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! …