El Picnic Atitlan

10

Exceptional

54 Guest reviews

10

Exceptional

54 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.8/10

Service10/10

Comfort9.8/10

Condition9.8/10

Amenities9.8/10

You will not find a more unique property or fascinating couple who are your hosts. They designed this volcanic tent/cottage resort with a panoramic view of Lake Atitlan and her Volcanoes. An amazing dining hall/bar etched into the volcanic rock with cusine made from scratch from your incredible Hosts Jochen y Gabbie. The sous vide steak/lomito was delicious. The nights under the moon and stars with the sounds of nature all around, make this a must stay at the lake. Hosts will hire private boats to enjoy the rest of the lake.

Staying at The Picnic Hotel in Tzununa was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From the moment we arrived, the owner and staff welcomed us with such warmth and friendliness that it felt like coming home. Their hospitality made our stay incredibly personal and special. The hotel is nestled right in the heart of nature, offering a peaceful, grounding atmosphere that’s hard to find anywhere else. Waking up to the breathtaking view of the volcano and overlooking the serene Lake Atitlán was nothing short of magical. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, breathe deeper, and truly appreciate the beauty around you. If you’re looking for an authentic, soul-nourishing escape in Guatemala, The Picnic Hotel is it. Highly recommended!

Outstanding accommodation and service

There aren't enough superlatives to describe El Picnic! From the wonderful hosts to the amazing rooms our stay was perfect.

Gaby and Jochen were absolute stellar hosts who were always there to answer any questions we had. Their exquisite meals were served in an open air bar high up overlooking the lake and volcanos in the distance. We would not hesitate to recommend this unique property with its open air rooms.

Just amazing

Incredible views, luxurious quarters, kind hosts

The view and room were gorgeous, the food was fresh, well-prepared and plentiful, and best of all Gaby and Jochen were so warm and inviting (but unobtrusive!) that our stay felt like a trip with old friends. Also, they make a mean rum old fashioned. We highly recommend Picnic for your Lake Atitlan stay!

If you want to wake up to the most beautiful view of Lake Atitlan and connect with nature you have to stay at El Picnic. We had the most amazing two night stay there. The food and drinks were top notch - Johan is an excellent chef. We enjoyed having breakfast and dinner with Johan, Gaby and the other couples. We just happened to be there during a meteor shower too and we saw 10 shooting stars from our patio. It was perfect! The two resident dogs were sweet and greeted us every day. The walk to the boat doc is only about 10 minutes (or you can take a quick tuktuk) so you can easily explore the towns around the lake. I’m so thankful we found this hidden gem.

El Picnic is a magical, unique, once-in-a-lifetime stay! We booked the honeymoon suite (worth the extra!) and were pinching ourselves every day we woke up at the magnificent view and nature. The bed was super comfortable. Our hosts, Gaby and Johan were so friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Thank you for creating a little paradise!

Gracias

El Picnic was absolutely incredible! Waking up to views of lake atitlan was a highlight of our trip. The service, food, and property were great. The town is not as great, it wasn’t a town at the top of my list to explore while in the area, but visiting El Picnic for a night was an unforgettable experience and definitely a highlight of our visit to the lake overall.

This is a true gem hidden in the jungle of Lake Atlitlan

Great for a weekend getaway!

Amazing view of the lake and volcanoes, delicious food at the restaurant and the hosts are awesome!

LOVED our stay at this property!! The room was so unique and had absolutely stunning views of the lake. It was also furnished and decorated well. The dinner and breakfast were delicious and we had a good time chatting with the other guests and the owners. I wish we stayed longer than one night! Would highly recommend El Picnic to those visiting the lake - it’s an incredible experience.

Unbelievable property. The views are breathtaking, the lodge is so unique and amazing and the staff and food are fantastic.

Staying at Picnic is a very unique experience. It's glamping but it's serviced like a bed and breakfast. A big part of it are the incredible hosts,Gaby & Jochen. They are welcoming, personable, and their passion for their property is shown in the details. The breakfast and dinner that Jochen cooks up is fantastic and the menu is improvised on the daily (Jochen is also happy to take suggestions). Quite honestly, a dining experience at Picnic could sell itself; some of the best meals I had in my trip to Guatemala was at Picnic. The rooms and facilities are literally built on the mountain and you are surrounded by natural rock formations and foliage.While staying in the panoramic room, I felt very much like a king of the jungle would if they had electricity. The view of the lake is unmatched and the open air nature of the rooms lends to a serene and freeing experience that is hard to find elsewhere. While I loved every moment on the property, I can also acknowledge that it's not for everyone. The rooms are built on a mountain so that means you need to hike up and down to your room and around the property. This place would not be recommended for those with limited mobility. I also wouldn't recommend to those who can't stand the sight of bugs/wildlife. The rooms are open air and despite thorough cleaning by the staff, there will ultimately be critters around the room. If those nuances don't bother you, I'd highly recommend Picnic to anybody as a base for the lake. 10/10

It’s important to understand where and what this excellent resort is. I loved the place and the hosts in particular. We were in slow season and they had time to chat with us over a drink at the bar. Gaby and Johan were fascinating people and a lot of fun. Also, Johan made us dinner that was the best I had in Guatemala! Anyway, the resort was fantastic and we’ll be back. Best views in the world of lake and volcanoes. To my initial point though; the village of Tzununa where it’s located is extremely remote and desperately poor. Certain travelers won’t like that, so I wanted to share how El Picnic is a high end, charming and unique resort surrounded by the opposite. We felt safe, but it did help that we were experienced travelers and could handle a non English speaking trip to get to El Picnic. (Resort spoke English of course). In summary, we absolutely loved this place but recognize it’s not for everyone. But if you want unique and wholesome, El Picnic is a must-visit.

Loved the views from our room, it’s always great to have then owners caring for the guests. Thanks for the experience. Danke Jurghen. Gracias Gladys.

I just want to say that Joachel is so very pleasant, helpful and accommodating. The place is beautiful overlooking the beautiful lake. So amazing if you just want to relax and enjoy peace and quiet.

We had an incredible time. The property is stunning, the owners made us feel like we were a part of their family. Gaby went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. She helped us organize every little detail from private boats and drivers to guides and gave us suggestions on what to do, see and how to plan our days. This place is truly a paradise with the nicest, kindest people. We had the most delicious breakfasts and dinners with breathtaking views every day! We can’t thank you enough and we would definitely come back one day.

Jorges was great really welcoming and friendly. He went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed. Food was amazing.

Best-ever glamping experience in this beautiful and very special place above Lake Atitlan. Gaby and Jochen were wonderful hosts, making us feel at home immediately and throughout our 3-nights stay. Breakfasts and dinners were delicious and accompanied by great conversations with our hosts and the other guests. Time passed much too quickly, as there is so much to see and explore on and around the lake.

Jochen and Gaby took care of us amazingly well at El Picnic! The view is perfect. The service is incredible. Everyone was so friendly. The food was delicious. The dogs were awesome. Gaby made calls to set us up on tours and excursions. Jochen and Gaby even welcomed our friends who were staying nearby to eat with us and treated everyone like family. You will not be disappointed!

Fantastic stay, a truly beautiful place

The best stay we had in Guatemala! Gaby and Jochen have designed the perfect hotel experience at El Picnic. The views from the VERY comfy bed are world class, food is amazing and plentiful, and the whole place invites you to fully relax. We loved having our own patio off the room to enjoy a bottle of wine and waking up to the sounds of nature each day- incredible! We went out to explore other towns around the lake a couple of times, but each time really just couldn't wait to get back to the peace of the hotel! Life is good at El Picnic and you'll walk away from your stay feeling like a part of the family. Thanks Gaby and Jochen for everything!!

Just go.

Spectacular Glamping experience. Yes there are an ungodly amount of steps and you might encounter some tropical insects but it’s totally worth the effort. Terrific hosts and delicious meals. Only pay 10 q per person for tuk tuk from pier to hotel. Maybe a bit more if you have bags. Always establish price before you hop in.

Stay here! A truly magical setting perched up in the mountain overlooking Atitlan lake. With easy access to the water taxi so you can explore all of the surrounding towns, El Picnic is the perfect retreat for an incredible Lake Atitlan experience. Jochen, Gaby and George greeted us upon arrival making us feel right at home. They were extremely friendly and checked in throughout our stay to make sure we had everything we needed. Our room… AMAZING! Nothing compares to the open air and incredible views. The bed was extremely comfortable. The interior decor was stunning. The location of the room was extremely private making us feel like we had the entire lake to ourselves. The food was exceptional. Delicious with large portions. El Picnic is a must!

It felt strange seeing all reviews are good. Once you get there, you realise that you’re in the best place on Atitlan. Hosts are attentive and will do everything to make your stay unforgettable. You and the other 3 guests will enjoy the views, the good food and the drinks. Now go ahead! Book and you will not be disappointed.

The property is beautiful. The room/ tent was amazing. The food was delicious

Great place to recharge and relax

El Picinic is amazing. The host are the best- they really go out of their way to make you feel like VIP guest. There are so many little touches to the property and it is just a great place to relax and have as a home base to explore the other villages around the lake. It is very quite and peaceful and after a day of jumping around the more touristy towns.. it was always awesome to come home to El Picnic The room was perfect, comfortable , clean and the best place to take a nap.

This place is a little slice of paradise. Gaby and Johan have created the most beautiful and unique place to stay. It is so peaceful, serene and comfortable. It really feels like you’ve stepped into your own little world and the views are spectacular. The food is also impeccable! My husband and I have stayed in many unique places all over the world and I truly believe nothing will ever beat this. We will certainly be back again.

Love love love this place

An amazing place!!! Johann and gabby go out the way to make the whole experience personal and unique. The view is simply spectacular from every room-be it the bar, bedroom, living room or even the restrooms!!!!

We loved Glam-camping!

My partner and I spent two nights at El Picnic in February of 2020. We had not done enough research to realize that the best way to access this property was by boat (It was included in the web site, but we did not check there). Once we had made the arrangements to get to the site, which was quite easy once we knew what we were doing, we found the entire experience to be beyond our wildest expectations. The "tent" was comfortable, the view was absolutely spectacular, the hospitality was warm and inviting, and the food and drink were excellent. The hosts, Johan and Gaby, could not have been more helpful or friendly. Potential guests should be able to hike a short distance, unassisted as the climb could be challenging for those with significant physical limitations. We enjoyed our entire two week trip to Guatemala but our stay at El Picnic was the highlight.

Hermoso

Es un excelente lugar para descansar, pensar y la vista es espectacular, la comida deliciosa.

It is an excellent place if you want to disconnect from the city, the landscapes are impressive

Fantastic place.

El concepto me encantó, la atención de los dueños es excelente, están pendientes de que estés cómodo, la comida es muy rica se nota que los productos son frescos y de calidad, la cena es la misma para todos, así que si no comes algo informarlo para que lo tomen en cuenta, todo lo preparan en el momento; las instalaciones muy bonitas todo en un entorno de naturaleza. El lugar no está ubicado en un pueblo turístico así que descansarás bastante bien, y puedes trasladarte a San Pedro, San Juan y Pana en lanchita. Del puerto al hotel son como 10mins caminando o puedes tomar un tuc tuc. Tienes que saber que es un lugar lleno de escaleras al estar en la cima para su vista espectacular, así que debes estar preparado para esto, por lo que no es apto para alguien que tenga dificultades para caminar. Por el concepto y al encontrarse en la naturaleza, encontrarás hormigas y arañas en las habitaciones o en el comedor, son inofensivos pero es importante mencionarlo para las personas que son miedosas. Me encantó que en ese puerto (Tzunaná) el lago está prácticamente sólo, el agua muy limpia y puedes disfrutar del lago de una manera más tranquila, sin gente y unas fotos extraordinarias. Definitivamente regresaría.

La mejor opción para descansar, estilo glamping, comiendo deliciosa comida internacional, y excelente atencion de parte de Gaby y Johen.

La vista en el lugar es bella, lo mejor es llegar en lancha y dejar el carro en pana, una experiencia única dormir frente al lago y disfrutar la naturaleza, sus anfitriones muy amables, súper recomendado !!

El paisaje del lago es increíble , la cabaña muy limpia, cama cómoda, buenas almohadas. Pero lo mejo es la atención de los anfitriones, la comida abundante y deliciosa. Seguro volveré.

Amazing Place

This is one of those spectacular places you only find a couple times in your life. The place is amazing and the view is incredible. The service is tailored to your needs and the food is delicious. Higly recommended place to relax, rest and have a peaceful stay...