Earth Lodge Antigua Review: A Nature Retreat in the Clouds
If you’ve been looking at places to stay near Antigua Guatemala, you’ve probably already come across Earth Lodge, a boutique resort tucked above the Panchoy Valley. But is it actually worth the hype?
Honestly? Yes, without a doubt! But it depends on what you’re looking for.
We stayed here in one of the geodomes straight after hiking Acatenango, and I genuinely don’t think I could’ve picked a better place to recover.
My legs were completely done, I hadn’t slept properly in two days, and all I really wanted was somewhere quiet and surrounded by nature… which is exactly what we got.
It’s an eco-lodge up in the mountains with a farm-to-table restaurant, yoga, and even a traditional Mayan sauna, so if you’re into wellness, slow travel, or just switching off for a couple of days, you’re going to love it.
That said, it’s more of an experience than your typical hotel stay. You’re outside the city and a bit more removed from everything, which is kind of the whole point, but also something to consider depending on what you’re after.
In this review, I’ll walk you through exactly what it’s like to stay here, from the walk down (and back up again), to the geodomes, the temazcal that genuinely saved my legs, the food (which was so good), and who it’s actually worth booking for.
This stay was gifted by Earth Lodge, but as always, all opinions are completely my own.
A Quick Look at Staying Here (And Who It’s Best For)
- Getting here: Free shuttle from Antigua (8am & 12pm), or you can take an Uber or drive most of the way
- Best for: Nature lovers, anyone into wellness, a quiet reset, or a well-earned rest after hiking Acatenango
- Probably not for you if: you want to be in the middle of Antigua or might struggle with steep paths
- Room cost: Mid-range, but great value for the experience (around 690Q–990Q / £69–£99)
- Good to know: Bring insect repellent and suncream, and pack light if you can, the final walk is steep
What Makes Earth Lodge So Special?
Earth Lodge just feels completely different to anywhere else you can stay near Antigua.
Even though it’s only about 15 minutes from the city, being up on the hillside overlooking the Panchoy Valley makes it feel like you’re a world away. You’re out of the noise, surrounded by greenery, and it’s just so unbelievably peaceful.
It’s such a good addition to a bigger Guatemala trip, especially if you want to break things up a bit, as some parts can feel pretty full on.
One of the best bits for me was the view, I mean, look at it. It’s just unreal. You can see multiple volcanoes from the lodge, Agua, Acatenango, and even Fuego puffing away in the distance. I loved sitting there with my cup of mud (mushroom coffee, for those wondering!) just watching it, honestly, it never gets old.
There are cabanas, treehouses, and geodomes (which is what we stayed in), and everything feels designed to immerse you in the surroundings rather than separate you from them. It’s a very different experience to staying in a standard hotel in town.
The food is a big part of that too. It’s all farm-to-table, and they grow their own avocados on-site. They also work closely with the local community, which I really loved and find so important. The women in the kitchen are from the nearby village of El Hato, and a lot of the ingredients are locally sourced.
Getting There & What to Expect on Arrival
Getting to Earth Lodge from Antigua is actually really straightforward, which feels slightly surprising considering it’s perched on the side of a mountain.
The easiest option is their free shuttle, which runs twice a day from the basketball court next to the Ruinas de la Iglesia de la Candelaria (8am and 12pm), with return shuttles at 8:30am and 12:30pm.
You can also get an Uber or drive yourself, but if you do drive, you’ll need to pay for parking. The drive only takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll be dropped off around 300 metres from the lodge.
We took the 8am shuttle so we could make the most of the day, and I’d definitely recommend doing the same if you can.
The only part that can catch people off guard is the final walk down, as there’s no vehicle access for this last stretch. It’s steep, and you’ll definitely feel it with a bag.
We turned up with all our luggage (we don’t travel light), and I was basically leaning backwards the whole way down to stop myself rolling to reception (James would have found this absolutely hilarious!).
If I were doing it again, I’d pack a smaller overnight bag and leave my main luggage in Antigua. That said, you can arrange a porter with Earth Lodge if you need one.
Once you get there though, it’s completely worth it. The lodge itself is this beautiful green wooden building, with benches out on the lawn, surrounded by trees. It has such a warm, relaxed vibe straight away.
Everyone there to greet us was so lovely and welcoming too. They explained how everything works, including setting up a tab for food and drinks, which you pay at the end of your stay.
We got there way before 2pm (check in time), so we dropped our bags, grabbed a coffee, and had time to explore and try the temazcal before heading to our geodome.
Where to Stay at Earth Lodge
Earth Lodge has a few different room options, from treehouses to cabanas and geodomes.
They all looked amazing with the same kind of views. But I’d had my eye on the geodome from the start. I’d never stayed in one before, so it felt like something a bit different to try.
Treehouses & Cabanas
We didn’t stay in the treehouses or cabanas, but we did walk past them a few times while exploring.
Earth Lodge has eight cabanas (some one-storey, some two-storey) and two treehouses, all spread out across the hillside. They’re tucked into the greenery around the avocado farm, so they feel private and immersed in nature.
From what we saw, they all still get those incredible volcano views. I even had a quick look inside one of the cabanas during the farm tour, and it felt really bright, cosy, and comfortable.
The treehouses though… say no more. If I came back, I’d 100% try one of these. They’re beautiful wooden structures set amongst the trees, and waking up to views of an erupting Fuego from there would be a bit of a dream.
The Geodome (Where I Stayed)
We’d already spotted the geodomes earlier in the day as they sit right next to the temazcal, and you can sometimes see the smoke drifting up through the trees, which looks so cosy!
The location is honestly one of the best parts. They’re set right on the edge of the mountain, with a big open lawn looking straight out over the volcanoes, plus a little chill-out area with hammocks nearby that we definitely made the most of.
Inside, it felt much bigger than it looks from the outside, which was such a nice surprise. At the back, there’s a spacious bathroom with hanging space, a proper hot shower, and organic shampoo and conditioner that actually smelled amazing (I’m a sucker for good smellies).
But the front of the dome is what really makes it special. The bed faces straight out onto the lawn, and those views, so you wake up to volcanoes and greenery right in front of you!
There’s also a small deck outside for coffee in the morning or a glass of wine (or your drink of choice) in the evening.
It rained the night we stayed, so we didn’t get to sit out like we’d planned, but the sound of the rain on the dome made everything feel really snug. The bed was super comfortable, and there are extra blankets if it gets cold.
There are thick curtains for privacy, and only two other domes in this area. The lawn is shared, but it still feels really peaceful, and we never felt disturbed.
🍃 Find Your Perfect Room at Earth Lodge Here 🍃
The Farm to Table Restaurant (With Lots of Vegan Options!)
The food at Earth Lodge ended up being one of the biggest highlights of our stay.
As a gluten-free vegan, it’s always one of the first things I look at when booking somewhere, especially somewhere like this where you can’t exactly pop out if there aren’t many options. But as soon as I saw the menu, I knew the only problem we were going to have was choosing what to order.
We ate here for three meals and basically shared everything so we could try as much as possible. Between us, we got through six dishes, and I didn’t have a single one I didn’t love, which, if you’ve travelled as a vegan, you’ll know is not always the case.
The fried avocado tacos were honestly incredible, and the cacao smoothie bowl will forever live rent-free in my head. It was so thick, creamy, and just really good.
A lot of the dishes can be made vegan if they’re not already, you just need to ask when you order. They also use things like quinoa for protein rather than tofu, which I’d usually go for, but the portions are generous and really filling, so I never felt like I was missing anything.
Prices were actually really reasonable too. When you’re somewhere more remote like this, food can sometimes feel a bit overpriced, but here it was pretty similar to what you’d pay in Antigua, and for the quality and setting, it felt completely worth it.
Things to Do During Your Stay
There’s a good mix of things to do here, depending on how active you’re feeling.
We kept things pretty relaxed and spent most of our time just enjoying the space, but if you do want to fill your days, there’s plenty going on. There’s a nature trail around the property, a yoga studio with daily classes, and even some weights (I’d love to say we did a workout… but I’d be lying!).
They also offer things like ice baths, massages, Mayan ceremonies, and full yoga retreats, plus hikes in the surrounding area and even ATV tours if you fancy getting out and exploring a bit more.
Our highlights were the temazcal and the avocado farm tour, and I’d definitely recommend making time for both if you can.
If we’d stayed longer, I’d have booked in for a massage; my legs were still in bits after Acatenango, and it looked like the perfect way to properly relax.
The ice baths also caught my eye… but I’m not entirely convinced I’d have been brave enough, even if they probably do wonders for recovery.
Mayan Sauna (Temazcal)
The temazcal is tucked away near the geodomes. It’s a small stone dome heated by a wood fire, so it feels really cosy and private.
Temazcal literally translates to “house of heat”, and you can use it as a dry sauna or add water to create steam, depending on what you prefer.
As soon as we stepped in, the smell of eucalyptus hit straight away, and it was so relaxing.
They provide a basket with towels and filtered water, and there’s a changing and shower area right next to it, so everything is really easy.
One rookie mistake I made was wearing a bikini with metal bits, they got very hot very quickly, so I’d definitely go for something plain instead!
Organic Avocado Farm Tour
Earth Lodge also has its own organic avocado farm (just when you think it can’t get any better), which you’ll notice straight away. There are avocado trees literally everywhere!
They have around 350 on-site and grow organic Hass avocados, but they don’t sell or export them. It all goes straight to the restaurant, which is pretty cool. I mean, it doesn’t get much fresher than that.
When we did the farm tour, which lasted about 45 minutes, they’d just finished their harvest, so there weren’t many avocados on the trees (just a few smaller ones starting to grow), but it was still really interesting to learn how everything works and the organic processes they use.
One thing I didn’t realise is that after being picked, the avocados are stored in a dark room for around 2 weeks to ripen, which honestly surprised me. I had no idea it took that long.
✨ See Prices & Rooms at Earth Lodge Here ✨
What to Know Before You Stay
Earth Lodge is an incredible place to stay, but there are a couple of things worth knowing beforehand so you can make the most of it.
The main one is the access. As mentioned earlier, there’s a short but steep walk down to the lodge with no vehicle access. It wasn’t an issue for us, but it’s something to factor in if you have mobility concerns or are carrying heavier luggage.
It’s also set just outside Antigua, about a 15-minute drive away, so it’s not somewhere you can easily dip in and out of. I found this to be a huge part of the appeal, but it won’t be for everyone.
I don’t think Earth Lodge is just for couples either, it literally works for anyone, we saw solo travellers, a family and groups of friends staying here as well.
There is WiFi available (they use Starlink), but it’s only accessible around the main restaurant area and doesn’t reach the rooms. Honestly, I quite liked this as it made it easier to properly switch off, but it’s good to know you can still get a connection if you need it.
Because you’re up in nature, you might come across the occasional bug, especially in the evenings. It really wasn’t a problem for us, and there weren’t many at all, but if bugs bother you it’s good to know.
We even saw fireflies at night, which I was buzzing about (pun intended!).
Would I Stay at Earth Lodge Again?
So, is a stay at Earth Lodge actually worth it?
Abso-fucking-lutely. 100% yes. I genuinely loved my stay here and would come back in a heartbeat.
We only stayed for one night this time, but I’d love to return for two or three so we could properly slow down, try a few more activities, and maybe even stay in one of the other rooms (treehouses, I’m looking at you).
It’s also incredibly good value for what you get. It has that boutique, unique feel without the high boutique price tag. Rooms range from around 690Q to 990Q (roughly £69–£99), and most sleep 2–4 people, so if you split the cost, it works out really well.
And if you can’t make an overnight stay work, you can still visit for the day from Antigua. You can use the free shuttle or grab an Uber, and still enjoy the restaurant and book activities while you’re there.
Earth Lodge ended up being exactly the kind of reset we needed before moving on to our next stop in Guatemala.
Being able to slow down in nature and wake up in a geodome felt like a treat, and it’s somewhere I’d recommend if you’re looking for something a bit more special than your standard stay.
