Villa Talla -- Cliffside living in Lake Atitlan

Villa Talla is a sumptuously comfortable two-bedroom-plus home and truly impressive architectural integration of a gracious, spacious modern house into the mountainside overlooking the village of Santa Cruz la Laguna. There is no better way to appreciate the magnificent vision of this house than by helicopter as you set down on the private landing pad.

Villa Talla is for those seeking truly unique architecture that blends
modern wood and glass with ancient stone to provide a magnificently
comfortable outpost on one of the planet's most beautiful vistas --
Lake Atitlan and her volcanoes. If you are looking for inspiration,
tranquility, private moments in nature, and a home away from home that
nourishes your spiritual side, this is the place.

Wide stone decks surround the house providing a multitude of vistas
upon Lake Atitlan, her trio of volcanoes, and the crystal-clear
daytime or night sky. Inside, serpentine stairs mimic the contours of
the cliff face as they connect the three floors of this glass-walled
home. A large tree grows up the stairwell and out the skylight roof
through an ingenious gasket system. A reading nook/double bed is
perched in the cliff poised against a huge window. The home offers
unparalleled vistas of Lake Atitlan, the volcanoes, the surrounding
villages, and the mountains and jagged hills beyond from its numerous
decks and patios, including a private deck in the master bedroom.

The first floor of the house has a huge studio space with bright,
local hardwood floors, tall windows to let in light, surrounding bench
seating, double glass doors leading to the deck, plus a bedroom and
bathroom. It is used by the owner as a working studio. The whole floor
is fronted by a wide deck that spans nearly the length of the house
and leads by stone stairway down the steep hillside to the property
edge at the lake shore. Beautiful gardens line the pathway and midway
toward the lake is the helicopter landing pad surrounded by a large lawn.

On the second floor are the living room, dining room, kitchen,
stairway, and access to the second floor deck. The living room is very
large, glass walled, with fireplace, comfortable furnishings and rugs,
seating for a dinner gathering, and large doors onto the patio. Hewn
stone forms the walls of the living room and the kitchen. The kitchen
(which looks out across the deck toward the lake and volcanoes) is
fully found, with top quality appliances, cookware, kitchen
furnishings and tasteful wooden furniture and cabinets.

The third floor contains the master bedroom with a private balcony and
carved-right-from-the-cliff bathroom. Literally hewn into the rock
hillside, this suite is lit by light from the many windows bouncing
around the open architecture -- picking up the color of the wood and
stone for a uniquely relaxing ambience. Full bath, light hardwood
floors and walls, open floor plan, spacious room to relax, and a vista
to die for.

Villa Talla is now available for short-term rental for those seeking
maximum vista combined with visionary architecture and superb
construction. The walls of the living room, kitchen, master bedroom,
master bath and numerous decks are raw rock of the cliffside. Facing
walls are floor-to-ceiling glass, providing an almost unimpeded view
across the tree tops -- arguably one of the best views available of
Lake Atitlan and its gorgeous mountain ranges.

Stroll across the large patio down the stone stairs and pathways to
reach Lake Atitlan's shore. The trail along the lake's edge passes
through here and a small crescent cove of sandy beach looks out upon
Atitlan's three volcanoes and provides a great place for swimming,
sunning, relaxing, or just taking in the vista. Villa Talla is a lovely hideaway for a couple, the more appreciative of nature and solitude the better. No internet, no
satellite TV, no telephone.

The house can comfortably sleep four, plus an overnight guest couple
in the reading nook in a pinch. The gardens and grounds surrounding
the villa are gracious, well tended, and make for good bird watching
and, in season, avocado, banana and papaya picking. Because access to
the private villa is by a winding, uphill pathway and because stairs
in the house often follow the contours of the cliffside, this rental
is not for the handicapped or those who are unsteady on their feet.
If you want assistance with shopping, cooking, cleaning, local tours
or other activities, please let us know. For an additional fee, the
staff at Villa Talla will be happy to help make sure your stay is
relaxing, inspiring, and all you hope for.

There are literally hundreds of activities of interest in the Lake
Atitlan region. Here are three of our favorites, each of which can be
accomplished in a day trip from Villa Talla.

Volcano San Pedro - Getting to Volcano San Pedro is a full day hike
that will bring you to the beautiful volcano and the vista it offers.
Please beware: you have to start early!! The first boat leaves Santa
Cruz at 7:00 am and you should be on it; after an hour you will be in
San Pedro. The walk from San Pedro up the volcano is about four hours;
an extraordinary view and vista await you. The descent is about three
hours. Remember to bring food and plenty of drinking water! We
recommend you find a local guide. Talk with us and we will arrange a
trusted guide for you who will take you from the hotel to the volcano
and back to the hotel. What could be easier?

Horseback Riding - In San Pedro or Santiago, guests can arrange for
horseback riding in some extraordinarily beautiful countryside. There
are different routes, rides of varying lengths, different places to
visit, and different horses. It's necessary to book at least a day in
advance, particularly if you have a large party. This is an
extraordinary adventure to see the countryside by saddle! For take-out
lunches and reservations talk to the folks at Vulcano Lodge. They can
provide more information and, if you wish, make reservations and
arrangements according to your schedule.

Lake Tours by Private Boat - Atitlan is an incredibly gorgeous lake
and a splendid time can be had by hiring a private boat to see it at
your own pace and in your own direction. Get picked up at the dock in
Santa Cruz and you can travel as you wish, swim in the Hot Springs
near Santa Catarina, visit specific villages and towns, restaurants,
and check out sites of interest, or just surf around this beautiful
lake in a boat, pausing whenever and where ever you wish.

------------ Villa Talla ------------
May, June, Sept, Oct - $600/wk, $850/mo, $100/xtra day
Nov, Dec*, Jan*, - $700/wk, $1900/mo, $150/xtra day
Feb, Mar*, Apr*
Christmas & - $850/wk, $250/xtra day
Easter Weeks