How Hotel Gringo Perdido rebuilt a family legacy with Cloudbeds

Located within the Cerro Cahuí Biotope in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Gringo Perdido offers guests direct access to one of the largest rainforest ecosystems in Latin America, alongside more than 700 meters of private lakefront.

The experience is intentionally designed around wellness and connection with nature. Guests can enjoy activities like kayaking, yoga, hiking, and biking, while all stays include homemade meals prepared on-site.

The property also limits artificial lighting at night to preserve the natural environment, creating space for quiet, rest, and a deeper disconnection from daily stress. This approach is reinforced through sustainable practices such as biodigesters, waste separation and recycling, and responsible environmental management.

“We aim to offer a healthy lifestyle experience where guests can reconnect with nature and themselves,” explains Co-owner, Estuardo Cofiño Berger.

Gringo Perdido’s story begins in 1974, when an American zoo owner from Florida arrived in Guatemala’s Petén region looking for animals. When he arrived in the nearby village of El Remate, locals told him about a remote lakeside spot where wildlife gathered, so he crossed by boat, fell in love with the area, and decided to stay.

With no road access, electricity, or infrastructure, he built a small restaurant to support himself. Locals began calling him “El Gringo Perdido” (“The Lost Gringo”) and the name stuck.

In 1984, after a tropical storm and declining business led the founder to step away, the Cofiño family acquired the property. What started as a restaurant with a few bungalows gradually evolved into a hotel, remaining family-owned ever since.

Today, Gringo Perdido has 21 rooms, a team of around 30 employees, and has broken its sales record every year since 2021.

By 2017, the hotel was struggling. Operations were fully manual, infrastructure had aged, and the business had been running at a loss for years.

“I grew up here and felt deeply connected to the place,” Estuardo explains. “When my father considered selling, I decided to take over.”

At the time, reservations were managed entirely through Excel. Every booking, whether from WhatsApp, Booking.com, Expedia, or the website, had to be entered and updated manually.

This created constant friction: No real-time synchronization across channels, a high risk of errors and overbookings, and time-consuming, repetitive updates.

“It was slow and prone to mistakes,” reflects Estuardo. “Every change meant updating everything by hand.”

Looking to improve operations, Estuardo began the search for reliable hotel management software. Cloudbeds stood out for its ability to centralize operations in one platform.

“It offered everything we needed, managing OTAs, direct bookings, and inventory in a single system,” Estuardo explains. “It was also very user-friendly and easy to implement.”

Today, Cloudbeds sits at the center of Gringo Perdido’s tech stack, alongside tools like Poster POS and Pricepoint for dynamic pricing.

The impact was immediate: Reservations, inventory, and distribution managed from one platform; Less manual work and fewer errors; a smoother online booking experience for guests; and staff trained and confident on the system within a week

“Cloudbeds simplified our operations and allowed us to work much more efficiently.”

Since implementing Cloudbeds, the business has returned to profitability and continues to grow year over year. But for Estuardo, success goes beyond the numbers.

“It’s about seeing guests leave happy, reading great reviews, and seeing our family united around a project that now works.”

Gringo Perdido continues to evolve with a clear long-term vision. Plans include expanding from 21 to 24 rooms, replacing older structures with upgraded accommodations, and introducing new guest experiences focused on wellness and recreation. The team is also exploring a future boutique concept designed for higher-end travelers.

Growth remains intentional, focused on improving quality while preserving the essence of the property.

Asked whether he would recommend Cloudbeds, Estuardo responds, “If you feel stuck with a complicated or outdated system, switch. Cloudbeds simplifies operations, saves time, and removes many of the headaches of managing a hotel.”