Earth Lodge Antigua Review | A Treehouse Eco Hotel in Guatemala
If you’re a traveler who seeks ethical and authentic experiences that allow you to connect with the places you explore – you’ve probably heard about eco hotels. To us, an eco hotel is not just one that minimizes its negative impact on the environment. True eco hotels go above and beyond to make a positive impact on the environment and the local community – which is precisely what Earth Lodge Antigua does.
This eco hotel is situated in the tropical mountains of Guatemala above the UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua. While Earth Lodge is just a short 20 minute ride from the city center, it feels a world away. Below, we share our full review of Earth Lodge Antigua, highlighting what makes this treehouse hotel a truly sustainable travel experience.
Sustainable Travel in Guatemala
Guatemala is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination. Adventurous travelers are interested in trekking on overnight volcano hikes and swimming in the largest lake in Central America, Lake Atitlan. What’s more, Guatemala is more affordable than other countries in Central America – like Costa Rica and Belize. This makes it a fantastic destination for backpackers and budget travelers.
It’s vital that local communities in Guatemala are able to benefit from this increase in tourism. Furthermore, it’s essential that travelers respect the natural beauty of this country. One way to do this is by choosing sustainable hotels and tour providers when visiting Guatemala. That’s where Earth Lodge Antigua comes in. This fully solar eco hotel employs countless members of the local community and chooses local artisan suppliers. Earth Lodge is also a natural oasis, encouraging guests to embrace and connect to nature and themselves. This is a come as you are hotel, where you can focus on improving wellness and finding inspiration.
Volcano Views from Earth Lodge
Treehouse at Earth Lodge
Heads up: Links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you click the link and make a purchase, we receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us continue to travel the world and share our experiences, and for that we are forever grateful!
Table of Contents
Earth Lodge’s Proximity to Antigua
Earth Lodge Antigua is just a short 15 minute ride into the city center. Plus, the hotel offers a daily shuttle in the morning and afternoon. You can also arrange to have the shuttle pick you up at any time to drive you back to the property from the city. We loved being able to visit the city but stay outside of the crowded area, in our own tree house oasis.
Getting to Earth Lodge Antigua
You can easily arrange a shuttle to take you to this hotel. However, when you arrive you’re going to have a bit of a hike to reach the property. For older travelers, handicapped individuals, or those who have difficulty with walking long distances – this is not a good hotel to book. To access Earth Lodge you need to walk down a steep 300M dirt walking path. What’s more, you’ll have to lug your baggage along with you. We made the most of this hike, laughing and joking about lugging our bags along with us. Honestly, we are firm believers that the best places are always a little hard to reach.
Views of Antigua From Earth Lodge
Antigua, Guatemala
Earth Lodge Antigua’s Sustainability Initiatives
- Fully solar
- Local artisans make organic shampoos and conditioners from custom scents
- Natural and organic cleaners made from essential oils
- Onsite avocado farm producing farm-to-table food for the restaurant
- Food waste is composted and used on the avocado farm
- Earth Lodge works with countless local producers to source everything from their coffee, to their produce, to their honey
- Earth Lodge established a Seed Saving Collective to cold press avocado oil. This oil – which comes from the avocado seed – will be used in the kitchen and sold.
Your Treehouse in the Tropical Mountains
Some people love to be in the center of the action when they travel. Alternatively, others prefer to venture to more remote corners of the world in search of wide open space and vast natural beauty. Earth Lodge Antigua is for travelers who want the total package. This hotel is in close proximity to Guatemala’s famous city while also being nestled among the trees in a private oasis.
Earth Lodge Antigua offers private cabins and treehouses that allow guests to feel surrounded by nature. All lodging options include views of the volcanoes – which you can see erupting day and night – along with private outdoor spaces. While this eco hotel embraces a more minimalist style, the bed linens are still plush and comfortable; the yoga treehouse is expansive; and the grounds are artfully maintained.
El Sueco Treehouse Views
El Sueco Treehouse
Our Treehouse Experience
We stayed in El Sueco, a treehouse suitable for 4 guests with a bed downstairs and a loft. The floor to ceiling windows of this treehouse lookout over the 3 volcanoes and the city of Antigua below. Our bathroom was detached, including an open air shower and organic bath products. We visited in December and found nights to be chilly. For this reason, you should be sure to pack pants and a sweatshirt for your stay here.
Furthermore, the treehouse wasn’t heated or insulated, so warm clothes are a must depending on the time of year you visit. We visited in December. Plan to cozy up at night with the blankets in your treehouse or up at the lodge. You can stay warm by the fire pits outdoors as you watch the glow of the volcanic eruptions after dark. Or, sit inside by the fire with a book. Nights at Earth Lodge Antigua feel just as magical and peaceful as the days do.
Wellness travel in Guatemala
Wellness travel is a growing travel trend in 2024, and for good reason. Whether you’re planning a vacation from work or living a digital nomad lifestyle, trips that allow you to recharge offer both mental and physical health benefits. Earth Lodge Antigua is the perfect place for a wellness focused stay. This hotel cultivates an environment rich in natural beauty and healing energy through its numerous offerings. Below, we share a few of the wellness focused things we did during our stay.
Daily Yoga Practice
Group yoga classes are held daily at Earth Lodge at 9:00 am, in a tree top studio. Floor to ceiling windows offer incredible views of the three sister volcanoes. Imagine practicing yoga as Volcan De Feugo erupts in the distance. Embrace this close connection to nature and yourself in a beautiful environment. We practiced yoga every single morning during our stay!
Everything you need for practice is included in the price of the class, which is perfect for travelers like us who never have room for mats or blocks in our suitcases. On another note, Earth Lodge Antigua is also a host site for yoga teacher training, and there was one underway during our stay. The tree top studio is the largest in all of Antigua – providing ample space for retreats and events. If you’re interested in completing your yoga teacher certification in Guatemala – we can’t imagine a more special place to do so.
Yoga at Earth Lodge
Yoga at Earth Lodge
Cold Plunge and Temazcal Sauna
No visit to Earth Lodge is complete without a cold plunge and sauna session. Earth Lodge’s unique sauna is a Mayan Temazcal: an igloo shaped sweat lodge made of volcanic rock, mud and cement. Brand new cold plunge tubs allow guests to go back and forth between the hot and cold temperatures, and reap the many health benefits of this activity. This type of contrast therapy can boost energy levels, increase circulation, enhance immune function, reduce stress, and burn “brown” fat (source: Plunge).
Spa Treatments
We love the Earth Lodge spa – especially because all spa treatments utilize locally sourced, all-natural products. During our stay, we enjoyed massages on the Red Light Infrared mat, and left feeling a new level of relaxation. Prioritizing taking care of your body and mind can be difficult in our fast paced world. While we don’t often treat ourselves to massages when we travel, this experience enhanced the wellness focus of our stay and left us feeling significantly better than we had when we arrived. Ultimately, that’s the goal of a wellness vacation – to leave feeling more in touch with yourself and your surroundings than you were when you arrived.
Temazcal Sauna at Earth Lodge
Sauna Retreat at Earth Lodge
Earth Lodge’s Farm-to-Table Restaurant
It’s difficult to say what the best part of our stay at Earth Lodge Antigua was – but the dining experience at The Lodge Restaurant & Bar was a favorite for sure. This restaurant works with artisan makers and local growers (see below) to create a seasonal menu rich with uniquely Guatemalan ingredients. What’s more, the restaurant offers numerous vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options to guests – so everyone can find something they enjoy.
The Lodge Restaurant & Bar is housed in the main lodge area, with a spacious indoor outdoor space and stunning views of the volcanoes and the city of Antigua below. We enjoyed the food and the view for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – trying as much as could from the vast menu of delicious and healthy food.
List of local producers Earth Lodge Antigua works with:
- Julhalaw Cacao: 100% pure cacao, plantain, yuca, camote (sweet potato), ginger, and turmeric used in dishes.
- Fogliasana Produce: hydroponic farm using sustainable farming to produce lettuces and greens.
- Tacana Honey: raw, chemical-free wildflower honey produced by responsible small scale beekeepers in San Marcos.
- Finca Gascon Specialty Coffee: Antigua based coffee grower using regenerative farming practices.
- Maltiox Butters: Nut butter and tahini that is additive free, gluten free, sugar free, vegan, and 100% natural.
- Earth Lodge Avocados: Earth Lodge Antigua’s very own avocado farm with over 850 organic Haas avocado trees.
Breakfast Tacos at Earth Lodge
Breakfast at Earth Lodge
Earth Lodge Antigua Prices
Let’s talk price. Earth Lodge Antigua is quite affordable considering what a special experience this property offers guests. The El Sueco Treehouse that we stayed in starts at Q690 per night ($88 USD). This treehouse could fit 4 guests, making the total approximately $22 USD per person, per night. That’s a hostel price for this amazing accommodation in the tropical mountains.
It’s worth noting that Earth Lodge is on the earthy side when it comes to sustainable accommodation. This property was incredibly clean and beautiful, but you should be willing to embrace some of the natural elements if you stay here. For us, this was part of the magic of our stay. Living in the U.S., it’s easy to lose our connection to nature and to take for granted everything that we have (like an endless supply of hot water and heat). Earth Lodge is all about doing more with a little bit less. During our stay here, were were able to embrace this mindset too.
Wrap It Up
If you’re interested in learning more about sustainability – this eco hotel offers an educational experience that introduces travelers to a more sustainable lifestyle. Eat fresh food from the land, support local artisans, be conscious of your water usage, and spend time in nature. Worry less about your physical appearance and more about your physical health. Refresh your mind and body in a place that inspires you to notice and appreciate the beauty of our earth.
Ultimately, hotel stays like this have the power to shift (or reinforce) our perspectives, that life is about connecting to the people and places we encounter rather than acquiring material possessions.
