Hotel Camino Real Tikal — Hotel in Petén

Our stay was an absolute delight, offering us an enchanting escape we will cherish forever. From the warm welcome to the breathtaking lake views, this charming hotel gave us something we will always remember.||||The food at the restaurant was simply fantastic. We couldn't resist enjoying most of our meals there, as each dish was a delightful taste of the local food. We always wanted to try something different and regretted not being able to have another taste of our favorites due to our short stay. Everything from the drinks to the desserts was top-notch (I recommend the ramon flan)||||The staff were all incredibly friendly and always ready to help. Their genuine care and passion for their work made us feel welcomed and appreciated throughout our stay.||||Our room had a stunning view of the lake, which was a beautiful sight to wake up to and enjoy in the evenings. The tranquility of the surroundings and the comfort of our room created a perfect setting for a relaxing and romantic getaway.||||The hotel's private access to the lake allowed us to kayak in the mornings and take refreshing dips in the lake's waters. We loved being surrounded by nature and had the chance to spot some native animals, adding an extra touch of magic to our stay. We were lucky to arrive when the hotel was not at full capacity. It was tranquil all the time so we were surrounded by birds singing and fluttering about from dawn to dusk.||||The hotel's proximity to Tikal and Flores was a major plus, making it easy for us to explore these incredible tourist attractions at our own pace. It allowed us to immerse ourselves in the rich cultural heritage of the region while enjoying the comforts of our hotel.||||One of the highlights of our honeymoon was a romantic dinner at the small gazebo by the lake's shore. It was adorned with lovely floral arrangements, creating a truly special ambiance. Watching the sunset together and observing the wildlife at dusk made it an unforgettable experience.||||We have nothing but gratitude and...

The hotel itself was fine. It is a bit of an older hotel and you can tell but it was clean and presentable in every way. The issues were;

No wifi unless you’re in the lobby. This makes it extremely inconvenient when you are travelling from abroad.

The front desk has connections with local tour guides and taxi drivers, to provide packages for tourists. We paid $75 for a taxi from the airport to the hotel (through the front desk). That is a much higher than normal fee for a taxi in that area and we had to take it again to get back to the airport at the end of our trip. The second time we felt that we were taking advantage of was the tour to the ruins. You would pay for the entry separately and then they charged us (No receipt/invoice/company name of course) $220 for 2 people. Again, this is a tour promoted by the front desk. As a tourist, you don’t have many options since you’re in the middle of nowhere without any way of transportation to shop around. We think that price was also completely disproportionate to the current market. An excursion to the ruins including transportation and a tour guide should be around $25 per person, not $110.

The bar staff would not show the drink menu on purpose. The staff would show you only food menu and you would have to trust the prices that they gave you verbally. They would change us $13 USD per 355 ml canned beer. That is an insane mark up for any restaurant or hotel. We had never charged us that much in any 5 star hotel. The price of a can outside of the hotel is $1 USD.

I highly discourage anyone to visit this hotel and trust the staff. I feel terrible for the workers that do work hard and do their part. This is a huge reason why people are moving away from staying at hotels and book Airbnb/ private...

First let me say, the view at this hotel is incredible. Second, the staff, from the front desk to the waiters, cleaning staff, and utility crew, are also incredible in all areas (attentiveness, friendliness, care, etc.) and try to do anything and everything to improve your stay. 5/5 stars on those 2 fronts, which is why I felt comfortable leaving at least 3/5.

However, this hotel falls short in several other areas for the price and quality you expect at a Camino Real property. First, the rooms are pretty outdated - A/C and Mini-fridge are very old, shower and bathroom overall need a lot of work (mold, leaks, dirty tiles / grout, cleanliness). Second, they don’t provide any water bottles in the room, which at this point I believe is the bare minimum for a hotel at this price in Guatemala. Also, the safe did not work and we were told all the safes in the hotel were not working. For this reason we ended up not having the room cleaned for peace of mind while out on tours. Lastly, the grounds and amenities need serious work throughout the hotel.

Overall I give a 3/5 for these reasons. If you are okay with a more colonial / bare bones hotel room for great views and friendly staff, you will have a great stay. If you come in with high expectations, they will unfortunately fall...