Complete Guide to Zephyr Lodge Lanquin (Guatemala) + Review

Zephyr Lodge Lanquin (Guatemala) + Review

Zephyr Lodge Lanquin is one of the most talked-about hostels in the whole of Guatemala. Despite Lanquin being located in one of the less-visited regions of Central America, it is the one hostel I heard about before I even left my home in the UK.

Naturally, with it already on my radar, I had to pay a visit!

If you’re wondering where to stay in Lanquin for a visit to Semuc Champey and the jungle, this detailed review should help you decide.

In the upcoming sections, this post will cover the atmosphere, accommodation, food and facilities at Zephyr Lodge Lanquin, as well as all the logistical details for you to plan your stay. So let’s dive in!

*Note – all prices are correct at the time of writing (2024).

Location

Where is Zephyr Lodge?

Isolated amongst the lush green hills of the Guatemalan highlands, Zephyr Lodge in Lanquin offers backpackers an epic location to stay.

The small village of Lanquin is located in the central part of Guatemala and is renowned for its natural beauty and proximity to the world-famous Semuc Champey. You will get a taster of these breathtaking landscapes as you wind through the scenic roads leading to Zephyr Lodge.

Lanquin town centre is a 10-minute walk from Zephyr Lodge; Grutas de Lanquin is a 15-minute walk away; and the Coban bus stop is a 5-minute walk from the hostel.

How to get to Zephyr Lodge Lanquin

Reaching Zephyr Lodge in Lanquin is an adventure in itself! Whether you’re arriving by bus, shuttle, or private transportation, you will be following the slow winding roads through the Guatemalan countryside.

The easiest way to get to Zephyr Lodge Lanquin is by shuttle. You can book these through hostels and travel agencies in whichever town you’re currently in. From Flores in the north or Lake Atitlan, Antigua and Guatemala City in the south, the journey is over 8 hours. Most journeys take 8-10 hours.

You will be dropped off at the pickup point in Lanquin where Zephyr Lodge lay on shuttles to bring you up to the hostel.

NOTE: I met someone who hitchhiked to Lanquin. He said it was one of the longest and most stressful journeys he’d done. So I wouldn’t recommend it!

When you’re ready to leave Zephyr Lodge, they also offer transport from their hostel directly to Antigua (Q225), Flores (Q225), Guatemala City (Q225) and Lake Atitlan (Q300). It is cheaper elsewhere but you’re paying for the convenience.

Zephyr Lodge Vibe

Put simply, Zephyr Lodge Hostel is a party hostel (though it is possible to avoid the party while you’re there).

Every day people go out for the day to visit Semuc Champey. Then every night everyone gets back from their tours, new people arrive at the hostel, and the drinks start flowing. And the cycle continues!

During the day, the hostel is pretty quiet surrounded by idyllic nature and plenty of space to chill out. Whilst at night, there are games to play and occasionally even someone to DJ! It’s not really the kind of place where people leave the hostel in the evenings as Lanquin town is pretty quiet.

A combination of the hostel’s isolation, the tours, and alcohol make Zephyr Lodge very social. Given the long journey to the hostel from whichever direction you are heading, the chances are you will make friends with fellow backpackers. And likely be heading in the same direction 2 or 3 days later, so you can make some great friends here.

Who is Zephyr Lodge for?

Since Zephyr Lodge is a party hostel, the minimum age is 18. The general demographic is backpackers between the ages of 18-30 looking to party and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Because of its reputation, it attracts people on all kinds of trips through Guatemala. Whilst there are many solo travellers backpacking Central America that choose to stay here spontaneously, you sometimes find larger groups that have booked holidays much further in advance. The day I left, a group of 15+ Dutchies arrived!

Style and Character

Located in the mountain jungles of Lanquin, the hostel has a modern wooden structure that blends as best it can into the surroundings. The whole hostel tries to incorporate the feeling of being connected to nature, with large open-plan areas with no real walls.

The property has a large spacious terrace filled with communal tables and pool tables, allowing opportunities to connect with other solo travelers.

They also have a few hostel dogs that quietly roam around the hostel.

Services and Facilities

The facilities at Zephyr Lodge are generally pretty good and I was impressed with how clean the whole property is kept.

They have:

• Hot water showers (which made a pleasant change).
• Laundry service
• Lockers
• Swimming Pool
• Water fill-ups
• Billiards table
• Licensed bar

The only thing they don’t have are kitchen facilities for guest use.

The hostel also has WiFi. It’s not the best, but it’s good enough for social media and researching your next steps. However it is limited to the main bar and social area and doesn’t reach the majority of rooms.

• Zephyr Wifi: drinkatthebar
• Zephyr: restinparadise

Accommodation

Within the hostel, there is a mixture of dorms, semi-private rooms and private rooms.

Dorm Rooms

It’s first worth outlining that not all dorm rooms are the same as they are spread out throughout the property.

This means that some are closer to the social area than others, meaning more or less noise. It also means that some rooms have a good view and others don’t. This isn’t always clear when you book online as you’ll only see photos of beds with a view.

Your dorm room can be a slight luck of the draw, even if you pay the same price as someone else. You can try to request a particular dorm if you’re a light sleeper or desperate for a view.

I ended up in a dorm room of 10 people, which was semi-split by a partitioning wall. We had an ensuite and air conditioning, but no view.

Some of the other dorms were a further walk away and were more open to the environment. So whilst they had the view, they also had a few more bugs!

Zephyr Lodge Dorm Prices:

• The cheapest rooms in Zephyr Lodge are the standard mixed dorm rooms which cost around £17/night.
• The standard mixed dorm ensuites cost £18/night.
• The deluxe mixed dorm ensuite rooms are £25/night.
• Skylofts: Double beds above the dorms with a bit more privacy from Q335.

NOTE: Dorms are usually a 2-night minimum stay.

NOTE: Prices differ between Hostelworld and Zephyr Lodge’s site.

Private Rooms

The private rooms at Zephyr Lodge are where they make their money – and for good reason!

These rooms are much more luxurious and appear more boutique and stylised. If you can afford to budget for these, you will be rewarded with larger beds and an epic view overlooking the Lanquin landscape! Plus all the other things you’d expect with a private dorm!

Zephyr Lodge Private Prices:

• Private rooms start from 440Q – Here.
• There are also deluxe private rooms available which can hold up to four people – Here.

Beds and Sleep

I can only speak from my personal experience, but the beds were surprisingly very comfortable.

I was in the top bunk of a single bed and slept very well. No sounds from the party nor the forest!

The only thing that kept me awake on one of the nights was one of my roommates dealing with the notorious travel sickness that grips many backpackers of Guatemala…

TOP TIP: Use a filtered water bottle when travelling to avoid any contamination.

Food and Drink

There are no external food or drinks permitted, nor are there any guest kitchen facilities to make your own. Therefore Zephyr Lodge has a bar and restaurant that caters to all your dining needs from morning til night.

The menu offers a few different local and international breakfast options (though not included in the cost of the hostel) as well as teas, coffees and smoothies. For lunch, dinner and snacks, there are a variety of choices including both local cuisine (burritos and quesadillas) as well as pizzas and burgers and options for vegetarians and healthier alternatives. Some were better than others, so chatting with fellow guests to figure out your best options is recommended.

It’s not the cheapest food you’ll find in Guatemala, but it’s reasonable given how isolated you are in the jungle setting. That being said, from a backpacker’s perspective, the costs do add up!

Orders are placed through an electronic tab system and payment is settled at the end. This system has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s convenient, but it’s easy to lose track of expenses, particularly on drinks at 2am… You can always ask for an update on your bill throughout your stay.

If you are looking to save some money whilst still having a good time, there is a daily happy hour from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Activities with Zephyr Lodge Lanquin

You could quite easily spend all day enjoying the views from Zephyr Lodge, dipping in the infinity pool and having a few drinks.

However, if you do fancy venturing out of the hostel, here are some of the best things to do:

• Semuc Champey
• River Tubing
• Ka’an Ba Cave
• White water rafting
• Grutas de Lanquin

Whilst you can do some of the activities in Lanquin independently, Zephyr Lodge offers tours and activities (in bold) of their own to save you the hassle of arranging transport and other logistics.

It’s a great way to meet fellow guests who will inevitably be staying at the same location as you.

The most popular is a day trip to Semuc Champey which costs Q200 and lasts from 09:00-17:00. You will need to book before 21:00 the day before using the sign-in sheet at reception, so be aware of this if you’re only planning on a short stay at Zephyr!

I also partook in the Lanquin River Tubing which was really simple and fun, and a great way to socialise and relax after a long journey from Flores the day before. Tubing with Zephyr Lodge costs Q100 and lasts from 11:30-15:00 in the nearby river.

Check out my complete Lanquin itinerary to help you plan all the activities for your stay.

Zephyr Lodge General Information

• Where to book: Hostelworld or their website.
• Phone: +502 46460909
• Email: zephyrlodgelanquin@gmail.com
• Socials: Instagram
• Cancellation: 3 days before
• Check-in: 16:00 to 22:00
• Check-out: Before 12:00 (though shuttles usually depart much earlier).
• Reception hours: 07:00-22:00
• Payment: On checkout by cash (preferred) or credit & debit cards. There is a 10% surcharge for debit or credit card payments so bring plenty of cash.
• There is a free daily shuttle into Lanquin town where it’s recommended that you use the cashpoint.

Is Zephyr Lodge worth it?

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Zephyr Lodge Lanquin and can understand why it has such raving reviews. There are very few hostels with such incredible views for a ‘budget’ traveller’s price range. However, I’m still on the fence about whether Zephyr Lodge is worth it.

Objectively it’s a very good hostel, in terms of facilities and what it offers. The only thing I have reservations about is the cost (since it’s become so popular, they’ve raised the prices). The dorm rooms themselves are more expensive than other Guatemalan hostels (though not by too much). Meanwhile, the private rooms are even more pricey (though still comparable to hotels).

However, it’s the drinks and excursions, which are heavily built into the whole Zephyr experience, that add to the cost. A cost that remains hidden until it’s time to check out!

I heard many backpackers on departure saying they’d spent wayyy too much, but were still leaving happy because they’d had a good time. (I guess it’s a payoff of sorts).

So if you’re looking for a party hostel or an awesome place to stay in near Semuc Champey, you are almost guaranteed a good time at Zephyr Lodge Lanquin. It’s just worth going in with an understanding of what to expect if you’re travelling on a budget.

Zephyr Lodge Review

• Atmosphere – A good balance between chill days and heavy nights. Though you can have a more relaxed drink if you prefer.

• Cleanliness – I was impressed by the cleanliness at the hostel.

• Facilities – Awesome pool and awesome social space! No kitchen. Plus toilets can be far from dorms.

• Location – Obviously, wonderful. Though slightly isolated.

• Rooms – Good beds and general aesthetic. Some are quite far from the toilets/social space and feel open to the elements. Private rooms are amazing.

• Security – Hostel away from other people. There are small lockers in the main area and some lockers in the rooms (but not enough).

• Staff – If I’m honest, the staff were average. Not particularly nice, but not horrible.

• Value for Money – A great hostel for a reasonable price.

Zephyr Lodge Lanquin Overall Rating: 8/10

Alternatives to Zephyr Lodge Lanquin

If you’re still wondering where to stay in Lanquin besides Zephyr Lodge, you have a few other options.

• Greengo’s: A hostel chain that runs across Central America. Their Lanquin location is right next to Semuc Champey.
• El Retiro Lodge: Another popular option in Lanquin is El Retiro, which is another jungle-set accommodation option, offering slightly cheaper dorms and privates.

Before you go

Thank you for reading my review of Zephyr Lodge Lanquin. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy travelling!