This small boutique hotel is actually right in the town of Santa Elena, but you’d never know it. The expansive grounds and gardens give it a great sense of isolation and privacy (though you can still walk to shops and restaurants). The rooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes from simple standards, some with bunk beds, to individual cabins and superior rooms with a kitchenette and sleeping loft. All feature shiny varnished wood and local stonework, as well as low-lying beds with colorful Guatemalan bedspreads. German owner Susanna and her engaged staff make sure service is always top-notch.