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Guatemala: A Beach Lover’s Paradise

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montericoGuatemala is a beach lover’s paradise given the country is fortunate enough to be bounded by both the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful, exotic palm-lined beaches covered with white sand on the Caribbean coast or black sand (from volcanic activity) along the Pacific coast. No matter which beach you choose, you’ll find that the beaches in Guatemala are rarely crowded. The Pacific beaches are great for surfing but they have a strong undertow, so try not to go too far from the shoreline.

Beaches on the Caribbean coast

The beaches near Livingston, which lies between the rainforest and the Caribbean, are remote and clean, largely because they’re best accessed by boat. Playa Blanca, with its white sand-filled beaches, is nearby and you’ll be able to enjoy the gorgeous blue Caribbean Sea, beautiful palm trees and serenity on this beautiful beach. Punta de Manabique is a hidden paradise that features a coastal marine wetland, coconut palm trees, crystal clear water and excellent birding. Punta de Palma is a small beach located about 10 minutes by boat from Puerto Barrios. Though the beach is definitely off the beaten path, it still manages to have some refreshment stands and is worth a 1/2-day visit.

Beaches on the Pacific coast

Monterrico (pictured) is the country’s most popular beach and plenty of hotels and restaurants dot the shoreline. The current is strong and the sand is black from volcanic activity. You can easily reach this beach by bus from Guatemala City and Antigua. The nearby beach at Puerto San Jose is great for sailfishing and surfing.

If you’re interested in a secluded beach close to Mexico, you’ll find one near La Playa Tilapa, a small fishing village, which is located in the southwest corner of Guatemala just 10 miles south of the Mexican border. And if you want to enjoy a virtually deserted beach, take a quick 10-minute boat ride from La Playa Tilapa to Tilapita, which also has a amall turtle hatchery run by local Don Guillermo Mata. The turtle-hatching season runs from June to October, when olive ridley sea turtles are in abundance.

The beach at the port city of Champerico is a popular vacation spot for Guatemalans and it has a huge wooden pier that was built in the 1800s. Several ranchitos (small beach restaurants with palm-roof decks) line the beach and the surf is excellent. The best way to get to the beach is by car, but you can also take a bus from Guatemala City to Retahuleu and be sure to say “Champe!” to your bus driver to ensure that you’re on the bus that goes all the way to Puerto Champerico. The bus trip takes five hours but the beach is well worth the long ride.


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