Santa Cruz la Laguna · Guatemala
Free Cerveza
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
We found bed bugs in our bed. When we told staff they said they inspected the tent but didn't find any bed bugs and they "haven't had any bed bugs in 6 years so it's highly unlikely to be bed bugs". We then showed them photos and videos of the bed bugs but the owner tried to gaslight us to our face saying the photos weren’t from their tents. We were moved to a new tent so the tent could be treated, but we noticed the tent had been rented to new guests later that day. We ended up checking out early. Honestly, we had a horrible experience and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
We found bed bugs in our bed. When we told staff they said they inspected the tent but didn’t find any bed bugs and they “haven’t had any bed bugs in 6 years so it’s highly unlikely to be bed bugs”. We then showed them photos and videos of the bed bugs. We were moved to a new tent so the tent could be treated, but we noticed the tent had been rented to new guests later that day. We confirmed with the hostel that the bed bugs weren’t from us as we had been in a private residence for 3 weeks prior
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Vibe Analysis
Free Cerveza is a lakefront, tent-style hostel on Lake Atitlan with a strong social setup: group dinners, drinking games, hikes, yoga-style activities, swimming, kayaks, paddle boards, and a dock made for long hangouts by the water. The views are a real part of the appeal, and the place can work well for travelers who want a loud, communal, activity-heavy scene rather than a quiet retreat. The standout is the private lake access with free paddle boards and kayaks. That gives the hostel a built-in daytime rhythm: swim, float, sit on the dock, join an activity, then drift into dinner or bar time without needing much of a plan. The sleeping setup is rustic. Tents and casitas can be fun and different, but tents can become extremely hot after sunrise, cold at night, cramped, poorly ventilated, and weak on storage or soundproofing. Mold has been a recurring issue in tents, including black mold, so this is not a low-risk choice for anyone sensitive to damp rooms or respiratory triggers. This is better framed as a social lake camp with party energy than polished glamping. The setting, activities, showers, food on good days, and big-group atmosphere can be fun, but the toilets, flies, noise, cash-only logistics, food or water illness complaints, and high prices are serious caveats.
Signals to check
- Compost toilets can smell strongly, and flies can be a problem around toilet and common areas.
- Tents can be very hot during the day, cold at night, cramped, noisy, and short on storage.
- Mold has been a recurring tent issue, including black mold.
- Food and filtered water have been linked with stomach illness, so caution is sensible.
- The hostel can feel loud and party-focused, with drinking games and music rather than a quiet lake retreat.
- Cash may be needed, card or online payment can cost extra, and nearby ATM access may be unreliable.
- The free beer setup may depend on buying the family dinner rather than being fully included.
- There is no normal self-catering setup, and food costs can add up.