San Pedro la Laguna

Every Sunday at the Deep End Bar & Pool.

"Laid back" in Hebrew, offers one of the most comfortable places to lounge around with your friends while you enjoy good food and drink at reasonable prices. Has some Israeli items, including falafel, on the menu but the coffee is locally-grown and doesn't include the ground cardamom that you'll find in some Middle Eastern restaurants.

Cheapest food in town, roasted sausages and chicken with beans, guacamole and tortillas.

With magical views of Indian Nose and the lake from the patio and bar, the only Irish bar and restaurant has international food and real Irish stew (a big bowl full of meat, potatoes and carrots in a thick sauce - tasty and filling). All meals include large portions, made from delicious ingredients, great drink specials, live music on weekends.

Follow the trail of colorful coffee beans painted on the cobblestone beside Buddha Bar, and you’ll discover one of San Pedro’s most secluded and peaceful restaurants. The garden offers privacy beneath a big palapa with comfortable seating, as well a table with a big umbrella. Upstairs, the Canadian-style house (lots of wood) has indoor seating and a long terrace with a beautiful view of the lake and lots of flowers and trees. Even better, you get a free espresso with any meal or drink, plus there is free Wi-Fi for customers.

British pub that also serves good food. Free movies on the roof at 19:30.

See under Eat.

Inexpensive place to chill; good view of the lake.

Daytime chill place. Free pool use for customers. Bar food and lots of drink options. Free pool table, Boccie (pétanque) and a great treehouse. Famous for its Sunday BBQ with Smokin' Joes' barbecue.

A cozy and laid-back bar and eatery on the main path, toward the Santiago Dock. A favorite with local expats.

A popular location as some rooms have a kitchen and a bathroom, and the showers are warm (but not hot). Most rooms come with a great view of the lake and a balcony. This hotel is on the other side of the hill but all the locals know where it is, so start asking around once you reach the top of the hill. Because the quality of the rooms vary, ask to see a few before committing. You can bargain for cheaper rates if you stay 2 or more nights, say that you will look at other hotels to get the best rate.

Clean room with twin beds on the lakeshore. Owned and operated by a friendly Maya family. Relatively basic accommodations but with hot water and decent WiFi.

Locally-owned Jarachik offers inexpensive dorms and rooms (Q35/45 dorm, Q55 private room w/bathroom; Q75/100 private rooftop room w/bathroom, triple room w/ private bath was Q135 in Dec 2011), a rooftop terrace to chill on, great food and a bonfire most nights, but the owner sometimes puts it out when there are not enough customers. Some rooms are nice, others smell musty so be sure to inspect the room carefully.

One of the cheapest places to stay, the dorm rooms adjoining the office are only Q10 per person if 2 or more share them (Q15 for an individual). The showers are connected with the 115VAC directly to the plumbing, so it is strongly recommended to turn off the breaker and take a cold shower, otherwise touching the valve handle or the shower head can be deadly.

A Quebec family built this hotel in 2004-2005 right at the lake with a terrace. It offers excellent cuisine and housing facilities in safe and peaceful surroundings, providing 12 rooms for 2, 3 or 4 people, and a dormitory for 6 persons. Each room has its own bathroom with shower and hot water. Meals presented as self-service are served on the terrace on the third floor overlookong the lake. There is also a guest kitchen. Mikaso is a 10-min walk from the market and any bar and is therefore ideal for travellers who seek quiet nights in this party village.