance, Casa Palopo offers a high-end getaway for travelers who come to the Guatemalan highlands for a rich dose of culture with their vacation experience. Each of the boutique hotel’s nine guestrooms present brightly colored stucco walls, original Latin American artworks, hand-crafted furniture and private terraces with uninterrupted views of the lake and the three majestic volcanoes in the distance.

The hotel’s restaurant, 6.8 Palopo, is run by 23-year-old chef and sommelier Marcela Jongezoon Bosch, whose menus are inspired by local Guatemalan cuisine and accompanied by international wines. At 6.8 Palopo, the al fresco dining offers a front-row seat on Lake Atitlan life—by day, small boats making their way across the water, and by evening, twinkling lights from the Mayan towns line the shore.

Guest facilities include a Balinese-inspired spa, an expansive pool deck, a wellness room with fitness equipment, and a library. The hotel was originally built as a lakeside home, turned into a boutique hotel in 2000, and purchased by the current owner—Guatemala native, Claudia Bosch—in 2010. Property managers Isabelle and Didier Torchut of France oversee day-to-day operations. For more information, call (888) 479-6026 or visit casapalopo.com.