Guatemala Guide
The Verapaces
Accommodation
1 Casa Blanca 1 C 3–25, Zona 1 
5931 7862 One of the hottest backpacker places. The dorms are quite large, with six and eight beds, and the private rooms with bathroom are only fair value. There is a kitchen for guests, a travel agency and a little comedor. Price: hostel $5Price: hotel $8–30
2 Casa Luna 5 Av 2–28, Zona 1 7951 3528 A well-run, traveller-geared place with attractive rooms and dorms, reliably hot showers, hammocks to swing in and a grassy courtyard to enjoy. Also home of the Coban Travels tour agency. Price: hostel $6Price: hotel $8–20
3 
Hostal d'Acuña 4 C 3–17, Zona 2 7951 0482 
casadeacuna@yahoo.com Probably the classiest hostel in Central America, this excellent place has great four-bed dorms (per head) and a couple of small private rooms bordering the lush garden of a colonial house. The location is relaxing and tranquil, a short walk down from the main plaza, and the restaurant is one of the town's finest. Tours are offered, too. Price: hostel $7Price: hotel $13-20
4 Hotel La Paz 6 Av 2–19, Zona 1 7952 1358 No-frills budget hotel run by a slightly gruff but vigilant señora. The rooms are fairly featureless, but kept clean and tidy – and most have private bath. Safe parking, garden and café. Price: $13-20
5 Hotel Virgen del Rosario 2 Av 4–28, Zona 3 7952 1914 A well-run, secure little hotel with fourteen comfortable, spotless rooms (with or without private bath); all are a little heavy on the floral prints, but represent good value. There's free coffee and drinking water, and the whole place is festooned with plants. Price: $8–20
6 Casa Duranta 3 C 4–46, Zona 3 7951 4188 
www.casaduranta.com A lovely, converted colonial house where the bedrooms and open-sided dining area are grouped around a wonderful central garden. All rooms have wrought-iron beds and interesting furniture like bed tables made from old sewing machines, though the bathrooms are pretty perfunctory. Rooms do vary in size but not in price; try to book either 7 or 8. Price: $41-60
7 Hostal de Doña Victoria 3 C 2–38, Zona 3 7951 4213 www.hotelescoban.com Refurbished mansion decorated with antiques and artefacts, and oozing character. The stylishly presented bedrooms all have private bath (though avoid the noise-prone streetside rooms). On-site café/bar, restaurant and tour agency, too. Price: $21–40
8 Hotel Alcázar Victoria 1 Av 5–34, Zona 1 7952 1143 www.hotelescoban.com Large, modern hotel, built in colonial style, with plenty of spacious, comfortable rooms, all with good beds, TV and reading lights, set off a covered patio. It's about 750m north of the plaza. Price: $31-40
9 Hotel Central 1 C 1–79, Zona 4 7952 1442 Long-running place with clean, though darkish, rooms that have a little faded style, all with private bathrooms, set round a lovely central courtyard garden. There's also a comedor. Price: $21-30
10 Hotel La Posada 1 C 4–12, Zona 2 7952 1495 www.laposadacoban.com Offering real atmosphere this hotel occupies a 400-year-old colonial building and boasts a beautiful, antique-furnished interior. The very tasteful, comfortable rooms, many with wooden Moorish-style screens (and some with four-poster beds), are set around two leafy courtyards, though traffic noise can be a problem. Excellent restaurant and café. Price: $61-80
11 Pensión Monja Blanca 2 C 6–30, Zona 2 7951 1900 or 7952 0531 Agreeably old-fashioned and has plenty of rooms, many with private bathroom. All accommodation is on the ground level and set around two lovingly tended courtyard gardens. Don't miss the Victorian-style tearoom for breakfast. Price: $13–30
12 Posada de Carlos V 1 Av 3–44, Zona 1 7951 3501 www.hotelcarlosvgt.com It's set in urban Cobán, but this mountain chalet lookalike would be more at home in the Swiss Alps. The twenty pine-trimmed rooms have cable TV and private bathroom and there's a restaurant and ample parking. Price: $21-30
13 Posada de Don Antonio 5 C 1–51, Zona 4 7951 4287 A wonderful double-height lobby sets the tone at this colonial-style hotel which has some fine Spanish tiling and an elegant dining-room. The spacious rooms are excellent value, and breakfast is included. Price: $31-40