Villa Sumaya

Rooms

Set 3 terraces up from the lake, the former holiday home of a wealthy Guatemalan family has been transformed into a row of 6 cabanas and 1 suite, known as Maya Rose House. Each room enjoys glorious lake vistas - you'll not cease gazing. The long terrace running along the front is shared by all cabanas, with lattice screens separating your space from next door's. All have wicker chairs, tiled floors, candles and hammocks or hammock chairs outside. Stone paths lead through the gardens down to the lake.

The larger suite is at the far end, with a kingsize bed and a sitting room with a sofa futon - ideal for a couple with a child.

Two more standalone bungalows are hidden in the luscious grounds. Honeymooners may prefer these with their cosy window seat and a hammock swinging on the porch, but the bathrooms are small.

The most recent addition to Villa Sumaya is the 3-storey salmon pink Lotus House. The 6 rooms here are the largest, and each has its own balcony for that unforgettable lake view.

Each dwelling has a Maya-inspired thatched roof, and aims to bring you 'closer to the cosmos'. Inside, you'll find locally woven Guatemalan and Mayan textiles (including custom-made quilts), hand-crafted tiles, folk art and huipiles (blouses) on walls, bedding and chairs. Walls are painted in traditional sand or salmon colours, and adorned with black and white photographs and Mexican mirrors. Wooden furniture has been finished in adobe browns, indigo blues and stone-washed siennas.

Beds can be configured as a queensize double or twins as you wish (rooms in the top 4 categories can be made up as triples); there's good wardrobe space, plus pretty plants, bedside tables and lamps. Look out of the back window to see quirky shrines set into the hill.

Bathrooms, too, are clean and functional, with large showers, traditional sinks of painted porcelain, and shampoo and conditioner provided.