I stayed in one of seven individual stone cottages. Each has a double bed, a private bath with hot water and a fireplace. They are equipped for comfortable triple occupancy. For the single occupant they are sheer luxury. Flowers and blooming shrubs flourish along the stone pathways to each cottage where one is afforded postcard glimpses of volcanos and the lake.
If you are bringing a family, there are several larger cottages and also a two and a four bedroom house on the lake available to rent. Youngsters two and under are free and those three to ten are charged half price.
Prices vary from $30 per room for the smaller cottages to $75 for the larger ones. Double and triple occupancy only adds about $10 per extra person.
To get to Santiago via passenger ferry, from Panajachel take the public ferry (cost is 10Q) to Santiago. There are other ferries that depart across the lake for San Pedro, so be sure to board the correct ferry. Once in Santiago, from the Municipal dock one can commandeer a water taxi (25-30Q), catch a ride on a pick-up (up to 15Q depending on how much of a hurry you are in), walk a little less than a mile yourself, or if you are adventurous, rent a dug-out cayuco for about 20Q (it can be negotiated down if you offer to help paddle).
The main dining area is splendid. Sit at a beautifully finished hardwood table and view a volcano as you dine through an aptly placed king-sized arched window within the stone walls of the Posada.
E-mail: posdesantiago@guate.net
Once settled in at the Posada, you may wish to check out the local sights. Watch cattle being herded through town, visit the smoking and drinking deity "Maximon" or the four century old Catholic church.