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Ecolodge El Sombrero

Yaxha Lagoon Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, Flores 17001 Guatemala
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Traveler (161)
Room & Suite (25)
Dining (14)

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Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.

About

#1 of 1 ranch in Flores
Location
4.6
Cleanliness
4.0
Service
4.0
Value
4.1
Our vision allows guests to have an Eco Friendly and sustainable experience in the jungle. Since we are located inside a National Park in the Maya Jungle you will be able to see wild animals and enjoy nature and the ancient Maya Culture. We are located only 2 km (15 minutes) away from the Yaxha Archeological Site. Some of the animals you may see while staying at our Ecolodge are: Howler Monkeys Spider Monkeys Crocodiles Toucans Hummingbirds Gray Fox Oropendolas Trogons Deer Coatimundi Etc... Other activities you may enjoy at Ecolodge El Sombrero are: Horseback Riding Crocodile Observation by Boat Bird Watching Boat Tours around the Yaxha Lagoon Guide Service Restaurant Archeological Tours (Yaxha, Topoxte, Nakum, Naranjo, Tikal, La Balanca, etc) Nature Tours Wildlife observation tours
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free breakfast
Bicycles available
Hiking
Books, DVDs, music for children
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Conference facilities
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Horseback riding
Darts
Board games / puzzles
Meeting rooms
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Private beach
Housekeeping
Safe
Seating area
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Wake-up service / alarm clock
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Lake View
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Italian

Location

Yaxha Lagoon Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, Flores 17001 Guatemala
Ecolodge El Sombrero
Getting there
Santa Elena Airport
34.1 mi
See all flights
San Ignacio Town Airstrip
102Reviews4Q+A7Room tips
Traveler rating
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Chekist wrote a review Feb 2024
Arlington, Virginia37 contributions3 helpful votes
This is a very special place. El Sombrero is located right outside the entrance to the massive triple national park complex of Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo on Yaxha Lagoon. In the middle of the lagoon is Topoxte, another Maya site. A boat is available. The staff is very knowledgable about various tour opportunities in the area. Meals are available at any time.
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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breninkenya wrote a review Dec 2023
Ringwood, United Kingdom79 contributions44 helpful votes
Great location right in heart of reserve with excellent access to Yaxha. Stunning views from terrace. Food excellent and good value for price. Unfortunately the rooms need a bit of updating. .
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Date of stay: November 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Ask for mosquito net….
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Pietro A wrote a review Aug 2023
1 contribution
A mix of Guatemalan vibes and European soul. Very nice host and staff, great food, overwhelming views over the lagoon. Perfect for a chill-out stay while visiting Topoxte and exploring the surrounding nature. We stayed only one night but it deserves more.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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CJW888 wrote a review Mar 2023
New York7 contributions3 helpful votes
Remote and “off the grid”. Wonderful place to get away from it all and explore Nakum, Yaxha and Topoxte. Gabriela and her family are wonderful hosts and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend. Rooms are simple, but comfortable. Be ready to be awoken by the howler monkeys! The air is very clear here so be sure to do some star gazing at night.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
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Janick2010 wrote a review Mar 2023
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica311 contributions80 helpful votes
The rooms are modest, but for our purposes it was perfect. The sunsets are amazing. The morning alarm clock (howler monkeys) are persistent and entertaining. The birding was good. The pet crocodile Roscoe was charming, he ate our offerings, but never us. ;) We wanted to be close to the ruins--you can't get any closer to Yaxha, Naranjo, Topoxte, or Nakun than this site. Gabrielle is a wealth of knowledge, and has books, maps, papers, and more information than most can reasonably absorb. Her son, Juan Carlos, guided us into Nakum. In our 10 days and multiple guides of multiple sites, he was the BEST guide and storyteller we had. I would try to hire him to go to every site with me next time. The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable, amenities include bedding, towels, soap, shampoo. Breakfast included with the room, and generously served. We ate dinner at the lodge every night, Beti, the cook is excellent! Truly one of the best steaks I've had--who would have guessed?! Couple things to get your expectations appropriately adjusted: 1) This is an eco-lodge. There is running water and electricity, but there are limitations. We did fine, but it was adjusting to not expecting everything all the time. We had plenty of water to bathe and flush, we drank their bottled water. We were able to keep our phones charged with a little planning. We used flash nights at night if we were moving about. 2) The pool is more of a dunk to cool off than a place to lounge. The surrounding wooden deck is HOT, the water is lake water with all the characteristics of a crocodile habitat, but safe due to the cage. It's a little curious, and prolly better suited for the Survivor crowd than this 60+y/o traveler. But i did it. No T-shirt was available to boast though. 3) The eco-lodge relies on spotty internet and phone service (or lack of each on occasion). We had difficulties setting up our travel in advance, which led to some initial frustration. But once we got there, things were very smooth. I would encourage using e-mail, and confirm any plans you make a few days prior to travel to make sure any transfers, tours or other items were clearly understood.
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Date of stay: March 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Ben F wrote a review Dec 2022
Bloomington, Indiana1506 contributions550 helpful votes
+1
An experience at Ecolodge El Sombrero should be the only way to plan your trip to Yaxha. Sure there are more built-up places with modern amenities and comforts in nearby Flores, but they don’t possess the same charm and familiality as this lodge. I always love a unique adventure whenever I have the energy for one, and here did not disappoint! Getting here will itself be half the adventure—the road connecting the lodge to the main “highway” is probably the bumpiest I’ve ever been on. It takes about thirty minutes to reach El Sombrero, or longer if conditions are adversely affected by weather. Either arrange transportation (the hotel can do this for a modest fee) or ensure you have a rugged vehicle that can handle this road, because it’s no joke. Once you do arrive, though, you’ll find an amazingly secluded, silent location with only the hum of nature providing a soundtrack to hear. The property sits right along the vast Yaxha Lagoon, some cabins offering clear views of the water. Mine had a partial view, but I still loved it. The service I received truly elevates this place to a special category in my catalog of travels. Everyone working at this family business is so kind, accommodating, and dedicated to giving guests the very best experiences. The owner, Gabi, has a heart of gold…always so kind and welcoming. Antonio helped me settle into my room and gave me transportation to the airport, and he was also very friendly and hospitable. Hidalgo gave me a boat ride across the lagoon and showed me a Mayan ruin on an island in the lake (almost as if it was the lodge’s own private ruin!), and he knew how to immediately make me happy. The women working at the restaurant delivered flawless service with warm smiles. I could not have asked for a better team! Everyone here is a true family. Despite a language barrier (with the exception of Gabi), their kindness left a lasting impression on me. While not off-the-grid in a total sense, this lodge is definitely bare-bones. Rooms usually don’t have Wifi, electricity at night, and other amenities found in hotels. The staff was accommodating enough to move a router close to my room to allow me to access Internet there (wow!), but it didn’t usually work—and that’s okay. I didn’t book this place for luxury; I booked it for an incredible jungle adventure. Cleanliness and bed comfort was great, of course, which is all I asked for. Netting to keep out insects basically serves as the walls of the rooms, which let in cool air at night but certainly made it toasty during the day. Dress appropriately for the weather! (And don’t even get me started with the mosquitoes…I got nearly 50 bites!) I essentially made El Sombrero the focal point of my trip in Guatemala, which is never a bad idea; activities at the lodge include boat tours, hiking, birdwatching, lounging by the water, swinging in hammocks, and lots more. The hotel’s dog is very sweet, and their very own crocodile named Rosco is super chill and fun to see. However, because Yaxha National Park is adjacent to the lodge, I highly recommend taking a tour there. It’s a more pristine, far-less-crowded alternative to Tikal, and the entry fee is only $10 or so. Gabi was able to secure permission for me to ride with her and Antonio in her all-terrain van throughout the park, as I didn’t have my electric wheelchair on this trip and my legs were way too sore to do much more walking. Seeing the seemingly never-ending ancient city of Yaxha up close was spectacular, and Gabi, with her wealth of knowledge, taught me so much about its history. At times I didn’t think the van could make it up the steep hills and bumpy gravel paths, but stuck we never got! So if you sum the value of everything this place has to offer—remote accommodations with views, amazing staff, nature excursions, great food, transportation, history—it’s clear that Ecolodge El Sombrero is the coolest, most unique, most memorable option in Northern Guatemala. I can’t wait to come back!
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Date of stay: December 2022
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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simpangratis wrote a review May 2022
Irvine, California465 contributions161 helpful votes
Excellent service considering the remoteness of the location. Glad though that i started with Yaxha before moving on to Tikal. The food is above par, the bed comfortable, the dog is very sweet and there is a bonus old crocodile hang out by the pier. They arranged the guide and the transportation from Airport and to tikal (for extra but reasonable charges). The food price is not exagerated. We enjoy our one day stay.
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Date of stay: May 2022
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Brian E wrote a review Jan 2022
Oslo, Norway1 contribution
+1
Excellent service, good food. Perfect stay in nature with comfortable beds. Loved the Howling Monkeys coming through each night and close to the Mayan sites. Thank you Gabriella and all your staff for looking after me
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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lilli453 wrote a review Dec 2020
Paris, France5 contributions
The hotel is absolutely spotless. Gabi and her team are super welcoming and make excellent food. They’re glad to help you to organise your trips to explore the area which has so much to offer. I’m already looking forward to coming back and highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys nature and takes interest in ancient Mayan cities.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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sparticusmills wrote a review Apr 2019
Antigua, Guatemala14 contributions7 helpful votes
We only stayed a night but wish it could have been longer. Located just a stones throw away from Yaxha Mayan temples, this is a little jungle paradise. Sebas, the owner was really helpful and great to chat to. The room was spacious and covered in mosquito nets. Food and drink at the bar was great. And there is a even a crocodile that hangs out at the dock. Highly recommend.
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Date of stay: April 2019Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from ElSombreroEcolodge, Gerente at Ecolodge El Sombrero
Responded May 6, 2019
Thank you for staying with at El Sombrero Ecolodge. We really appreciate you staying with us and to have great guests that really enjoy the jungle and El Sombrero. We hope you visit us again in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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LOCATION
GuatemalaPeten DepartmentFlores
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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ECOLODGE EL SOMBRERO - Updated 2024 Prices & Ranch Reviews (Flores, Guatemala)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ecolodge El Sombrero
Which popular attractions are close to Ecolodge El Sombrero?
Nearby attractions include Yaxhá (1.4 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Ecolodge El Sombrero?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Ecolodge El Sombrero?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Ecolodge El Sombrero?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Does Ecolodge El Sombrero have airport transportation?
Yes, Ecolodge El Sombrero offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at Ecolodge El Sombrero?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Ecolodge El Sombrero offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and conference facilities during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Ecolodge El Sombrero?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Does Ecolodge El Sombrero have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lake view available here.
Is Ecolodge El Sombrero accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.