Izabal

How to get there

Puerto Barrios is located 297 km. from Guatemala City on the Atlantic Highway (CA-9). The turn-off for Río Dulce is found at the town of Ruidosa (km. 245), and the Río Dulce bridge is 30 km. north. To get to Esquipulas, take CA-9 from Guatemala City, turn south on CA-10 at the Río Hondo Junction (km. 135), and drive 88 km.

Izabal is the Caribbean destination in Guatemala. Its natural richness from tropical forests to white sand beaches while the cultural goes from archeological sites to living  cultures.

Lake Izabal

Lake Izabal (590 square kilometers) is the largest lake in the country. The lake has beautiful beaches, among which the most famous is Playa Dorada (golden beach), named after the color of its sand. As the large Polochic river empties its waters in lake Izabal, it forms a unique ecosystem made up of a series of swamps and flooded plains. In this zone the Bocas del Polochic wildife reserve offers great opportunities for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

El Estor

El Estor is a small village located on the northern shore of lake Izabal. Visitors enjoy beautiful landscapes  formed by the lake, the lakeside and the imposing Las Minas mountain range. El Estor is a great departure point for visiting several nearby attractions: Selempín biological station in Bocas Polochic, The hot springs in Finca Paraiso , the mysterious canyon at El Boquerón and the fresh water forest-covered Oscuro, Zarquito, and Zarco rivers are among them.

Rio Dulce

The enormous Río Dulce offers an unparalleled natural experience; while navigating on its beautiful waters one enjoys the  riverine forests and listens to the sounds of howler monkeys. The nice spots on the riverside include natural forests, bathing places, and hotels which offer an excellent service  in a unique natural environment. Several islands and islets a long  the river are the nesting grounds for thousands of aquatic birds which offer beautiful displays as they set flight and when they feed in large groups on the river waters. A section of the river is much wider, thus forming a 60 square kilometer water deposit, called El Golfete, which can be considered a river and a lake at the same time. The river is a prime destination for the lovers of aquatic sports.

Ak tenamit is a non profit organization which works on the Río Dulce. Handicrafts made with local products can be bought at the headquarters of Ak Tenamit, which is also a good place for Those who want to engage in volunteer work.

Amatique Bay

Amatique Bay is part of the larger Honduras Guld and it includes several interesting places. Puerto Barrios is the main city in Izabal and it is located inside the bay. Rives like Siete Altares and Las Escobas cross the forest and from a series of impressive natural pools before reaching the bay. Without a doubt the most outstanding trait of the bay is its beautiful white sand beaches; Punta Cocolí, Punta de Palma, La Graciosa, and Livingston. The English Channel is a beautiful shortcut for leaving Amatique Bay into the Caribbean Sea. Amarique Bay fosters some coral reefs that are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier System, the second longest coral reef in the world.

Quiriguá

Quiriguá is a archaeological site located near Los Amates, Izabal. The site reached is zenith during the Late Classic (600-1000 A.D.) Thanks to controlling the trade of obsidian and jadeire. Quiriguá boasts the largest concentration of monuments in the whole Maya area. Monuments include eleven of the largest stelae ever sculpted by the Maya (one of which is depicted on the 10 cent coin) and some animal shaped sculptures known as zoomorphs. Most of this monuments were erected during the reign of powerful Cahuac Sky.

San Felipe Castle

Recently restored, this wonderful historic legacy has several original structures of the fortress. The castle is like a miniature city. The main plaza with arch doors and windowns, stone walls, and tile roofs over corridors has an amazing Spanish environment. On one side of the plaza, the chapel still has its niches for the statues of the saints. On the wall behind the door one may still study the mechanism for raising and lowering the bridge. Several towers and lowering the bridge. Several towers offer great views of the Rio Dulce and the surroundings. Cannons, stone walls, tile roofs, palm trees, and river landscapes mark the essence of this magical place were time seems to have stopped. The castle was originally in order to prevent attacks from pirates, corsairs, and buccaneers to the ships of the "Río Dulce" to and away from the port located near the modern day towns of Mariscos and Izabal.

Livingston and the Garifuna

Livingston is located on the outlet of the Río Dulce to the Caribbean Sea on a spot known by the local Garifuna as "labuga" (the mouth). Livingston has beautiful beaches, Caribbean architecture, and the special ambiance of the Garifuna. The Garifuna descend from a mixture of American indians who lived the Caribbean islands and blacks who arrived to American as slaves but then managed to escape and became free. Around 1797 the Garifuna were ousted by the British from the islands around Saint Vicent and were moved to the Bay Islands near the coast of Honduras. From there the Garifuna moved into the mainland and extended through the Caribbean coast where they worked on "tinto" tree and mahogany. The Garifuna of Livingston share the land with the Q'eqch', but they have marked the town with their culture. All parties and festivities include singing, dancing, and drum beating. Garifuna influence is most evident in the food. Most of the dishes include coconut milk or coconut oil as a main ingredient; such is the case of: coconut bread, tapado (seafood and plantains in a heavy broth), rice and beans, and sweets made of coconut and pineapple pieces Yucca is used in the preparation of "casabe" cookies and several drinks.

Puerto Barrios

Puerto Barrios is a strategic spot in Amatique Bay, Boats take tourists from "Barrios" to many favorite destinations such as Livingston, Punta Gorda and the Cayes in Belize, and the famous beaches of Punta Manabique and Punta de Palma. The city is also an important link for tourists in route to Honduras. Both the port and the city were built in the beginning of the 20th Century by the United Fruit Co. Fruits were taken to the port by train and then shipped to ports in the USA. In present day the port in Puerto Barrios is operated by a private company while a larger and more efficient facility operates in nearby Santo Tomás de Castilla. Due to intense maritime traffic, one of the favorite activities of visitors is to watch the port operations and the constants coming and going of container and cruise ships. Architecture is among the main attractions of the city: beautiful wooden houses decorated with Caribbean colors and motifs reminiscent of old times. A sculpture named "El Muñecón" honors the workers of the banana operations in this region.  Some of the Tarzan movies, starring the famous Johnny Weismuller, were filmed in forests near Puerto Barrios and the productions of these movies are an important part of the city's history. Puerto Barrios offers a great opportunity to enjoy the calm sea of the Bay, while being refreshed by the breeze. Local restaurants have a well deserved reputation for their seafood recipes and wide variety  of drinks. The local market is also widely known for the large quantities and varieties of seafood available, as well as a good supply of imported goods such as cheese, vitamins, candy, and perfumes. Balneario Las Escobas with its refreshing turquoise colored waters is located near the city. For those who don't have enough with daytime activities, Puerto Barrios offers a lively nightlife in its bars and discotheques.