Adobe House with Volcano Views

Welcome to my home perched above the shores of Lake Atitlán, in the Maya village of Santa Cruz La Laguna — a small but lively community on the lake, reachable mainly by boat (there is one road, but it's brutally steep and strictly 4x4 territory, so most people — locals included — stick to the water). The house is rustic and genuinely local — no fine finishings, but people always find it cozy and warm. I love to decorate, and the space is very much me: Guatemalan textiles, graphic art, photos, and plants in every corner. Bold red façades, stone walls, and wooden ceilings in the bedrooms. I spent 8 years in Panajachel before moving to Santa Cruz in January, and the house still carries that freshly-settled-in energy. Your room is a double bedroom with stone walls, a wooden ceiling, colorful huipiles hung as art, and traditional woven blankets. I sometimes use it as a workspace, so it has a bit of my life in it — but it's comfortable, private, and fully yours when you're here. Shared spaces include a cozy kitchen/living area, bookshelves packed with novels, and a sofa perfect for rainy afternoons. Outside, you'll find a covered terrace with a hammock, extra seating, a table for 6 people, the traditional pila (water basin), and a garden full of medicinal plants. The outdoor bathroom features a dry toilet and an open-air shower where you can watch the volcano while you wash up. No, that never gets old. My two dogs, Bee and Cometa, live here too. They're friendly, curious, and very much part of the household. I have a background in international development, and I'm genuinely passionate about the conversations that come with it — decolonization, social justice, indigenous rights, Guatemalan history, social struggles, and community organizing. I also have a deep love for Mesoamerican textiles and handicrafts. I work as a guide for an adventure company on the lake, and I'm also building a new project with a friend that sits at the edge between community and experiential tourism — the kind of travel that actually puts you in conversation with the place and the people. Happy to share what's in the works. Santa Cruz has grown a lot in recent years — there are great hikes, weaving and cooking classes, temascales, and a real community of interesting people passing through. That said, I live up in the village itself, in a very local neighborhood. Nights are usually quiet; days vary depending on what's happening around, but are mostly chill. I speak English, Spanish, and Italian.