Chiminos Island Lodge

Prepare yourself for the Ultimate Eco-Archaeological Adventure and enjoy the most pristine jungle, as natural as it gets! Let your senses flow as you are overwhelmed by nature all around you and enjoy the walk through this Maya city, “The Last Maya Outpost”, a fortified artificial island built by the ancient Maya to defend themselves during the terminal period of their occupation in this region.

Chimino's Island Lodge is located in Punta de Chimino, on the beautiful Petexbatun Lagoon in southeastern Peten, in the Guatemalan jungle.

Chimino's Island Lodge offers 5 comfortable mahogany bungalows, each perfectly blended into the rain forest and several hundred feet away from each other, so you can enjoy your own private jungle and the fascinating views of the Petexbatun lagoon. Each bungalow has a private en suite bathroom, hot water and is completely protected from the insects and other animals outside. You will be pleasantly surprised by the luxury and cleanliness that characterize Chiminos Island Lodge, an impeccable setting that goes beyond what you may expect to find in the middle of the jungle.

The property is crossed by pathways, where you will experience an intimate contact with the jungle, its impressive wildlife and the remains of a fortified Maya citadel, which are - for the most part - still unearthed. You will experience the efforts made by its last Maya occupants to protect themselves firsthand, through impressive defensive walls, pits and trenches. The citadel also has its own ball court and small palaces.

Ammenities
Our comfortable bungalows can sleep up to 5 people and are fitted with its own water treatment plant, private bathroom and hot water. From your bungalows you can hear and observe parrots, toucans and howler monkeys. The palm-thatched bungalows are constructed from fine hard wood trees that have naturally fallen.

You can also enjoy our “lobby” with hammocks and a relaxing view of the lagoon, the bar and our new floating dock, perfect for sun-bathing, swimming fishing, or just relaxing after an intense day of eco-archaeological exploration.

And last, but not least, prepare yourself to experience the finest dining cuisine in the jungle! Our hostess is a fine chef and cooks recipes cherished by generations but enriched with others shared by our guests. You may want to dine "a blanco", fresh catch of the day, prepared by our hostess grilled or baked in wine and fine herbs or you can enjoy a fresh salad or our famous cucumber soup. Our other staff will guide you and take care of your needs in a friendly manner with the typical Guatemalan hospitality.

Activities
At Chimino's Island Lodge you can combine your ecological and archaeological interests with the opportunity to relax in beautiful and peaceful surroundings. On-Site activities include fishing, swimming, canoeing and bird-watching. You can also hit the hiking trails that take you into the jungle and to the Mayan Citadel. It's almost like being the discoverer of this Mayan site! Different tours to nearby Mayan Sites are also available and recommended. The region has been under heavy investigation by famous archaeologist Arthur Demarest, Takeshi Inomata and their colleagues during the Petexbatun Archaeological Project .

Fishing & Swimming: Right there from our floating dock, you can get your catch of the day or make a splash and enjoy the fresh waters! You can also troll to marvelous fishing areas right there in the lagoon where you can catch robalo, blanco (petenia esplendida, a delicious white fish exclusive to the region) and some other edible varieties also found in the lagoon and nearby rivers.

Canoeing: You may rent a small canoe and paddle to do your own exploring. You can do some bird-watching, fishing or just exercise a little. You will have a majestic view of the island and century old trees!

Nature Hikes and Bird Watching: You may want to walk our carefully maintained trails, having the opportunity to see the most beautiful birds: toucans, parrots, eagles and vultures, among many other rarely seen species. You will also have close contact with a variety of jungle species of trees and plants, many in the verge of extinction. Petexbatun is the winter refuge for many North American birds, so a small boat ride to the lagoon and nearby rivers will enable you to see Canadian ducks, herons, storks and many other rarely seen species. It is not unusual to have a close look to Moreletti Crocodiles sunbathing in nearby river banks.

Archaeological Tours: Visits to important Mayan sites is one of our major attractions. Depending on the length of your stay, you can visit them by boat, walking and on horseback.