The Maya ruins of Tikal are one of the landmark attractions of Central America, enshrouded by magnificent jungle, yet there is far more reason to come to this remote corner of Guatemala than just the ancient city. La Lancha, an alluring hidden jungle resort, set above magnificent Lake Petén Itzá, is the region's premier stay, and a blissful, escape and total retreat, well worth extending your holiday for.

Besides making award-winning films, acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola has also branched off into other endeavors, from starting a winery to opening a select number of hideaway properties with his family, places that started off as family escapes that are now boutique lodges and resorts, of which La Lancha is one.

This intimate and hopelessly romantic 10-room lodge sits above the north shore of Lake Petén Itzá, where the rainforest has been preserved and there is little boat traffic as well. Delightful traditional casitas and several suites blend into the forest here, and are homey, feature modern amenities, and have indigenous Guatemalan handcrafts, art, and tapestries, all personally chosen by the Coppola family.

Arriving here is something right out of a Hollywood director's script, as for those flying in to the small Tikal Airport in Flores, one is quickly whisked down to a boat dock, from where a private "lancha" boat takes one on the scenic journey across the lake. Arriving half an hour later at a palapa hut dock, a cable-pulled funicular carries one up into the jungle and the main part of the lodge, from where this magical hidden stay begins.

There is almost no outside noise here, save for the bird calls and howler monkeys in the trees, and you can sprawl out on the large porch hammocks, make an espresso with your in-room Illy machine, go for a dip in the resort pool, or head back down to the lake, where there are complimentary canoes, stand up paddle boards, and inner tubes to use out on the calm waters of the pristine lake.

Most guests here will spend at least one day touring the ruins of Tikal, and the resort offers plenty of other excursions to other Maya ruins, and even can arrange a private helicopter journey into El Mirador, a hidden Maya ruins settlement that normally takes five days of difficult jungle trekking to reach.

The resort's thatch roof open-air restaurant has beautiful lake views, offers authentic Guatemalan cuisine, and even has a bonfire for guests to sit around in the evening, drinking crafted cocktails and sharing travel experiences.

La Lancha is all about a crafted experience making you feel a million miles from anywhere else, private, exclusive, quiet, and utterly magical. The surrounding jungle is captivating, the lake is a jewel, and if you throw in a traditional temezcal Mayan sauna treatment while here, you may never want to leave, it's that kind of a place. Make this gorgeous part of Guatemala part of your next special occasion. 

Useful links

https://www.thefamilycoppolahideaways.com/en/la-lancha