We were more than pleased with our stay at Casa Merrell, and recommend it for anyone that plans on spending some time in San Pedro la Laguna, particularly if you will be there a week or longer. We stayed three weeks.
GETTING THERE
Unfortunately we took the hard way, when it was so easy (don't drive all the way unless you are with a tour operator). If you are coming in from Guatemala City, take a shuttle or bus to Antigua. From there take a shuttle/bus to Panachel and pick up a water taxi to San Pedro la Laguna. As you get off the ferry grab a Tuk Tuk and they will take you there.
LOCATION
The home is at the top of the hill overlooking town and the lake. Walking into town is about ten minutes downhill. If you walk back the steep hill will take you twenty mins, but you will lose weight. A tuk tuk gets you there in five mins for $10 Q, which is about $1.50. We preferred this to being right on the water, as it gets you away from the crowds and noise at the foot of the hill.
THE CASA
The building is of solid concrete block construction, tastefully painted and decorated, with quality furniture and an immaculately kept garden out front. There are two hammock chairs right on the front porch. There are three levels: the bottom with the main kitchen and an adjoining bedroom that sleeps four, with a bathroom and shower with hot water.
The second floor has a separate apartment that sleeps at least four, so if you have a large group of people they can easily fit in the home. You can check with Cliff to see if one or the other will be rented while you are there.
The top level is a rooftop terrace that the owner has taken special care with. There is a large hand crafted bar, tablets and chairs, and a built in counter out front for sitting and admiring the view over dinner or drinks. And the view will blow you away.
There are two TVs (99 channels) on the lower level, though we just used our iPads. WIFI is fastest in the morning, but you can access it all day, and I watched Netflix or Youtube at night.
The kitchen has a modern ceramic stove top that heats up fast as lightning. All of the plates and pans and pots you need are there. There is a cistern for the blue large containers of water, though we preferred to use gallon jugs kept cold in the fridge for drinking. We washed our dishes (heated on stove) and rinsed our tooth brushes using the tap water, and had no issues you often find in Central America.There is a tub for washing clothes at the side of the house, and a clothesline on the rooftop for quick drying.
OTHER INFO
We ate 90 % of our meals at home, shopping daily at the market in town, and ate for less than five dollars a day. When we did go out, every restaurant we tried was excellent, and for the most part inexpensive, walking away with dinner for two, and two or three drinks for 100-140 Q. Lots of coffee shops and ALL of it is superb.
The action is right down at the water from running pretty much the full length of town.You can get anywhere on the lake cheaply by water taxi.
From our review of other facilities, Casa Merrell is one of the better facilities in town, with many of the comforts you often have to do without when travelling the backroads of Central America.
We will stay here again.
