As announced in previous posts we want to show you and recommend the hotels and restaurants we liked the most.
On a two and a half weeks trip, budget restrictions might apply. But we’re feeling too old for hostel dorms by now, so if you’re looking for these, we can tell you right now, you won’t find any on this list.
To sum it up: we can totally recommend all of the hotels we stayed in. And almost all of the restaurants.
Akumal, Yucatán, Mexico
We chose Villa Morena Eco Living and we’re totally in awe of it. The small resort is beautifully designed and in the middle of the jungle. It has a Cenote style swimming pool and amazing hosts.
They emigrated a few years ago from Italy, that’s why you can eat the best Pasta Marisco in your life at their restaurant. Delicious pasta, homemade by La Mamma.
Restaurant recommendations
La Buena Vida Beach Club – a great beach bar with good cocktails and delicious food. It’s good value for money. In the evenings they have mariachis here for your entertainment.
We’ve been here twice for lunch and dinner. The ‘good’ tables in the front row are quickly occupied as the beach bar is really popular.
Loncheria Akumalito – There’s not much to tell here. A place with very tasty sandwiches for the small purse.
Caye Caulker, Belize
The colourful Sea&Sun Guesthouse was our choice on Caye Caulker. It’s located in the middle of the island so you don’t have far to go wherever you want to go. The rooms are small but fine. It’s a bit long in the tooth. Prices on the island are high in general (compared to the rest of Central America). But this one was the best thing we got for our money.
Restaurants
The Lazy Lizard – we already mentioned this one. It’s on the northern tip of the island and it’s really popular. ‘Go slow’ is not only a slogan here.
Enjoy – we arrived late the first day and we were starving. So we got quickly on our way to find something to eat. An old grumpy man (he was already eating) told us that this one here was the best on the island. We decided to believe him. The result: This was the place we had diner every following night.
The man was right. This place is really popular for a reason. Not only because of the food (which was delicious) but also for the friendly stuff and the relaxed atmosphere. Thanks to high competition on the island, drinks were cheap, too.
You really have to try the shrimp skewers. In my opinion, the best you can have here. I’m still dreaming of it. The lobster was delicious as well, and, hey, where can you get a whole lobster for 10 USD?
Tikal and Flores, Guatemala
Our hotel in Tikal: Hotel Jungle Lodge. It’s beautifully landscaped with a swimming pool in the middle of the jungle. There are luxury bungalows and basic rooms with shared bathroom. From 10 p.m. to 5.30 a.m. there’s no electricity here. Therefore the location was creepy and perfect at the same time.
In the morning we wore woken up by the howler monkeys screaming (or howling). Jan said he had never seen such a beautiful starry sky before (he went to the toilet while I was still sleeping). Staying another night here seems to be really worth it.
Hotel Restaurant: Expensive and good. We arrived at 6 p.m. at the hotel and all comedores had already closed. We had no other choice but eating here. It was worth the money though.
Our hotel in Flores: Hotel Isla de Flores. It’s in an old colonial building in the centre of Flores with a swimming pool on the roof top and clean rooms. The bed was extra large but more like wide than large. It was relatively expensive. The service was professional. Breakfast was not included but it was cheap.
Eating in Flores: Click here to see the Guatemala post. In this one, we already told about the delicious food at the market. We didn’t eat at restaurants here.
Laguna de Bacalar, Mexico
Hotel Tuparenda. The location of the hotel is just perfect. It has a huge rooftop where you can watch the beautiful sunrise. The rooms are clean and the shower had the best water pressure of all the hotels on our trip. Like a little bit too much, if you know what I mean. It hurts a little bit. We can’t complain about the breakfast either. The owner Fransisco was super nice and helped us whenever he could.
Restaurant La Plajita. The location of the restaurant is perfect. It’s directly at the lake shore and the perfect place to take hipster pictures. They’re not going to fail. The most important: The Tacos were delicious.
Valladolid, Mexico
Hotel Quinta Marciala. It’s located in the centre and it’s neat. The rooms are clean and the staff really friendly and helping. Breakfast was a bit funny. The fruits and the coffee were good but the toasted bread was more like rusk. It was weird and funny at the same time.
Restaurants
Mesón del Marques – The restaurant in the inner court of the hotel is open for everyone. The inner court of the colonial building is beautiful. The service is kinf of upscale, but it’s not expensive here.
Yerbabuena – If you like those hipster style restaurants, you will love the Yerbabuena. It’s popular for a reason. The burgers are super delicious and they have a variety of fancy juices and smoothies which can’t be missed in such a place.
Isla Holbox
Hotel Tierra del Mar – Another hotel with Italian owners. It’s located in the centre of the island and yet quiet. The pool area is stylishly designed with very comfy sunbeds.
Not only the rooms but the whole facility is meticulously clean. The rooms are stylish, too and the breakfast was rich and good.
Restaurants
Raices Beach Club – The place to be if you’re looking for delicious sea food. It’s directly on the beach. We loved the relaxed atmosphere.
Taco Cueto – They probably have the best Tacos in the world here. And it was sooo cheap. We were in taco heaven.
Rooftop bar at the Hotel Arena/Arena Lounge Bar – Delicious cocktails, relaxed people and the view from the top down at the mob – priceless!
Villa Flamingos – This is the hotel with the beautiful hammocks in the water. The beach bar is open for everyone. We can totally recommend the Ceviche and the Guacamole here. Delicious. If you have some extra money left, try to get a room here.
Edelyn Pizzeria & Restaurant – no recommendation. The flop of this trip. Thank God this was the only one. No one needs more of this. You can expect the worst service with unfriendly and arrogant staff. In combination with the so-so pizzas, we had to wait way too long for, this place made us really angry. I’m sorry to write this but this restaurant was recommended in the current Lonely Planet Guide. The recommendation seems to have gone to their heads.