Welcome to my charming light and airy cottage that looks out to lush gardens and the majestic volcanoes of Lake Atitlan. The Garden Oasis offers a fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms with firm comfortable beds, full bath, and a warm inviting living and dining area. One of the best features is a large covered outdoor space with a full volcanic views. If you are looking for a quiet getaway retreat amidst beautiful gardens and a view, this home is a perfect fit. The space The cottage is newly refreshed and is tastefully decorated with comfortable orthopedic beds, quality linens and a well stocked kitchen. All you will need are your personal belongings to make the Garden Oasis your home away from home. The larger downstairs bedroom has a queen sized bed, raised cathedral ceilings and is decorated in calming green and blue colors. The private upstairs loft bedroom has a full bed, a desk, closet and drawer space, which is perfect for an afternoon nap, children, a separate office or second guest. Both beds are extremely comfortable with an added thick pillow top. A full bath is equipped with fluffy towels and toiletries. The well-stocked kitchen has a toaster oven, microwave, gas stove and full refrigerator along with all kitchen utensils, appliances, pots and pans, herbs and spices needed to cook at home. You will have all you need to prepare your coffee, either drip or coffee press and a supply of Guatemalan coffee in the freezer. The living area is inviting with a comfortable couch and two chairs to relax with a book in the evening. The dining area has a cypress table with four chairs with woven cushions. This "great room" area is well illuminated. All rooms are decorated with tasteful Guatemalan weavings and art. Guests have use of a clothes washer for one week stays or longer. A clothes line is conveniently located near the house for drying. The jewel of this home is the large porch with Adirondack chairs and a love seat that make it the ideal spot for morning coffee or tea, meals, reading, bird watching, taking in the view and just settling in to the quieter atmosphere of Santa Cruz. The garden is lush and abundant! You can walk among the many flower beds, raised vegetable beds and tropical trees. Or you can go up to the studio rooftop to take in more views of the lake, volcanos and after dark, the magnificent starry night. 90% of the home is powered by solar energy which is immensely convenient. When other residences are experiencing outages you will still have lights, refrigeration, internet etc. The Garden Oasis is conveniently located. It is an 8 minute walk to the main Santa Cruz public dock where you can find small cafes and tuk tuks that can take you up to the Pueblo. If you prefer to walk to the village it is a 12-15 minute hike uphill. There is also an 8 minute walk to the lake front and a quieter public dock. There is no charge for use of the Internet. I have found it very reliable for video conference calls, streaming and browsing. Note: You may experience short interruptions as the infrastructure is not at US or European standards. My Internet service provider is very responsive and customer-oriented. He is a text away if you are experiencing difficulties. Support for your stay: I have a handy person on call, a 4-day a week caretaker and an 'on the ground' co-host . My caretaker maintains the gardens and land and can help you carry heavy items. For $20 (Q150), my housekeeper can come weekly to freshen up the space. I am very grateful for these people who support me and my home. You will feel well cared for. Having said this, your privacy is a highest priority and all will respect this. I live in a quiet residential neighborhood and wish to attract guests who want more of a getaway retreat experience amidst the many adventures to partake in at the Lake (i.e., please no guests who are looking for a party house). Santa Cruz “nightlife” is available at a few lake side hotels, cafes and restaurants and are only an eight-minute walk away. Guests must observe 9pm-8am quiet hours (with no amplified music, loud talking or singing outside). If you decide that the Garden Oasis is the place you wish to reserve for part or all of your stay at the Lake, I welcome you! Guest access The entire cottage and garden is yours alone. I have a studio space that will be locked, but you are most welcome to enjoy the rooftop. Other things to note If you have mobility issues, coming to Santa Cruz in general could be difficult. I live on a cobblestone path and depending how you access my place there could be stairs. There is an incline whichever way you come. My property has some railings on the pathways and only a few stairs. Please no pets. Love gardening? For longer stays, you are welcome to work in my organic raised bed vegetable garden or tend the numerous flower gardens. Let me know of your interest and we can discuss! For stays of one month or longer, please read below for what is and is not included. What is included: -- All but $25 of the electricity, unlimited filtered water and solar hot water. -- My caretaker will take care of garbage, empty your compost bucket and is available to resolve any issues with the house. -- I will start you off with 2 rolls of toilet paper, shampoo and some basics for cooking to include up to one bag of coffee. What is not included: -- Internet $50 -- Electricity $25 -- Gas for stove and back up hot water $20 (typically during the sunny season there shouldn’t be a need for additional hot water, but it depends how long of showers you take). -- Extra paper supplies and other consumables.that you and your friend need. -- Payment made directly to my housekeeper to come weekly to clean for the first three weeks you are here. (3 hours for two women Q180 (approx. $23) a week.