Just south of Poptún, on the road from Río Dulce, Finca Ixobel (tel. 5892-3188, www.fincaixobel.com) has long drawn travelers coming overland to Petén for its wonderful accommodations and excellent food at moderate prices in an attractive jungle setting.

There are accommodations to suit every taste and budget, including hammocks ($3), clean, comfortable dorms for $4 p/p, rooms with shared bath for $13 d, and rooms with private bath for $26 d. There are more luxurious bungalows and a suite for $30 and $36 d.

The latest addition to Finca Ixobel’s offerings is a series of tree houses set amid spacious grounds. Some have electricity; others are candlelit. Prices range from $11 d with candlelight to $17 d with electricity. Only one of the so-called tree houses is actually in a tree, but all are attractive, quite comfortable, and set above the ground. A deluxe tree house with its own bath and electricity is popular with honeymooners and goes for $23 d.

The restaurant here serves delicious, inexpensive meals, largely using ingredients grown in the finca’s vegetable garden. Breakfast and lunch are à la carte, while dinner is served buffet style ($4–8). Breakfast items include homemade yogurt and granola, pancakes, and eggs, with plenty of vegetarian options for lunch and dinner. There is also a bar set beside a swimming pond where you can chill out in a hammock or play a game of “Twister” with your new friends and fellow travelers.

Its wide-ranging activities allow guests the chance to explore myriad attractions nestled in the surrounding cool pine forests and rolling green hills.

Getting to Finca Ixobel

Any bus traveling the Río Dulce–Flores Highway will drop you off at the turnoff to Finca Ixobel. From there, it’s just a short 15-minute walk to the lodge. If you are arriving at Finca Ixobel after nightfall, your best bet is to go to La Fonda Ixobel in Poptún town and get a cab from there to the farm.