"If you want to have a local experience and get to know the local indigenous people, I highly recommend El Portal. It is owned and run by people from the local community.
It is right next to the river, the caves and the pools of Semuc Champey. So from your room you can just walk down the river and have a swim, while chatting with locals.
All the staff are very friendly and are happy to help you with anything. Make sure to not confuse their silly humor with anything negative ;)
We absolutely loved our experience here, after having seen other hostels in the area.
Few things to take into consideration:
1. The restaurant is very nice. The food is not of the highest quality, but it is delicious and gets you through the day.
2. You are INSIDE the jungle. Don't be afraid of crawling things, you are in their territory. They dont hurt you.
3. The rooms can get quite hot. And there are no fans as the electricity is very limited (only available in the evenings).
All in all, the price/ quality is just perfect. And I would love to come back! Go experience the local community, not the hippie backpacker hostels."
