A garden villa above Lake Atitlán
Four bedrooms, a lush private garden and views of three volcanoes, a four-minute walk up from the Xepoj boat dock.
- 8guests maximum
- 4bedrooms, 5 beds
- 3.5bathrooms
- 4 minwalk from our dock
- 4.87 ★111 reviews on Airbnb
Room to slow down, for family and friends
Villa Xepoj is a spacious, colonial-style home in a quiet, safe corner of Santa Cruz La Laguna. From the balconies, the upstairs terrace and the downstairs patio you look out over Lake Atitlán and its volcanoes. Around the house is a large tropical garden with lawns, stone paths, hammocks and a wood-fired grill.
Inside you'll find terracotta floors, wood-beamed ceilings, a living room with a fireplace, a long dining table for the whole group and Guatemalan textiles throughout. When you want a swim, the lake is less than five minutes' walk from the main gate.
Your hosts are Miriam & Guillaume, Airbnb Superhosts, with Cristian, the caretaker, nearby every day.
Take a look around
Four bedrooms, five beds
Bed linens, towels and essentials are provided. We don't have cribs, high chairs or baby bathtubs.
Views & outdoors
- Lake, volcano and garden views
- Private, fully fenced garden
- Upstairs terrace and downstairs patio
- Hammocks and outdoor furniture
- Wood-fired BBQ grill
- Lake access, 4 minutes from the gate
Kitchen & dining
- Full kitchen with gas stove and oven
- Refrigerator and freezer
- Microwave, toaster and blender
- Drip coffee maker
- Dishes, cookware and wine glasses
- Dining table for the whole group
Comfort
- Starlink Wi-Fi, about 135 Mbps, three networks
- 50" TV with Netflix and HBO Max
- Wood-burning fireplace
- Hot water and hair dryer
- Washing machine
- Books and reading material
Arrival & services
- Self check-in with a lockbox
- Early luggage drop-off
- Caretaker nearby 8am–3pm
- Cleaning available during your stay
- Long stays welcome
Drinking water
- Refillable EcoFilter for drinking water
- A jug of bottled water on arrival
Good to know
- No air conditioning (the lake climate is mild)
- No clothes dryer
- No car access or parking at the house
The last stretch is by boat
There are no roads to the house. Like most of the lake, you arrive by lancha, the public boats that cross Lake Atitlán all day.
Get to Panajachel
Panajachel is the main town on the lake. If you drive, there is no parking at the villa, so leave your car in Panajachel. Most guests use Kayucos Marina, right beside the boat pier.
- Parking
- Kayucos Marina
- Rate
- Q75 (≈ $10) / 24 h
Take a lancha from Tzanjuyu pier
Board a public boat at the Tzanjuyu pier (muelle) and ask the captain to drop you at "Xepoj" (she-poh). Otherwise you may be taken to the main Santa Cruz dock, a 10-minute walk away.
- Route
- Tzanjuyu → Xepoj
- Time
- 7–10 min
- Fare
- Q25 (≈ $3.20) / person
- Boats
- every 30 min, 6:30am–6:30pm
Walk up to the gate
Our neighborhood has its own dock. From there it's a 4-minute walk, with a short climb, to the villa's main gate. After you book, we send a short video of the route by WhatsApp.
- Walk
- 4 min from the Xepoj dock
- Check-in
- after 3:00pm
Check-in, check-out and the essentials
- Check-in
- After 3:00pm. You're welcome to arrive earlier and leave your bags while the cleaning team finishes preparing the house.
- Keys
- Self check-in. The keys are in a lockbox at the door; we send you the code before you arrive. Please close the lockbox properly after use.
- Check-out
- By 11:00am. Lock all doors and windows, turn off all the lights, and leave the keys in the lockbox if Cristian isn't there.
- Help
- Cristian, our caretaker, is at the house or in the neighborhood from 8am to 3pm and usually answers fastest by WhatsApp. You'll get his number with your check-in details.
- Wi-Fi
- Starlink, with three networks covering the house: Villa Xepoj, Starlink Villa Xepoj and Villa Xepoj Nivel1. The password comes with your check-in details.
- Groceries
- Small shops are a 10-minute walk away, by the main Santa Cruz dock. For a big shop, stop in Panajachel first: La Torre supermarket is close to the Tzanjuyu pier.
A quiet neighborhood, and we'd like to keep it that way
- Up to 8 guests. Only guests who booked may stay at or visit the property.
- Quiet hours are 10:00pm–7:00am. No parties, events or loud music.
- No pets.
- Smoking only outdoors, on the patios and in the garden. Never inside.
- Children stay under their parents' supervision.
- No commercial photography.
- Please be kind to our caretaker and cleaning team, and treat the house as your own.
What guests say
"This home is stunning! One of our favorite Airbnb experiences anywhere. The layout with spacious upstairs terrace and downstairs patio allows for privacy. There were even volcano views from the primary bathroom!"
"Absolutely stunning property located on lush grounds with an amazing view. Our favorite Airbnb and we have stayed in at least 70 properties."
"i can't say enough good about this place! it feels like you have a whole resort to yourself & is so fun and quirky. the location is beautiful, and a very short walk up from the dock."
"Our best ever Airbnb (and we've stayed in many over the years). The location has a unique beauty – Lake Atitlan and with its volcanoes were just spellbinding, as were the views from the villa and the jetty."
"It's located close to a private dock where we could swim and where we were dropped off with our luggage, which was very convenient. There is a short climb up to the entrance with bags, but the instructions we received were very clear and made it easy."
"Beautiful house, beautiful pueblo. Everything was clean and organized. Santa Cruz is the place to stay for swimming & relaxing, with easy access to lanchas."
"Villa Xepoj es excelente, la casa superó nuestras expectativas. Un sitio tranquilo, con hermosos jardines y linda decoración. Tuvimos una linda estadía en familia."
"If you are looking to stay in a gorgeous villa with style and character this is your spot. I loved the views of the lake from the balcony."
"La plus belle maison que nous ayons eu au lac (et nous en avons eu de très belles). Emplacement idéal, jardin splendide."
Questions guests ask us
How do I get to the villa?
Take a public boat (lancha) from the Tzanjuyu pier in Panajachel and ask the captain for "Xepoj" (she-poh). The ride takes 7–10 minutes and costs Q25 per person. From the Xepoj dock it's a 4-minute walk to our gate. Boats run every 30 minutes from 6:30am to 6:30pm.
Is there parking at the villa?
No. The house can only be reached on foot from the dock. Guests who drive usually park at Kayucos Marina in Panajachel, next to the Tzanjuyu pier, for about Q75 per 24 hours. Please confirm the current rate with the marina.
Can I arrive before 3pm?
Yes. You're welcome to come early and leave your luggage while our cleaning team finishes getting the house ready.
Is the water safe to drink?
Please drink from the EcoFilter in the kitchen, which you can refill, or from the jug of bottled water we leave for you.
Is the Wi-Fi good enough to work?
Yes. The house has Starlink internet, about 135 Mbps, with three networks so the signal reaches every floor.
Can we swim in the lake?
Yes. The lake is less than five minutes' walk from the main gate, and many guests swim from the Xepoj dock.
Who do I contact during my stay?
Cristian, our caretaker, is nearby from 8am to 3pm and can come to the house if you need anything. We share his WhatsApp number with confirmed guests. You can also message us through Airbnb at any time.
Can we bring our dog?
No. We're sorry, but we don't accept pets at Villa Xepoj.
Can we have a party or event?
No. Xepoj is a very quiet, peaceful neighborhood, and loud parties or gatherings are not allowed. Quiet hours are 10pm to 7am.
Check dates and book your stay
Villa Xepoj is listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. Choose the one you prefer to see live availability and prices for your dates.