A big gesture for a Living Lake: Luna y Sol's Dry Toilet

Lake Atitlán is the reason so many people make their way here: volcanoes mirrored in the water at sunrise, the villages that live around the lake, lazy afternoons on the dock. But behind that postcard is a reality that isn't always visible. The lake is fragile, and what we do on land ends up, sooner or later, in its waters.

Atitlán is a closed basin: no river drains it to the sea. Whatever enters the lake, stays in the lake. That includes wastewater from homes, hotels, and restaurants which, in many areas, arrives without proper treatment. This water carries nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as fertilizer for algae and cyanobacteria. In 2009, the lake experienced a massive cyanobacteria bloom that stained large areas of the water and raised alarms across the region. Since then, communities, scientists, and local organizations have been working to reduce pollution. Every business on the lakeshore shares part of that responsibility, and we take ours seriously.

What Is a Dry Toilet?

It's a toilet that uses no water. Instead of flushing, you cover what you leave behind with a drying material, like sawdust or ash. This absorbs moisture, prevents odors, and kicks off a natural decomposition process.

With time and proper care, what would otherwise be a pollutant becomes compost: organic matter that returns to the soil instead of ending up in the water.

How It Helps the Lake

• Zero sewage into the lake. No flushing means no wastewater seeping into the ground or reaching Atitlán.

• Fewer nutrients feeding the algae. Waste is processed on land, cutting off one of the sources of nitrogen and phosphorus that throw the lake off balance.

• Water saved. A conventional toilet uses several liters per flush. Multiply that by every guest, every day, all year long.

• A cycle that comes full circle. What comes from us goes back to nourish the earth, not to harm the water.

Using It Is Easy

You'll find instructions in every bathroom, but the essentials are simple: after using it and adding the paper into the dry toilet, add one or two scoops of drying material, close the lid, and you're done. Other products go in the designated bin, not in the toilet.

It might be new to you, but many of our guests tell us it's one of those small things that changes how they see their impact when they travel.

Our Commitment

At Luna y Sol, we believe living by the lake is a privilege that comes with a responsibility. Our dry toilet is just one part of how we try to leave this place as good as, or better than, we found it.

Because the Atitlán you see today is the same one we want future travelers to see too.

Thank you for being part of this.

Luna y Sol — Lake Atitlán