Best Hostel in Lake Atitlan: Free Cerveza (Review 2023)

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Looking for the best hostel in Lake Atitlan? There are so many hostels to choose from, but if you want a fun, social stay, pick Free Cerveza!

Located in Santa Cruz, a small town around 10 minutes from Panajachel, Free Cerveza is a glamping-style hostel with incredible lake and volcano views. It has a fully stocked bar and restaurant, with family dinners served nightly at 7pm.

As the quiet hours at Free Cerveza start at 10pm, it isn’t a party hostel, but it’s a social one. People gather in the communal areas from morning until night, playing games, chatting, swimming in the lake and just soaking up the beautiful Lake Atitlan views.

This makes it the perfect hostel in Lake Atitlan for solo backpackers who want to meet like-minded travellers, but don’t want to be at an all-night party hostel.

Plus, Free Cerveza is called Free Cerveza for a reason. Yes, they do serve FREE beer every single evening, for two hours straight! This was the icing on the cake when staying at Free Cerveza, and it just makes it that *little* bit easier to mingle and chat to new people!

So, let’s get down to reviewing the Free Cerveza hostel in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala!

➡ BOOK YOUR STAY AT FREE CERVEZA TODAY!

*Our stay at Free Cerveza was gifted, but we would never recommend a stay that we didn’t truly love. All of the information in this post is an honest reflection of our stay at Free Cerveza in 2023.*

Other posts you may like:

• Is Flores Guatemala Worth Visiting? Review
• Antigua To Lake Atitlan Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide
• BEST Hostels In Flores Guatemala For Backpackers
• Is Flores Guatemala Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice
• Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Hike Is Best?

➡ Travelling to Lake Atitlan? Check out my full post on how to travel around the lake via a lancha and visit all of the beautiful lakeside towns!

Free Cerveza: My honest review

So, what is my honest opinion on staying at Free Cerveza? We loved it. It was actually one of our favourite hostels in Guatemala. It’s fun, friendly, welcoming, serves cheap (but delicious) food and beer, has comfortable beds, has a range of free activities on offer, good Wifi, incredible views and we were able to make a ton of new friends!

We really enjoyed the atmosphere at Free Cerveza. Being in Santa Cruz, there isn’t a lot else to do in the town, so most backpackers stay onsite throughout the day socialising, swimming, paddleboarding and chilling. There’s a large communal space with big bean bags and soft mats to sit on, as well as hammocks and deck chairs overlooking the lake. We spent most of our time here relaxing and reading, just soaking in the experience!

Whilst I don’t normally like staying in places with shared toilets, we found the bathrooms to be clean at all times of the day. The staff are amazing at keeping all of the facilities clean and topped up.

We loved the family style dinners, as this was just another chance to meet other backpackers. We even ended up meeting a group and all travelling to a late night party together.

I also loved how Free Cerveza isn’t a party hostel. I’m not a huge party-fan (I like to go out every now and then), so loud and crazy hostels aren’t my thing. But at Free Cerveza, the music stops and the bar shuts at 10pm. You can stay in the communal area chatting, but most people have an early night to wake up early the next day for their activities.

Overall, we really enjoyed our time at Free Cerveza, and I would highly recommend it. It’s a clean, safe and fun hostel, with a unique glamping twist. The staff are kind and welcoming, and they go out of their way to ensure you have the best time possible. If we return to Lake Atitlan, we will definitely stay at Free Cerveza again!

Do I need to pre-book my stay at Free Cerveza?

Yes, yes and yes again! Hostels in Guatemala book up fast, and Free Cerveza is one of the most popular hostels in Lake Atitlan. It books up quickly!

Don’t miss out – make sure you book your stay at least 3-4 weeks in advance (or even longer if you can!)

➡ You can check prices and availability here!

Where is Free Cerveza?

Free Cerveza is just a 10-minute lancha (boat) ride from the main dock in Panajachel. It is located in the small town of Santa Cruz on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

To reach Free Cerveza, you need to make your way to the ferry port in Panajachel. Boats (aka lanchas) run regularly throughout the day, from around 6 am – 7 pm. There’s no need to book, as they run every 10-15 minutes to all locations. They’re small but hold around 25 people and cost £2.50/$3 per one-way journey.

Lanchas on Lake Atitlan go to all areas around the lake (San Pedro, Santa Cruz, San Juan etc). For more information on how lanchas work in Lake Atitlan, check out my full boat guide here.

For Free Cerveza, you will need to board a lancha heading for Santa Cruz. You can even stop at Free Cerveza’s private dock if you have heavy bags, but you need to let the captain know he needs to stop there!

If you don’t manage to tell the captain in time, you can get off the lancha at the main Santa Cruz dock. Free Cerveza is around a 5-minute walk left from there.

Book a stay at Free Cerveza

If you want to book a stay at Free Cerveza, I recommend booking with Hostelworld. As well as my detailed review, you can read other backpacker reviews and see how like-minded travellers found their stay at Free Cerveza.

I recommend staying at Free Cerveza for at least two or three nights. This gives you enough time to explore Santa Cruz, partake in some of the free backpacker activities, visit the other towns in Lake Atitlan and make friends with some other like-minded travellers.

➡ Not sure which type of room to book? Skip to the section ‘types of room at Free Cerveza’.

What facilities are available at Free Cerveza?

Free Cerveza had plenty of facilities to keep guests safe, comfortable and entertained. With a fully stocked bar and restaurant, you don’t need to leave the hostel to have an amazing time on Lake Atitlan!

During the day, you can take out paddleboards and kayaks, as well as joining in on some of the free daily activities. There’s a large dock for swimming, jumping and sunbathing, as well as hammocks and beanbags for relaxing with incredible Lake Atitlan views. Borrow a yoga mat for some alone time, or play one of the many games in the communal area with your new backpacker friends.

We found the Wifi at Free Cerveza to be pretty good. It would cut out now and again, but what can you expect from small town in a remote area of a lake?! The Wifi in our casita was strong enough to log in to our laptops to check our emails, so that was good enough for us!

Why is the hostel called ‘Free Cerveza’?

So, why is Free Cerveza called ‘Free Cerveza’? Well, if you know any Spanish, you’ll know ‘cerveza’ means ‘beer’. So technically, the hostel is called ‘free beer’. And yep, your stay includes free beer!

Every night at 5pm, the hostel bar rings a bell and the volunteers shout ‘FREE CERVEZA!’. This indicates the start of a 2 hour unlimited beer session, where you can self pour and mingle with other backpackers in the huge common area, all whilst overlooking Lake Atitlan and the three volcanoes.

At 7 pm, the free beer finishes, and dinner is served. You’ll join your fellow backpackers on the beanbags and comfy mats to eat a family style dinner overlooking the lake. We found this to be the best time to make new friends!

Types of rooms at Free Cerveza

There are different types of rooms at Free Cerveza, but all rooms have shared bathrooms and have a unique ‘glamping’ style.

DORM TENTS – 4 PEOPLE

If you want to stay in a dorm, you will share your tent with three other guests. You’ll sleep on a single mattress and have partial views of the volcanoes and lakes. There are also 2 electrical points in each glamping tent.

PRIVATE CASITA – 2 OR 3 PEOPLE

We opted for a private casita during our stay at Free Cerveza, and we loved it. It’s a small, bamboo style hut with electrical points, a big comfortable bed (with two fluffy pillows), lights, a small basket to keep our belongings and beautiful views of the lake. All casitas still have shared toilets.

SUPERIOR LAKEFRONT ROOM – 2 PEOPLE

A unique two-person glass bungalow with its own private dock and deck right on the lakefront. Note you still need to use the shared toilets in the superior lakefront room.

SHARED TOILETS AND SHOWERS AT FREE CERVEZA

We were pleasantly surprised with the eco-toilets at Free Cerveza. I’ll be honest, I don’t normally like sharing toilets when backpacking, but the staff went out of their way to ensure they were clean at all times. There was always soap, paper towels and toilet paper available, as well as hot showers. Both men and women share all showers and toilets, but they’re all in their own cubicles, so it still feels private.

NOTE: the showers get pretty busy at certain times of the day, so just check if there’s one available when you want to use them.

Backpacker events and activities at Free Cerveza

One of the best things about Free Cerveza was the amount of activities they offer for FREE. We couldn’t believe we didn’t have to pay to do some of the activities, especially when we were so used to paying for everything whilst backpacking Central America!

Some of the activities that were on whilst we stayed at Free Cerveza were:

• Sunrise paddleboarding
• Yoga
• Sunrise hiking
• Beer tasting
• Movie nights
• Beer pong
• Trivia night
• Boozy games night
• Cornhole tournaments
• Guatemalan cooking classes
• Transport to another town for a late-night party (paid)

You could also take the paddleboards and kayaks out at any time of the day, or jump and swim in the lake from Free Cerveza’s own private dock! There was also a large grassy area that we used for sunbathing, as well as a large deck with hammocks and chairs to relax and enjoy the views of the lake.

Is Free Cerveza a party hostel?

No, Free Cerveza is not a party hostel. It is a social hostel, but if you want to party, you will need to continue the night elsewhere! The hostel has strict ‘quiet’ hours from 10pm – 7am to respect their surrounding neighbours, and so backpackers can wake up for their early activities.

We found a few groups would stay in the communal areas chatting past 10pm, but the bar would close and the music would stop.

There are often party events in the surrounding towns on the lake. If there’s a big event, the hostel will put this on a board by reception. You can then book on for return lancha transport to the party. During our stay, we went to a techno party in Panajachel, with our lanchas returning us to Free Cerveza at 1am.

Food and drink at Free Cerveza

As Santa Cruz doesn’t have many food options, Free Cerveza serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner is served in a ‘family style’ at 7pm every night. At this time, all guests sit in the common area and are served dinner.

There is a big menu for breakfast and lunch, with many vegetarian options like healthy bowls, burritos and avocado on toast. You can order meals at the bar throughout the day, and dinner needs to be pre-ordered as early as possible. There’s a set menu each day for dinner (a meat and vegetarian option) which is shown on a board at reception each morning.

At 5pm (when the free beer starts) you’ll be given either a green or red stamp to show if you’re a meat or veggie eater for dinner. You just need to select your desired choice when pre-ordering dinner on the reception iPad!

I read some reviews on Hostelworld from other backpackers complaining about the prices at Free Cerveza, but I actually disagree with them. We found the food prices to be more than reasonable; for £7 ($8) we were served a three-course meal, which included 2 hours of free beer beforehand.

This is cheap in my eyes, especially after being in some Central American locations where it was impossible to have a meal out for under £15 ($20) a person!

Most breakfasts were in the £3-5 ($4-6) range, with lunches costing around the same. We saved money by staying and eating at Free Cerveza!

Can you volunteer at Free Cerveza?

Yes! All of the front-of-house staff at Free Cerveza were volunteers. They were some of the friendliest staff we met on our backpacking trip through Central America, and they were from locations all over the world.

If you volunteer with Free Cerveza, you not only get free meals and a bed in a dorm, but you also receive a 50% discount on alcohol and make new friends for life.

You can find out more about volunteering at Free Cerveza here.

Free Cerveza and Lake Atitlan FAQs

How much is the shuttle from Antigua to Lake Atitlan?

The shuttle from Antigua to Lake Atitlan costs between £15-25 ($18-30) depending on where and when you book. There are travel agents around Antigua where you can book your shuttle, or you can pre-book online here.

Related post: 3 Perfect Days In Antigua

How far is it from Antigua to Lake Atitlan?

Antigua is around 2.5 hours away from Lake Atitlan. There are daily shuttles that run to and from Lake Atitlan and Antigua. The shuttles can be booked via your hostel or travel agents in Antigua and should be organised at least 24 hours in advance.

Can you swim in Lake Atitlan?

Yes, you can swim in Lake Atitlan, but some areas are safer than others. Unfortunately, the main towns around the lake (including Panajachel and San Pedro) have a high level of pollution and trash in the water.

The best places to swim around Lake Atitlan are the San Marcos diving point, in front of Free Cerveza hostel (Santa Cruz), and around the smaller towns. However, there are no ‘rules’ anywhere when it comes to swimming at Lake Atitlan.

If you are going to swim, be cautious and try not to swallow any water. It’s not unheard of for backpackers to come down with food poisoning and sickness when visiting Lake Atitlan, mainly caused by the lake water. Unfortunately, there’s a high level of cyanobacteria and phosphorous in Lake Atitlan, from the fertiliser and sewage around the lake.

Should I spend more time in Lake Atitlan or Antigua?

This is a personal preference. For us, we preferred Antigua because it’s a small city with lots to do (volcano hikes, shopping, bars, restaurants, cafes, walking tours, chocolate workshops, coffee making…) and we just enjoyed being in Antigua and spending time there, especially as digital nomads.

We also found a few nights in Lake Atitlan was enough for us to do and see everything we wanted. But we spent just under two weeks in Antigua and would love to go back and stay for even longer!

Is Lake Atitlan worth visiting?

Yes, Lake Atitlan is worth visiting. It’s a beautiful part of Guatemala with friendly locals, incredible volcano and lake views and a fun, vibrant atmosphere. Whether you want to party, relax by the lake, hike to a sunrise spot or jump off a rope swing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Plus, it’s only 2.5 hours from Antigua, so it’s worth a visit!

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Free Cerveza Hostel Review: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Free Cerveza hostel in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Lake Atitlan, Free Cerveza is by far the best hostel for backpackers.

When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Guatemala posts:

• BEST Hostels In Flores Guatemala For Backpackers
• Is Flores Guatemala Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice
• Antigua To Lake Atitlan Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide
• Flores To Tikal: EVERYTHING You Need To Know