EARTH LODGE
STAY IN ANTIGUA ESCAPE TO NATURE
Barefoot Foodies, Wellness Enthusiasts, & Nature Lovers Paradise
While you certainly don’t have to be barefoot to enjoy the dreamy vistas and cozy corners of Earth Lodge, it’s the type of place that evokes a wild desire to reconnect with nature, slow down, and savor the joy of life.
Just 15 minutes from Antigua with three daily shuttles or private parking and no entry fee – the destination is a must-see for foodies, nature lovers, and wellness enthusiasts. Ideal for a half-day excursion, most visitors end up staying longer to explore the massive tropical mountain property, enjoy their extensive menu of unique tropical dishes and drinks, and enjoy at least one of the many wellness offerings and activities available.
A FITNESS & WELLNESS HAVEN
Featuring yoga classes open to the public daily at 9 am in the studio touted as Antigua’s most stunning yoga studio, you can also book private classes such as aerials and HIIT, book the studio for your own private yoga practice or workout, or book a guided hike in the little-known mountain trails surrounding the property.
If some self-care is what the doctor ordered, the spa at Earth Lodge is a do-not-miss experience. Nestled within the working organic avocado farm and lush tropical plants, the spa offers a nature-oriented sanctuary unlike any in the Antigua area. You’ll find a traditional wood-fired Mayan Temazcal (sauna) which can be booked by the hour, stunning stone ice plunge pools, and an extensive menu of spa services, including hot stone massage and red light therapy.
TROPICAL FARM-TO-TABLE MENU
Earth Lodge’s innovative Chef brings bright tropical flavors and local ingredients to the table. Serving breakfast all day, the restaurant features a delightful array of gourmet cafe beverages with options such as house-made macadamia and cashew milk and an enticing array of cacao-focused beverages.
You’ll also find natural and organic wines, impressive tropical cocktails and non-alcoholic elixirs, and local artisan beer on tap to quench your thirst. The menu, unsurprisingly, features plenty of avocado, being that the property is a working organic avocado farm. You’ll have a hard time choosing from their extensive menu that also offers many gluten-free and vegan options. Be sure you don’t miss out on their famous fried avocados!
GET YOUR NATURE FIX
Whether visiting for the day, or staying in one of the lux-rustic treehouses or cabins, you can immerse yourself in nature in so many ways at Earth Lodge:
enjoy a tour of the organic avocado farm, disappear into a hammock, take a stroll on the forest bathing trail, or discover one of the properties many cozy corners or sunny greenspaces for sunbathing and relaxing. Barefoot or not!
DAILY SHUTTLE from Central Park at 8 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm
WHATSAPP Earth Lodge to book a class or wellness service: +502 4980 2564
WWW.EARTHLODGEGUATEMALA.COM to reserve a Treehouse or Cabin
Getting There:
Driving: 15 minutes from Antigua, Earth Lodge is located up the hill from Cerro De La Cruz, parking available
Get a Ride: Grab a cab, tuk tuk, or call Earth Lodge to arrange for their driver to pick you up
Daily Shuttle: The Earth Lodge shuttle departs 7 days a week at 8am from Alegria Cafe. On weekends, a second shuttle departs from Alegria Cafe at 11:30am.
WHATSAPP Earth Lodge to arrange a ride or wellness service: +502 4980 2564
Website: www.earthlodgeguatemala.com
Instagram: earthlodgeguatemala
Earth Lodge Qué Pasa Print Edition 140 August 2024
Earth Lodge: A Rustic Luxury Escape
Are you looking to escape from all the hustle and bustle that is Antigua? I certainly was and decided to head up to Earth Lodge for the night with my husband for some much-needed R&R. I came back feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and re-energized.
This rustic luxury eco resort is located on an organic avocado farm in the mountains of Guatemala, just 15 minutes outside of Antigua, and has a restaurant, wellness center and nine gorgeous cabañas and tree houses that feature the most stunning volcano views.
One of its many charms is that you need to walk 300 meters down on a dirt walking path to reach the Lodge. In addition to being a great workout, it creates that feeling of disconnecting from your daily worries and (quite literally!) leaving everything behind.
As fans of French cuisine, we kicked off our mini-retreat with a late-afternoon Artisan Picnic that included a Charcuterie and Wine pairing of locally sourced meats, cheeses, olives, nuts, fruits, pickled vegetables, and sourdough bread – all served with a basket, blanket, and bottle of fine red. Delicious!
While we were enjoying the gorgeous sunset, the helpful staff prepared the Temazcal (“house of heat”). This traditional igloo-shaped Mayan Sauna is wood-heated, and water is poured over heated volcanic stones and aromatic plants to produce an herbal infused steam. In the ancient Maya world, the Temazcal was used as part of a curative ceremony to purify the body after exertion or for healing the sick and improving health. In modern times, it proved to be a very effective way of stress reduction!
The Restaurant menu offered many exciting and fresh dinner options characterized by authentic Guatemalan tropical fruits, herbs, and other ingredients. Fancy a wholesome soup, burger or a vegan, vegetarian and/or gluten free option? It’s all there. And for the Panza Verdes, there are no fewer than 7 avocado dishes: toast, fries, salad, tacos, burger, ceviche, and mousse!
We never slept better in our private and cozy Tree House, fully surrounded by nature, and waking up to the best views ever.
Rather than signing up to the diverse and interesting cultural and active adventure activities Earth Lodge also has to offer – hiking, biking, climbing, shamanic ceremonies and ATV tours to name a few – it put us in the mood to spend the rest of our stay slowing down, relaxing and enjoying the tranquility and luscious green spaces. A Full Body Infrared Red Light Treatment made our wellness experience complete.
Next time we’ll stay for a week!
Written by Joanne Stanton
