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The Ultimate Guide to Rio Dulce, Guatemala

If you think of paradise on earth, then Rio Dulce, Guatemala comes close. It is the essence of the Mayan Caribbean: lush nature, warm weather and welcoming people. In this post you will find the ultimate guide to Rio Dulce: how to get there, things to do, transportation, tours, tips and prices.

Rio Dulce is a national park with a variety of aquatic ecosystems. The whole area constitutes a habitat for crocodiles, manatees, marine birds such as white herons, the “pato coche” (“pig duck” – explained below), shearwaters and more. The river flows for 43 km (27 mi) from the Rio Dulce bridge to the river mouth on the Caribbean Sea through the impressive canyon. In Río Dulce you find small islands, mangroves, Mayan communities settled on the shore, ecological hotels and gardens on the water.

Table of Contents

Where Rio Dulce is located and how to get there

Location of rio dulce.

Río Dulce is located 325 km (202 mi) from Antigua Guatemala, 285 km (177 mi) from Guatemala City and 207 km (129 mi) from the island of Flores in Peten.

Some websites and maps refer to the town of Rio Dulce as Fronteras – which is correct -, but this name is rarely used for this area. If you ask locals about the location, call it Rio Dulce or El Puente de Rio Dulce. This way you will avoid confusion because there are other towns that are also called Fronteras.

How to get to Rio Dulce from Guatemala City or Antigua Guatemala

The road to Río Dulce is in good condition. Here are the three safest options to get to Rio Dulce from Guatemala City or Antigua, Guatemala:

The roads leading to Rio Dulce are perfectly accessible with city cars. An off-road car is not necessary. From Antigua Guatemala you take the CA-1 and RN-10 highways that lead to Guatemala City. Follow the route drawn on the map below. There is no route that avoids the capital.

From Guatemala City it is 285 km (177 mi) to Rio Dulce. Due to heavy traffic, this will take 7 to 8 hours.

I suggest you leave early in the morning, starting at 7:00 AM with a full tank of gas. In any case, you will have several gas stations along the route. For safety reasons I recommend the following brands: Don Arturo, Puma, Shell, Texaco and Uno gas stations. At other gas stations robberies and overcharging scams can occur.

On the way you can visit the Mayan Ruins of Quirigua . It is an excellent stop near Rio Dulce, just a few minutes’ drive off the main road.

Litegua is the bus company that has coach buses from Guatemala City to Rio Dulce. Buses depart daily at: 5:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm from the bus terminal in Guatemala City. One-way tickets cost up to 125 GTQ (16 USD). Book your trip at least 48 hours in advance because occupancy is usually high, especially on weekends.

The trip can take up to 9 hours, because the bus makes several stops. So, it is best to take the first bus in the morning. The bus terminal in Guatemala City is in an unsafe area of the Historic Center. So, to get there, take an Uber or a cab organized by your hotel.

There are no direct coach buses from Antigua to Rio Dulce. Your best option is to take a shuttle. It is more expensive to get to the coach bus station in Guatemala City from Antigua by Uber, the safest way, and take the bus to Rio Dulce from there.

You will find a sufficient number of tour-operators in Antigua and Guatemala City that provide shuttles to Rio Dulce. GuateGo is a website showing the available reliable shuttle services. There you can book your ticket.

How to get to Rio Dulce from Peten

It is a 207 km (129 mi) road in good condition. The CA13 will take you directly from the town of Santa Elena in Peten to the main street of Río Dulce. You will find several gas stations along the way. Again, for safety reasons, I recommend the ones I mentioned above: Don Arturo, Puma, Shell, Texaco, and Uno.

If you drive to Río Dulce, chose a hotel that includes parking or ask at your hotel for secure parking. The rate is around 75 GTQ (9 USD) per day/night.

By bus or by shuttle

To get to Rio Dulce from Peten by bus or shuttle I suggest you book online in advance. Use GuateGo to make a reservation with either of the two main coach bus companies: Maya de Oro and Fuentes del Norte. For the shuttle service you can book the transfers coordinated by Rio Dulce Travel on this same website. The departure times of the transfers are normally in the morning and the trip will take approximately 4 hours.

Where to stay in Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Rio Dulce National Park offers a variety of accommodations. You can choose from a wide range of hotels and lodges, including eco-lodges and cabins. Whatever type of accommodation you choose, you will be sure to enjoy the stunning views of the river and its surrounding forest. Click here to read my selection of the 5 best hotels in the area.

What to do in Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Manatee sighting.

Manatees, or sea cows, are endangered mammals that inhabit shallow, slow-moving waters from Florida in the USA to southern Brazil. They resemble seals, and can grow up to 3 meters in length, and have broad snouts. They feed on plants and fish caught in fishing nets. The change in fresh and salt water composition gives rise to a wide variety of plants available to the manatees. Therefore, Rio Dulce is one of the few places where these animals can be seen.

To see the manatees, visit the Chocon Machacas Protected Biotope that was created for the protection of these rare mammals. Make sure to be there at 6:00 am. At this time, there is little boat traffic and the manatees come to the surface. There are two options to get to the biotope:

• Take a tour through a local agency ( Happy Fish Travel or Rio Dulce Travel ).
• Hire a boat taxi through your hotel.

Touring El Golfete and the Rio Dulce Canyon

The Golfete is the widest part (200 m / 650 ft) of the river, which you will pass after 10 km (6 mi) by boat from Rio Dulce. Immediately afterwards you enter the canyon. The river becomes narrow, with walls up to 150 m (500 ft) high. Lush nature surrounds you the whole way.

This tour is organized by tour-operators every day. Another option is to book it at the reception of your hotel. Taking this tour, you can also visit the town of Livingston, which is very close to the river mouth on the Caribbean. Livingston is well worth a visit for a couple of days .

The boat ride takes about an hour and a half. It stops at the following points:

• Isla de los Pajaros: This small island is densely vegetated and forms and idyllic wetland. The island is home to a local species of duck, which the Guatemalans refers to as “ pato coche ” (“pig duck”) due to its sound resembling that of a pig. The captain will stop near the island so that you can see and hear them.
• Aguas calientes: This is a stop at a small restaurant. Next to this restaurant there are hot springs where you can take a bath. This part of the river is no more than 1 m (3 ft) deep. Heere you can also explore two natural caves with pools of hot water inside. The entrance fee is 15 GTQ (2 USD).
• Water flower garden: In this garden on water, lotus flowers and lilies create a unique and beautiful landscape, with small Mayan cabins on the shore in the background.

Visiting the Castle of San Felipe de Lara

It is located right at the river mouth of Lake Izabal with Rio Dulce. From its towers it offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding areas.

This castle was built in the 17th century by the Spaniards as a fortress against pirates and British soldiers. Later it served as a prison and finally as a customs house. The castle has undergone two major reconstructions: the first in 1688 after it was partly burned and destroyed in pirate attacks; and the second in 1955 at the beginning of its life as a tourist/historical destination. For historical accuracy, Francisco Ferrus Roig, the architect in charge of the last restoration, resorted to the original drawings in the General Archive of the Indies in Spain. As a result, it is now in good condition.

It is a small castle, yet its internal structure looks like a labyrinth. Every time you enter a hallway, you find yourself in an unexpected part of the castle. Of the places to visit in Rio Dulce this is a must for those interested in its history. I recommend arriving mid-morning and taking the tour with a guide that can be hired at the entrance.

Around the castle there are trails, beaches, grills and a cemetery with a very local touch.

The entrance fee is 75 GTQ (9 USD).

How to get to Castle of San Felipe de Lara

There are three ways to get to the Castle of San Felipe de Lara:

From your hotel you can arrange a boat transfer. It is around 100 GTQ (12.50 USD) one way per person. This is the fastest and most direct option, however it is not the cheapest.

You can take a microbus colectivo from the main street of the town heading towards San Felipe de Lara (junction with National Route 7E ). When you get on the bus, tell the driver that you are going to the Castillo San Felipe and ask him to drop you off at the bus stop near the entrance. The one-way trip is 5 GTQ (0.60 USD) per person. The entrance to the castle area is about 80 meters (260 feet) from the stop. There are signs, so you can’t get lost.

The most comfortable option is by car. Take the road to San Felipe de Lara from the center of Rio Dulce and you get there in 15 minutes or less. The castle is signposted and the road is in good condition. Park your car in the private parking lot next to the main entrance. The parking fee is 20 GTQ (2.50 USD) no matter how long you stay.

Visiting Finca El Paraiso waterfall

The Finca El Paraiso waterfall in Guatemala is a breathtaking sight. This spectacular waterfall of more than 12 meters (40 feet) is situated in a lush tropical rainforest. Click here for more information and how to get there.

Visting the El Boqueron canyon

The El Boqueron canyon is one of Guatemala’s natural wonders. It is a deep canyon with towering walls on either side, filled with lush vegetation. It provides a home to a wide variety of wildlife. El Boqueron is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Guatemala. Click here for more information and how to get there.

Hiking in Hacienda Tijax

Hacienda Tijax is a hotel with a truly unique setting. Its rooms overlook the Rio Dulce wetlands. Exploring the hotel’s facilities – including the pool, restaurant, rooms and common areas – is done by walking along the connecting piers. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a crocodile passing by! However, a notice warns guests not to feed them.

Staying at Tijax you can also book a hiking tour. This hike takes you to hanging bridges, rubber plantations, waterfalls, an insect museum and the Torre del Shaman (“Shaman Tower”) with a great panoramic view of the river. The hike is easy and the trails are not steep. However, they can be slippery due to the humidity of the area. It will take 45 minutes to complete.

To access this hike, you pay 80 GTQ (10 USD) at the hotel reception. A good option is to take the tour because the guide explains the route and the history of the site. You can also go horseback riding through the surrounding area and go kayaking on the river and the lake. This way you can even visit the castle of San Felipe de Lara.

How to get to Hacienda Tijax

From the Rio Dulce Bridge (CA13) , it is 2 km (1.2 mi) until you find the sign for kilometer 276 on your right. Turn right, then a bit later there is a fork, take the road to the right. After 50 meters (160 feet), you will arrive at the main entrance then follow the dirt road for 10 minutes approximately to get to the hotel parking lot.

Contact the Tijax reception via WhatsApp or phone call (+502 3732 8104). Arrange with them to pick you up at the main dock in Rio Dulce.

Zip line in Rio Dulce

Among the places to visit in Rio Dulce, Tenamit Maya Hotel and Adventure Park is the perfect spot for adventurers. There you can take on acrobatic challenges in the jungle, such as a circuit of 10 zip lines over the jungle and a river, kayaking, a dip in the hot springs, and climbing bridges and hanging stairs between the trees. The price for these activities is approximately 150 GTQ (19 USD), although it may vary depending on the season and the number of activities you choose to include in your challenge package.

How to get to Tenamit Maya

The best way to get to Tenamit Maya is by contacting Tenamit’s administration . Arrange for them to pick you up from the main dock in Rio Dulce. You can also take a taxi boat, but that is much more expensive.

The weather in Rio Dulce, Guatemala

The temperatures in Rio Dulce range from 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F) and humidity is high. The best time to visit Rio Dulce is from the end of February to the end of June, as rainfall is scarce, so you can enjoy the sights without any interruption.

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Rio Dulce Guatemala

Map & expenses

Similar trips

Rio Dulce is the striking entrance to the Guatemalan Caribbean and the connection between Lake Izabal and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its essential role as a biological corridor and the extensive biodiversity it protects, it has been declared a National Park.

The banks of this river are a spectacular landscape of exuberant tropical forests, ideal for bird-watching and kayaking tours. All of this incredible natural beauty is a taste of what you will find when reaching Livingston, the colorful home of the Garifunas.

Great Canyon

Boat excursions

Playa Blanca

-Swim in the dazzling waterfall and hot springs of Finca Paraiso. -Visit the San Felipe castle, known for its eras of pirate battles and worthy of any adventure film. -Join the adventure of discovering the excellent Rio Dulce by boat or kayak. -Live the Caribbean vibe in Livingston -Appreciate the impressive stelae in the Mayan Ruins of Quirigua. -Travel in time to experience colonial art and Mayan History in Guatemala City.

Upon your arrival in Guatemala City, one of our representatives will meet you outside the airport and take you to your hotel.

If your flight arrives early, you’ll have a city tour. Guatemala City is a contemporary and cultured city. It is the ideal city for organizing conferences and conventions, visiting museums, doing medical check-ups, and visiting craft markets, among other activities.

The Historical Center is more than 200 years old, and its churches, museums, and symbolic buildings are a great sample of the historical transformation of Guatemala. Entertainment and distraction sites are also available in Guatemala City; for example, the ‘Live Zone,’ where its select hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs raise the city.

This escorted tour of Guatemala City will guide you through a wealth of information, artifacts, sites, and cultural pieces throughout the city. You will enjoy visiting six of the most history-packed places in the capital city of Guatemala.

Throughout the tour, you will visit the Ixchel Museum of the Mayan Costume, Popol Vuh Museum, National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and Relief Map.

Today, early in the morning, we’ll take you to Rio Dulce and continue for 45 minutes more until we reach Finca Paraiso (Paradise Farm). A large farm located in Lake Izabal. Here you will find a river of hot springs and a giant waterfall. It is a unique waterfall and one of Guatemala’s hidden gems. It has a river of cool water running through the jungle, stopped at a point by a twelve-meter-tall waterfall that has the temperature of an excellent steam-inducing shower.

Standing underneath the waterfall gives your shoulders and back a regular hot-water massage while swimming away from it just a meter or two allows your muscles instant cooling relief. Above the waterfall, there are natural hot springs and caves surrounding it, and it is such a paradisiacal place.

Later, we’ll drive back to Rio Dulce, where you’ll take a boat to your hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll go by boat to the Castle of San Felipe de Lara. Enjoy the scenery until you reach the mouth of the biggest Lake in the country, Lake Izabal. The boats will surround the castle, giving you the best view from all angles. Admire it in all its splendor and be able to take the best photographs.

During the tour, guides will briefly explain how the fort worked in ancient times and the purpose of each environment. Enter its towers and balconies, passing through the entire defense. See the area used as artillery, the war cannons with which the fort faced pirates. Also, visit the site used as a dungeon to hold the captured.

It will undoubtedly remind you of the Medieval Era when you spot it in the distance. It’s a stone fortress that links Lake Izabal with Rio Dulce. Since it is located precisely at the mouth of both, it provides stunning views.

Afterward, we’ll continue by boat to El Golfete, a long narrow lake at sea level and linked by the Rio Dulce draining to the Bay of Amatique in the Caribbean Ocean. Here, you’ll have the option to continue by kayak.

You’ll start exploring the Biotopo Chocon Machacas, a natural manatee reserve. One of the last nests of the Caribbean Manatee is in this reserve. The preserve is full of exotic birds, streams of water, and wildlife. Kayaking through this nature preserve is a remarkable experience.

Afterward, we’ll stop at natural hot springs for a healthy mineral bath. Then, you’ll go through the small river Tatin until you arrive at the dock of your eco-lodge, which is in the middle of an abundant jungle.

Today, you’ll go from Rio Dulce to the Caribbean Sea. We’ll go to the river between an incredible canyon (for those adventure-lovers, you can make this journey by kayak) This canyon gives a spectacular view of beauty exclusive to its many exotic birds and tropical vegetation. The steep canyon’s walls of limestone rock with dense flora make the expedition -by boat or kayak- a real adventure. The canyon is the most breathtaking spot on the river.

Once we reach the Caribbean, we’ll find the charming town of Livingston. Livingston is one of the most secluded towns in Guatemala; there are no roads connecting this town with anything else in the country. To get to Livingston, one must take a boat or a kayak like we’ll do today, which is part of the attraction.

You can see the appeal of Livingston in its cultural heritage and Caribbean warmth. You’ll need a brief walk through the streets of Livingston to recognize this town’s multiple cultures – Garifunas, Mayas, Latinos, and foreigners.

Today, you’ll have a boat excursion to the waterfalls of Siete Altares (Seven Altars) and Playa Blanca. Siete Altares has seven freshwater waterfalls and pools in the middle of dense rainforests. These waterfalls are notably enjoyable during the rainy season, May to October.

Afterward, we’ll go to Playa Blanca, an idyllic white-sand beach. It is a beach off-the-beaten path with no permanent restaurants or hotels. It is a place to relax and escape from everything, and you’ll have enough time to rest and relax.

Today, we’ll take a boat through Rio Dulce. You’ll have one more boat ride to enjoy the magnificent views of this river and its rainforest. Then we’ll drive to the Mayan ruins of Quirigua. This archaeological park safeguards the majestic remains of what once was a powerful Mayan city. It has the highest and best-conserved stelae in the Mayan region, well known for its exquisite carvings.

Later, we’ll drive back to Guatemala City.

Today, you’ll return to the international airport for your flight home.

map, expenses & price

Expenses included: -All private transportation. -Six nights of hotel accommodations. -Boat transfers. -Tours and excursions as listed. -All park entrance fees. -Professional local guides. -Daily breakfast.

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The Ultimate Rio Dulce, Guatemala Visitor’s Guide

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The Dulce River, or “Sweet” River, is one of the most overlooked places to visit in Guatemala.

Popular Guatemala attractions such as the colonial city of Antigua and the ancient ruins of Tikal get plenty of international press. But the Rio Dulce is one of the lesser explored natural wonders you’ll find scattered about this culturally rich and historically maligned country.

In truth, Guatemala is a fantastic destination for budget-conscious backpackers, high-end ecotourism enthusiasts, or just about anyone seeking unique adventures and an interesting change of pace.

The Central American hotspot can put you atop an active volcano, in the depths of the jungle scaling ancient pyramids, or– when visiting Rio Dulce– exploring the country’s  Caribbean coastline.

Measuring just 27 miles long, the Dulce River is fairly short. It stretches between Guatemala’s largest lake, Lago Izabal, and the Caribbean Sea, passing through towns like Fronteras and Livingston along the way. 

Though petite, the Rio Dulce is a big-time biological marvel, with a diversity of flora and fauna rivaling any other place outside of the Amazon River . It’s also home to several distinct cultures, including multiple indigenous Mayan tribes and the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna people.

READ MORE: 40 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to  Guatemala

Rio Dulce, Guatemala Contents

• Volunteer with Casa Guatemala
• Visit Castillo de San Felipe
• Swim at Finca El Paraiso Hot Springs
• Boating on Lago de Izabal
• Hiking the Mayan Ruins at Quiriguá
• Take a Rio Dulce National Park Boat Tour

Rio Dulce Hotels

Exploring the towns along the rio dulce, how to get to fronteras, guatemala, fronteras hotels, visiting livingston, guatemala, how to get to livingston, things to do in livingston, livingston hotels.

6 Things to Do in Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Of Guatemala’s three UNESCO Sites , one is located just down the road from Rio Dulce.

The sweet river is also home to environmentally detrimental banana, rubber, and palm oil plantations . Yet somehow it contains unimaginably rich swaths of wilderness and waterways.

They are Monkeys in the trees, and Manatees  in the seas. There’s a colonial fort. There are riverside restaurants. In short, there are plenty of things to do in Rio Dulce.

1. Volunteer with Casa Guatemala

Casa Guatemala has been working on behalf of indigenous children from the villages around Rio Dulce for decades now, since 1987.

Casa Guatemala provides health care, education, nutrition, love, and homes for at-risk children with no parents (or families that can’t afford to take care of them).

Tours and volunteer opportunities can be arranged at Backpacker’s Hostel , a non-profit hotel/ restaurant on the south side of the bridge in Las Fronteras.

Casa Guatemala can only be reached by boat.

READ MORE: The Top 15 Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala

2. Visit Castillo de San Felipe

At the entrance of Lake Izabal, the narrowest point of the Rio Dulce, you’ll find Castillo de San Felipe (Guatemala, not to be confused with the more famous one in Cartagena, Colombia ).

This old Spanish fort that was once used to protect the town and lake from pirates. 

One of the towers here has remained intact since 1604, but the fort itself has been destroyed on more than one occasion. Several other towers were added in the 17th century. Then, in 1797, more additions were engineered.

In 1999, el Castillo was damaged by an earthquake. The fort is currently on UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites .

READ MORE: 12 Odd Intangible Cultural Practices UNESCO Protects

3. Swim at Finca El Paraiso Hot Springs

After a ride that sweeps visitors past huge expanses of banana plantations, Finca El Paraiso has an amazing hot springs waterfall that feeds into a cool mountain stream.

For just a few bucks, visitors are allowed to swim, take mud baths, and relax in the hot springs. It’s a simple morning or afternoon trip from town and back, but it’s well worth the time.

Getting here is a great adventure, and the blend of rusticity and comfort of semi-organization make the falls itself feel the same.

READ MORE:  20 of the World’s Biggest Waterfalls (By  Continent)

4. Boating on Lago de Izabal

Measuring approximately 30 miles long and 15 miles wide, Lake Izabal is the largest in Guatemala.

Also known as the Golfo Dulce , the lake is about 60 feet at its deepest, and only 3 feet above sea level. Its coastlines are dotted with thatch-roofed restaurants and hotels, as well as Mayan villages.

Lago de Izabal (as it’s known by locals) offers plenty of water-based recreation activities, including boating, kayaking , jet skiing, swimming, and fishing .

There’s also lots of wildlife here, such as Manatees, Howler Monkeys, and 100+ species of birds .

READ MORE:  The 20 Largest Lakes in the World (By Continent)

5. Hiking the Mayan Ruins at Quiriguá

The most overlooked of Guatemala’s UNESCO sites, Quiriguá is a collection of ancient Mayan ruins in an area believed to have been occupied as early as 400 BC.

While Tikal may be best known for its towering pyramids, Quiriguá is renowned amongst all Mayan sites for its abundance of stelas and statues.

As you can see in the photo above, the intricacy with which these monuments are carved is truly astounding.

With its proximity to the Motagua River, Quiriguá was ideally situated for controlling the trade of jade and cacao from the Guatemalan highlands.

READ MORE:  The 16 Best Mayan Ruins to Explore

6. Take a Rio Dulce National Park Boat Tour

Much of what’s happening in this area requires taking a boat tour. The Rio Dulce National Park boat tour involves swimming, visiting the park (including Castillo de San Felipe), and shopping for artisan goods.

The more impressive boat ride is the lancha (a kind of taxi boat) from Las Fronteras to Livingston, which traverses the entirety of the Rio Dulce proper. 

The river cuts through throngs of lush tropical forests as well as deep limestone canyon walls, which are often lined with Pelicans and various other water birds.

READ MORE:  The World’s Best Small Ship Cruises

So if you ask locals about “ hoteles en Rio Dulce ,” they’ll more than likely refer you to a place in Fronteras de Guatemala.

There are plenty of accommodations along the river in this vicinity, and we’ll discuss those in the Fronteras section below.

READ MORE: The World’s Longest Rivers

For the most part, the Rio Dulce is bordered by indigenous villages and the occasional rustic guesthouse.

At the inland end of the river is the town of Fronteras, which is often referred to simply as Rio Dulce. At the Caribbean end is the town of Livingston.

While neither of these towns are showstoppers in and of themselves, they are the jumping off points for lots of things to do along the river.

From Antigua, there is no direct bus or shuttle to Fronteras. But there are plenty of shuttle-to-coach combinations.

The best choice in my opinion is Litegua , which offers its own Fronteras bus shuttle (rather than a tour company’s) and coordinates the timing appropriately. It’s also the cheapest option.

Despite what some tour operators told me, the trip always involves a shuttle and bus from Guatemala City.

From Tikal, there are any number of buses leaving Flores (the main spot for accommodation when visiting Tikal National Park) that will drop passengers off in Rio Dulce/Fronteras. It’s the halfway point between Tikal and Guatemala City, so basically all routes go through the tiny town.

READ MORE: The Chicken Bus, Guatemala’s Unusual Mode of Transportation

Things to Do in Fronteras

There is plenty to do around Fronteras, much of which we’ve discussed above. But the town itself more or less consists of just two streets, one of which you’ll have seen on the ride in.

The other offers not much more than a few restaurants, with the road eventually disappearing into the jungle and skirting the north side of Lago de Izabal .

That said, there is a quaint little market to visit in town. And there are some nice riverside restaurants, in particular the Sundog Café and Hotel Backpackers.

Food and seating at both places are notably good, though not necessarily traditional. Hotel Backpackers requires either a walk or tuk-tuk ride across the bridge, which provides amazing views of the river and lake.

READ MORE: 50 Fascinating Facts About Guatemalan Culture

Most of the worthwhile hotels in Fronteras are actually just outside of the town, along the Rio Dulce tributaries and coastline. But most of them will usually come pick you up in a boat for free from either the Sundog Café or Hotel Backpackers.

This laid-back hotel offers charming over-water bungalows, ranging in size from 4-person mixed dorms to deluxe suites and a holiday home big enough for families. There’s also a free shuttle service, full bar, and watersports such as sailing and paddle boarding. All at surprisingly affordable prices!

Check Prices at Booking.com

Located close to Lake Izabal and Castillo de San Felipe, this lovely little eco lodge offers one 8-bed dorm and various double rooms (all with shared bathrooms). The on-site restaurant/bar gets rave reviews, and there’s free WiFi, private parking, a private beach, and water sports facilities.

One of the nicer properties in the budget-friendly Rio Dulce/Izabal area, this relaxing retreat is right on the water, surrounded by forest. They have 6-bed hostel-style rooms as well as couples-friendly doubles, all with free wi-fi, shuttle service to Fronteras, and kayaks to explore the surrounding swamps. 

One of Booking.com’s top picks in Fronteras, this hotel sits on the Tortugal peninsula, which offers cool breezes and killer Rio Dulce views. Rooms range from charming bungalows and cottages to a 5-bedroom chalet that sleeps nine. Our favorite feature is the floating sun deck on the river with cozy loungers.

Livingston is on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, where the Rio Dulce feeds into the sea. It’s unique to the rest of the country because English is widely spoken here.

Instead of Mayan, the most prominent culture in the town is Garifuna— which feels a bit like Rastafari due to its Afro-Caribbean origins, but is really its own unique thing.

To get to Livingston, one has to be going to Livingston, because it isn’t actually accessible by road. There are three main routes in:

• From Las Fronteras de Guatemala : From the dock under the bridge in Las Fronteras, there are a couple of boats a day that go to Livingston. The trip takes about an hour. Buses to Las Fronteras are regular from either Guatemala City or Flores.
• From Puerto Barrios : Puerto Barrios is the main port city on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala. To be blunt, it’s not particularly attractive, and is little more than a through station for getting to Livingston or Belize . Buses to Puerto Barrios leave regularly from Guatemala City, or it’s possible to get a collective from Las Fronteras. From Puerto Barrios, the boat ride is about 45 minutes.
• From Punta Gorda, Belize : For those coming to Guatemala from southern Belize , this is the fastest way to get to Guatemala. The road route goes all the way back up north to Tikal, and takes something like 12 hours. The boat from Punta Gorda (about 45 minutes) stops in Livingston and continues on to Puerto Barrios.

READ MORE: Scuba Diving the Belize Barrier Reef

The main draw of travel to Livingston, Guatemala is the unique Garifuna culture there.

The Garifuna people live in a few settlements along the Caribbean coasts of Belize, Guatemala , Honduras, and Nicaragua . Some Garifuna still live in the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where they originated. But poor relations with the Colonial British led most of them to leave.

Garifuna history is rooted in slavery. They are a mixed-race people descended from Africans and indigenous Caribs. In the 1600s, the Caribs successfully resisted working as laborers for French sugar and cacao plantations, which prompted the import of slaves from sub-Saharan Africa.

The Caribs (a.k.a. the Kalinago ) and Africans meshed to make the Garifuna. Over the next couple of centuries, the Garifuna and French/British battled until the Garifuna were eventually exiled from St. Vincent. They ultimately settled along the coasts of Spanish colonies in Central America. 

Within this unique Caribbean culture, music and dance are very important. The heart of Garifuna music is the drum, which is made from hollowed out hardwood and animal skin.

Starting in the 1970s, string and electric instruments were introduced in pop versions of the music, called Punta Rock. However, in recent years there has been a notable resurgence of traditional Garifuna music, especially in Belize.

The Garifuna have a close relationship with cassava, with the “Garifuna” name being derived from “Karifuna,” which translates to cassava-eating people. Garifuna women take the cassava root through a lengthy process to create delicious cassava bread, which is commonly eaten with fish, plantains, and/or gravy. There are plenty of opportunities to try this traditional cuisine in Livingston.

Also of note for the Livingston must-see list is the Seven Alters. Located 3 miles (or a short boat ride) outside of town, the Seven Alters is a series of pools and waterfalls surrounded by jungle.

Though not nearly as grand, they are suggestive of Semuc Champey , another of Guatemala’s amazing natural wonders.

READ MORE: The Garifuna Collective Preserves the Rich Garifuna Culture

As with Las Fronteras, the best Livingston hotels and lodges aren’t actually located in the tiny town, but along the Rio Dulce. Most of these accommodations will come and pick you up in Livingston. 

CASA NOSTRA

Offering double, triple, and family rooms with balconies, this family-run Livingston hotel offers excellent staff and stunning sunrise views over Lake Izabal from the sun terrace. There’s also a restaurant/lounge, garden, free Wifi, full breakfast, and activities such as hiking, cycling, and canoeing available. 

HOTEL CASA MAYA 

Booking.com’s highest-rated hotel in Livingston (9.8), this hidden gem is owned by a Mayan family that goes out of its way to make guests feel welcome. Their charming bungalows are surrounded by the serenity of Rio Dulce’s natural beauty, with excellent food and gorgeous views of the river.

HOTEL LA CASA ROSADA

The second-highest-rated hotel in the area on Booking.com (9.1), Casa Escondida is one of the few hotels in the area offering air conditioning and private bathrooms in every twin, double, or deluxe room. The hotel also offers free WiFi, an outdoor swimming pool, and a restaurant on site. 

V ILLA CARIBE

Boasting balconies that offer views of Izabal Lake and the Caribbean Sea, this Livingston hotel makes the most of its excellent location. Its spacious rooms feature Caribbean decor and ceiling fans, and the outdoor swimming pool is refreshing on hot days. There’s also a private beach, restaurant and café/bar on site.

Traveling to Rio Dulce, Guatemala?

Check out the following services we use!

DollarFlightClub or  Airfarewatchdog  to find a cheap plane tickets.

Booking.com or Agoda to find a hotel deals.

Viator for a stellar day tour around Rio Dulce. 

Lonely Planet for Travel Guides. 

World Nomads for Travel Insurance.

Rental Cars.com for affordable Car Rentals.

TrustedHousesitters we’ve found great pet sitters to watch our house and love on our two dogs!

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 –by Jonathon Engels & Bret Love; lead image by guillenperez via CC BY-ND 2.0 

About the Author

The financially unfortunate combination of travel enthusiast, freelance writer, and vegan gardener, Jonathon Engels whittled and whistled himself into a life that gives him cause to continually scribble about it. He has lived as an expat for over a decade, worked in nearly a dozen countries, and visited dozens of others in the meantime, subjecting the planet to a fiery mix of permaculture, music, and plant-based cooking. More of his work can be found at Jonathon Engels: A Life About.

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From Rio Dulce to Livingston | a beautiful boat trip to Caribbean Guatemala!

One of Central America’s most beautiful boat trips is a tour on the Rio Dulce to Livingston Guatemala! A trip of 1.5 to 2 hours takes you from the town of Rio Dulce, through a natural reserve with an incredible amount of birds, water lilies, mangroves, steep rock walls and pelicans, to the Caribbean coast of Guatemala: Livingston. In Caribbean Livingston you will encounter a completely different side of Guatemala! In this article I’m telling you more about this beautiful trip, including things to do in Livingston and Rio Dulc e Guatemala .

Try the local specialty: Tapado & Coco Loco.

Río dulce tours.

Cruise along the Rio Dulce to Livingston Guatemala

In the eastern part of the country, between the gulf of Honduras and Belize, Guatemala has a Caribbean coast. The town of Livingston, only accessible by boat, used to be one of the most important ports for coffee and banana exports. Nowadays it is an isolated town with an interesting mix of cultures. The Maya population lives here together with the Garifunas, descendants from the Arawak Indians and former Africa slaves, brought to the Americas. Colored houses, different rasta-farias, cool street-art and coconuts dominate the street in this little town.

Rio Dulce to Livingston boat trip

Rio Dulce means sweet river. It’s the name of the river and little town. The Rio Dulce to Livingston boat trip is absolutely one of the best things to do in Rio Dulce Guatemala area. The first, narrow part of the river has several side arms. If you’re lucky you are even able to find manatees. You will pass the Castillo San Felipe Lara, a former fortress from the 17th century and a bird island with countless herons and water birds, water lilies, small communities and several eco-lodges.

The last part, before you reach the Caribbean coast, consists of long steep rock walls with beautiful tropical vegetation. You also see many boats and canoes with local fishermen who unload their large nets in a fascinating way.

Things to do in Livingston Guatemala

Upon arrival at Livingston Harbor, you will be welcomed by hundreds of pelicans who have taken their seats on the abandoned boats. Beautiful!

Discover Livingston

Livingston has a few streets and is therefore very easy to discover. On the main street, which rises from the harbor, you will find various restaurants and shops. For the real Livingston though, you have to walk all the way down the main street and find the side streets. It’s nice to wander around and observe local life. The streets are chaotic and there is a lot to see. You will for sure come across some interesting characters who are up for a chat with you.

Visit cultural center Rasta Mesa

In the cultural center Rasta Mesa, close to the cemetery, you can learn more about the Garifuna culture and the Rastafari movement in Guatemala. It’s also possible to follow dance and music lessons. In the evening there is often live music.

Hike to Siete altares | Rio dulce to Livingston

If you are planning yo stay in Livingston for a few days, you can visit Siete Altares, located in the jungle, 5 km northwest of the town. Here you will find seven natural water basins, that you can walk through and swim in. A nice walk leading through the jungle and along the coast, will take you there in 1.5 hours. Along the way you will pass various inhabited and uninhabited huts, including little local shops. Wou will find signs with directions at the beginning and halfway the main street. You can easily walk by yourself. However, it is always important to double check the security situation upon arrival.

Enjoy the beach Playa Blanca

You also can visit Playa Blanca (white beach), one of the few beaches in Guatemala. Even though there is sometimes a large amount of seaweed here, the surroundings are beautiful. Playa Blanca can only be reached by boat. You can book a tour at one of the travel agencies or rent a boat yourself from one of the fishermen in the harbor.

You will find it everywhere in Livingston. “Tapado” is a delicious soup with coconut milk and all kinds of fish, including lobster, shrimp and river fish. In addition, try the “coco loco”, a coconut with a generous dash of rum. On the way back from Livingston to Rio Dulce you can ask your captain to stop at one of the restaurants on the river and enjoy the local specialties. El Viajero is my favorite place along the river.

Mini travel guide Río Dulce & Livingston

Hotels in río dulce & livingston.

You can spend the night in Livingston or find a place around the Rio Dulce river and make a daytrip to Livingston.

• Hotel hacienda Tijax
• Nanajuana Río Dulce

The tour from Río Dulce to Livingston takes about 2 hours due to the different stops for taking pictures. In Livingston you will have time to explore the town (don’t forget to agree on a return time with your captain in advance). On the way back you can make a stop along the river for a special meal such as the Tapado. From Livingston it is also possible to travel on to Belize. I have never done this but it seems like a nice and good route if you are planning to go this way.

More about Guatemala

Do you want to read more about beautiful Guatemala? In this article you’ll find  the 20 best things to do in Guatemala,  including off the beaten path destinations, best time to travel,  travel itineraries  and  information about safety.  Have a look in the Guatemala archive for a cityguide for Antigua and travel guides about  Lake Atitlan ,  Lanquin , the famous market of  Chichicastenango , the Acatenango volcano hike and a Guatemala hotel guide. Interested in  archaeology ? In this article I’m taking you to the  Maya ruins of Tikal  and  Quiriguá , a smaller and less visited Maya site with beautiful Maya stelae.

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Rio Dulce in Guatemala

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Chichicastenango, or Chichi as it is lovingly called, is cut off from the mainland by the jagged peaks of Mesoamerica. Like many other places in the region, this colorful little highland town straddles two contrasting worlds – the ancient and the modern.

Chichicastenango

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Close to Flores, discover the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tikal National Park (or Parque Nacional Tikal) with its rich treasure trove of Mayan archeological ruins.

Tikal National Park

Lose yourself in the effervescent buzz of Guatemala City, or Guate as the locals call it. This Central American capital city is split into multiple zones that are so different from each other that they may as well be separate towns!

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Lake Atitlan

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Río Dulce y Lívingston: en barco por el Caribe guatemalteco

• Escrito por la cosmopolilla
• el 23 febrero, 2023
• No hay comentarios

El verde intenso y luminoso propio del trópico se mete por los ojos a orillas del lago de Izabal . Hemos dejado atrás las quebradas montañas cubiertas de bosque nuboso en Lanquín, Alta Verapaz, y llegado a Río Dulce, la puerta al Caribe de Guatemala . Un Parque Nacional paraíso de cayos y manglares donde habitan manatíes, caimanes, monos aulladores y muchas especies de aves acuáticas como garzas y pelícanos. Vamos a pasar un par de días descubriendo qué ver en Río Dulce y Lívingston , pueblo garífuna cuyos habitantes son descendientes de los esclavos africanos durante la era colonial.

Visitar Río Dulce y Lívingston no puede faltar en un Viaje a Guatelama . Si bien Lívingston nos causó un poco de decepción porque no se ajusta a la postal caribeña que tenemos en la mente de palmeras y playas turquesas -el agua estaba más bien color marrón- la belleza salvaje de Río Dulce, su fauna y su entorno no deja indiferente. Es un sitio perfecto para relajarse tomando un cóctel en una terraza escuchando a los monos aulladores y el revoloteo de los colibríes. Aperitivo de lo que nos esperaba al norte en la fantástica ciudad maya de Tikal.

Contenido del artículo

Cómo llegar a Río Dulce y Lívingston. 

Este enclave caribeño fue nuestra penúltima parada del viaje de 2 semanas por Guatemala. Nos desplazamos en transporte privado desde Lanquín, tras disfrutar de las cascadas y pozas de Semuc Champey , en un vehículo que nos gestionó la agencia local Río Dulce . De normal hay shuttles turísticos que hacen ese trayecto trasladando a viajeros de un enclave a otro. Pero nosotras tuvimos la mala suerte de vivir una huelga de transportistas con «tapadas» y cortes en las principales vías: nos cancelaron el colectivo y tuvimos que buscar esta alternativa para poder salir de Lanquín y continuar en ruta. Otra opción es moverse hasta Coban , ciudad grande y con buenas conexiones, y desde ahí tomar un bus a Río Dulce de la compañía Litegua . La misma que hace el trayecto de Antigua Guatemala a Río Dulce. En nuestro caso, también gestionamos  con la agencia Río Dulce Travel el traslado de Río Dulce a Flores , último destino antes de volver a Cancún.

Una vez en Río Dulce , hay varios embarcaderos donde coger las barcas a los alojamientos -los que tienen más encanto están repartidos por las islas del lago-. También salen lanchas públicas o barcos a Lívingston , en el otro extremo del río, ya a orillas del Caribe guatemalteco. Una excursión que nosotras la reservamos en nuestro mismo alojamiento y merece mucho la pena, por lo agradable del paseo.

¡No viajes a Guatemala sin seguro!

En este artículo tienes información detallada sobre si   Es peligroso viajar a Guatemala . Aún así, por los imprevistos que puedan suceder, -robos, cancelaciones, necesidad de atención médica, ingreso hospitalario por enfermedad etc.- yo recomiendo los seguros de MONDO (la compañía con la que yo viajo). Las llamadas son gratuitas en caso de una urgencia; atienden en español y con rapidez. Además tienen un  chat médico disponible en la aplicación móvil 24 horas. Yo lo probé durante mi viaje por Guatemala debido a unas picaduras (soy alérgica) y chateé con la doctora sobre qué medidas tomar e incluso le envié fotos para que evaluara la situación. Si compras el seguro de Mondo a través de mi web, tendrás un 5% de descuento :

Alojamiento en Río Dulce.

Una recomendación: quedamos encantadas con el Boatique Hotel and Marina , en plena naturaleza. Un proyecto sostenible de una pareja canadiense que ha construido un hotel ecológico con cabañas de madera, terraza y piscina. Además tienen restaurante con buenas opciones de comida local, incluyendo platos vegetarianos. Reservamos tres noches pero, el segundo día decidimos salir antes a la isla de Flores y cancelamos la reserva, sin que nos la cobraran. Un detalle que agradecimos mucho. 

Cosas que hacer y que ver en Río Dulce y Lívingston. 

Paseo en barca por el lago izabal. .

Sentir la naturaleza y navegar por los manglares . Eso es lo mejor que hacer en Río Dulce: disfrutar de su bello entorno. Tanto la agencia local Río Dulce Travel como los propios alojamientos ofrecen tours en barca para adentrarse por este frondoso paisaje de agua y selva en busca de su fauna más auténtica. Lo ideal es reservar un día para ir hasta Lívingston (el trayecto es una hora y media aproximadamente, en barco) y otro para explorar los alrededores de Río Dulce. Por su riqueza natural es, sin duda, uno de los mejores sitios que ver en Guatemala que no deja indiferente.

El fuerte de San Felipe.

Es el sitio histórico más importante que ver en Río Dulce, un baluarte del siglo XVII que construyeron los españoles durante la época colonial para defender el comercio de los temidos piratas. Durante más de doscientos cincuenta años cumplió bien su misión, resistiendo, siendo atacado e incendiado en múltiples ocasiones. Situado en un enclave estratégico de acceso al lago, sus murallas se alzan en una colina verde rodeada de agua. El castillo se puede visitar por dentro, ya que ha sido recuperado y restaurado en tiempos recientes.

Avistamiento de manatíes.

En Río Dulce, además de las aves acuáticas típicas de este ecosistema, se pueden avistar manatíes en el lago Izabal; después, darse un baño en las cascadas de la finca El Paraíso . Una excursión que nos apetecía mucho pero tuvimos mala suerte con el tiempo (llovió bastante el primer día) y no llegamos a hacerla. Aunque sí pude ver manatíes hace años en Belice -muy cerca de Río Dulce de hecho- y son unos animales acuáticos formidalbes. En lugar de dejar la excursión para el día siguiente, a pesar de que estábamos encantadas en el sitio y el hotel, decidimos adelantar la salida hacia Flores debido a la huelga, para no quedarnos tiradas. Puedes echar un vistazo a este artículo de mi amigo Rubén y el Mundo que pasó más días que yo en Río Dulce.

Excursión a Lívingston, el pueblo garífuna. 

Situado en la desembocadura del río, en la bahía de Amatique, no hay otra manera de llegar a Lívingston que no sea por agua : en lancha pública o privada desde Río Dulce. El trayecto dura una hora y media sin hacer paradas. Más si, como nosotras, aprovechas el paseo para ver los manglares , parar en unas aguas termales y de paso dar una vuelta por el castillo de San Felipe . Vamos, que en lugar de ir directamente al pueblo de Lívingston hicimos un tour 2×1. Y me alegré un montón porque es más bonito el camino en sí que la propia aldea .

El pueblo de Lívingston es pequeño y humilde. Con un paseo de un par de horas es suficiente para recorrer sus callejuelas que se distribuyen paralelas al mar. Casas de madera pintadas de alegres colores, puestos de artesanías locales, alguna tienda de ultramarinos y los restaurantes del puerto dan una idea de lo que es este curioso enclave en la costa guatemalteca. Una población afrocaribeña habitada por la etnia garífuna, descendientes de los esclavos africanos que fueron obligados a trabajar en las plantaciones durante la época colonial.

Con Lívingston nos pegamos un pequeño chasco con respecto a la playa: aunque tiene palmeras, el agua estaba muy revuelta y color marrón. Nada que ver con otros destinos caribeños paradisíacos en los que he estado como San Blas en Panamá o las playas de República Dominicana. Sí que nos hablaron de la posibilidad de negociar un tuc-tuc a playa Blanca , la más popular de la zona a unos 10 minutos en coche de allí. Pero dado que había previsión de lluvia no nos animamos. El pueblo en sí resulta bastante normalito: no tiene mucho encanto y el ambiente nos pareció un poco enrarecido.

El tapado, comida típica de Lívingston.

Lo que sí que hicimos y que recomiendo es comer el guiso local a base de marisco y pescado, leche de coco y plátano: el tapado, en uno de los restaurantes del muelle: estaba delicioso. Uno de los platos emblemas de la gastronomía de Guatemala . Tras el almuerzo, la lancha nos recogió de vuelta a nuestro oasis de hotel en Río Dulce. Como ya dije, disfrutar de la belleza de las paredes kársticas del cañón del río Dulce antes de su desembocadura, del paraje de exhuberante belleza tropical, es lo mejor de la ruta. Lo que hace que merezca la pena el viaje. A pesar de que el destino final, Lívingston, carezca en sí de atractivo.

Sigue viajando por Guatemala en el blog. Te puede interesar:

•   Qué hacer en el lago Atitlán, uno de los más bellos del mundo .

El artículo que acabas de leer contiene enlaces de afiliados. Esto no genera ningún cargo extra pero si compras o reservas mediante estos enlaces me ayudas a seguir con el blog. Todo lo que recomiendo en este artículo sobre qué ver en Río Dulce y Lívingston está basado en mi propia experiencia como viajera.

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Guatemalteca viajando

Guía de viajes especializada en Guatemala hecha por una guatemalteca. Los mejores sitios, rutas y consejos pa' organizar tu viaje.

Lugares para visitar en Río Dulce, Izabal

Si pienso en visitar destinos paradisíacos en Guatemala, inmediatamente me viene a la mente Río Dulce. Es la esencia del caribe maya : verde, húmedo y con una calidez en su clima y en su gente. Esta vez te traigo mi recomendación de los lugares para visitar en Río Dulce. Encontrarás actividades, destinos y la manera de cómo llegar a ellos.

Río Dulce es un parque nacional con variedad de ecosistemas acuáticos. Su extensión constituye un habitat de cocodrilos, manatíes, aves marinas como garzas blancas, un tipo de pato que en Guatemala le llamamos ‘pato coche'(más adelante explicó porque el nombre), pardelas y más. La longitud del río (43 km) va desde el puente de Río Dulce hasta la desembocadura con el mar caribe. Recorrerlo es adentrarse en un entorno natural en donde encuentras pequeñas islas, manglares, comunidades mayas asentadas en la orilla, hoteles ecológicos, jardines acuáticos y un impresionante cañón.

Qué encontrarás en este artículo

Dónde queda Río Dulce y cómo llegar

Ubicación de río dulce.

Río Dulce se encuentra a 325 km de distancia de Antigua Guatemala, a 285 km de Ciudad Guatemala y a 207 km de la Isla de Flores en Petén.

Algunos sitios web y mapas se refieren al pueblo de Río Dulce como Fronteras -el cual es correcto-, pero popularmente este nombre es poco usado para esta área. Te aconsejo que si haces preguntas de ubicación a los locales lo llames Río Dulce o El Puente de Río Dulce. Así evitas confusiones porque hay otros municipios que también se llaman Fronteras.

Cómo llegar a Río Dulce desde Ciudad Guatemala o Antigua Guatemala

El camino hacia Río Dulce está en buenas condiciones . A continuación te detallo las tres opciones más seguras para llegar a Río Dulce:

Ruta en coche

Las carreteras que llevan a Río Dulce son perfectamente transitables con coches urbanos. No es necesario un coche todoterreno. Desde Antigua Guatemala tomas la carretera que te lleva a Ciudad Guatemala y sigues la ruta trazada en el mapa más adelante. No hay una carretera directa que conecte sin necesidad de atravesar la capital.

Te tomará alrededor de 7 u 8 horas llegar al destino debido a los atascos. Toma en cuenta que sobre las rutas CA09 y CA13 circulan camiones de carga y contenedores.

Te sugiero que salgas temprano en la mañana, a partir de las 7:00 AM con el tanque de combustible lleno. De cualquier manera, en todo el recorrido tendrás varias gasolineras. Te recomiendo que prefieras las siguientes: Gasolineras Don Arturo, Puma, Shell, Texaco y Uno. En otras gasolineras pueden ocurrir asaltos y no te sirven la cantidad de gasolina que pagas.

En el camino puedes visitar las Ruinas Mayas de Quiriguá . Es una excelente parada cercana a Río Dulce.

Recomiendo no hacer paradas a la altura de Morales. Esta área es menos segura que el resto de la ruta.

La empresa que tiene coach buses hacia Río Dulce desde Ciudad Guatemala es Litegua. Tiene 5 horarios de salida hacia Río Dulce: 5:30, 9:00, 11:00 13:00 y 16:00 horas. Los boletos de ida cuestan hasta 125GTQ (16USD). Te recomiendo que reserves tu viaje con un mínimo de 48 horas porque la ocupación suele ser alta, sobre todo los fines de semana.

Con Litegua te puede tomar incluso 9 horas de camino, porque hace varias paradas en carretera. Así que lo mejor es tomar el primer bus de la mañana . Para llegar a la terminal de bus en Ciudad Guatemala toma un Uber o un taxi que te organice tu hotel ya que se encuentra en un área poco segura del Centro Histórico.

No hay coach buses directos de Antigua a Río Dulce. La mejor opción es tomar un shuttle. Es más caro llegar a la estación de coach buses en Ciudad de Guatemala desde Antigua en Uber, la forma más segura, y tomar el bus a Río Dulce desde allí.

Encontrarás una cantidad suficiente de tour-operadores desde Antigua y desde Ciudad Guatemala que ofrecen el shuttle hacia Río Dulce. GuateGo es un sitio web seguro que aglutina los servicios confiables en shuttles y permite hacer las reservas con antelación.

Cómo llegar a Río Dulce desde Petén

Es una carretera en buen estado de 207 km. La CA13 te conducirá directamente desde la salida de Santa Elena en Petén hasta la calle principal de Río Dulce. Encontrarás varias gasolineras en el camino. De nuevo te recomiendo que te detengas a cargar combustible en las pertenecientes a las marcas que menciono anteriormente (Don Arturo, Puma, Shell, Texaco y Uno).

Si vas en coche a Río Dulce, prefiere los hoteles que te incluyen el estacionamiento. O pregunta en el hotel por un aparcamiento seguro. La tarifa está alrededor de 75GTQ (9USD) por día/noche.

En bus y en shuttle

Para llegar a Río Dulce desde Petén en bus o shuttle te sugiero que utilices la reserva con anticipación en línea . GuateGo te permite hacer la reserva con dos de las empresas de coach buses principales: Maya de Oro y Fuentes del Norte. Y para el servicio de shuttle puedes reservar en este mismo sitio web los traslados coordinados por Río Dulce Travel . El camino será de 4 horas aproximadamente. Las horas de salida de los traslados normalmente serán por la mañana.

Dónde hospedarse en Río Dulce

Río Dulce tiene una gran variedad de alojamientos. Puedes elegir tu hoteles entre una amplia gama, incluidos cabañas eco-friendly. Sea cual sea el tipo de alojamiento que elijas, disfrutarás de las impresionantes vistas del río y el bosque que lo rodea. Haz clic aquí para leer mi selección de los 5 mejores hoteles de la zona .

Qué ver y qué hacer en Río Dulce

Avistamiento de manatíes.

Los manatíes son mamíferos en peligro de extinción que viven en aguas poco profundas y lentas. Se parecen a las focas pero pueden medir hasta 3 metros de largo y tienen hocicos anchos . Se alimentan de plantas y peces atrapados en redes de pesca. Esta especie habita desde Florida en EEUU hasta el sur de Brasil. El cambio de composición dulce y salada de las aguas les ofrece una variedad amplia de plantas para su alimentación. Debido a ello, Río Dulce es uno de los pocos sitios donde se pueden ver estos animales.

Para ver manatíes visitarás el Biotopo Protegido Chocón Machacas a las 6:00 AM. Debido a la poca afluencia de lanchas a esta hora salen a la superficie. Este sitio es precisamente destinado para la protección de estos mamíferos . Tienes dos opciones para llegar al biotopo:

• Contratar un tour por medio de una agencia local ( Happy Fish Travel o Río Dulce Travel )
• Contratar un lanchero a través de tu hotel

Recorrido por El Golfete y el Cañón de Río Dulce

El llamado Golfete es la parte más ancha (200m) del río y lo pasarás tras 10 km de recorrido. Inmediatamente después empezará el Cañón. Aquí el río se vuelve estrecho. Las paredes al costado miden hasta 150m de alto. Una naturaleza exuberante te rodea en todo el camino.

Este tour lo realizan todos los días los lancheros y tour-operadores. Otra opción es organizarlo en la recepción de tu hotel. Haciendo este paseo cubrirás varios lugares para visitar en Río Dulce. También puedes tomarlo para llegar al pueblo de Livingston que se encuentra muy cercano a la desembocadura con el caribe. Agrégalo en tu itinerario de viaje para explorarlo en un par de días.

El paseo en lancha dura alrededor de una hora y media. Hay paradas en los siguientes puntos:

• La Isla de Los Pájaros: Esta es una pequeña isla de densa vegetación que forma un frondoso humedal. Esta isla es hogar del llamado ‘pato coche’. Los guatemaltecos le decimos coche al cerdo y este pato hace un sonido similar a este animal. Para apreciarlo el lanchero se detendrá al costado de la isla.
• Aguas Calientes: Esta es una parada de descanso en un pequeño restaurante. Al costado nacen aguas termales en que te puedes bañar. La profundidad de esta parte del río no alcanza el metro. Acá también podrás entrar a dos cuevas naturales y dentro hay pozas de aguas calientes. Para explorarlas pagas 15GTQ (2USD) y las recorres en 20 minutos.
• Jardín de flores acuáticas: En el jardín flotan flores de loto y nenúfares que crean un paisaje único y bonito. Como background a este jardín se ven pequeñas cabañas mayas sobre el río.

Visitar el Castillo de San Felipe de Lara

Está localizado justo en la desembocadura del Lago Izabal con Río Dulce. Debido a ello y a lo alto de sus torres tiene una vista panorámica importante.

Este castillo fue construido por los españoles como fortaleza contra piratas y soldados británicos en el Siglo XVII. Luego sirvió como prisión y por último como aduana. El castillo ha tenido dos importantes reconstrucciones: la primera en 1688 después de fuertes ataques de piratas que quemaron y destruyeron parte de él; y la segunda en 1955 en el inicio de su vida como destino turístico/histórico. El arquitecto a cargo de la última restauración recurrió a los planos originales del Archivo General de Indias en España para mayor precisión. Por ello, ahora se encuentra en buenas condiciones.

Es un castillo pequeño, sin embargo su estructura dentro pareciera un laberinto. Y si debo usar una palabra que condense su encanto es ‘acogedor’. Cada vez que entras a un pasillo, sales por algún sitio del castillo que no esperabas. De los lugares para visitar en Río Dulce este es imperdible para quienes queremos conocer la historia del lugar. Recomiendo llegar a media mañana y hacer el recorrido con un guía que se puede contratar en la entrada.

En los alrededores del castillo hay senderos, playas, mesas, parrillas y un cementerio con un toque muy local.

La entrada cuesta 75GTQ (9USD).

Cómo llegar al Castillo de San Felipe de Lara

Hay tres maneras para llegar al Castillo de San Felipe de Lara:

Desde tu hotel puedes organizar un traslado en lancha que te lleve hasta la entrada marítima oficial del castillo. Este traslado te costara alrededor de 100GTQ (12.50USD) por ida y por persona. Esta es la opción más rápida y directa, sin embargo no es la más barata.

Puedes tomar un microbus colectivo desde la calle principal del pueblo que se dirija hacia San Felipe de Lara (cruce a la Ruta Nacional 7E). Al subirte le dices al chofer que vas al Castillo San Felipe y que te deje en la parada cercana a la entrada. Deberán cobrarte 5GTQ por el viaje. Caminarás más o menos 80 metros desde la parada. Hay señalización, así que no te puedes perder.

Y la última y más cómoda opción es en coche. Si dispones de tu coche, tomas la ruta hacia San Felipe de Lara. Desde el centro de Río Dulce llegarás en 15 minutos o menos. La señalización es clara y la carretera está en buenas condiciones. Puedes dejar tu coche en un aparcamiento privado al costado de la entrada principal. Cobrarán 20GTQ (2.50USD) sin importar el tiempo que necesites.

Visitar las Cascadas de Finca El Paraíso

La cascada Finca El Paraíso, en Guatemala, es un spot imperdible en Rio Dulce. Esta espectacular cascada de más de 12 metros está situada en una exuberante selva tropical. Haz clic aquí para obtener más información y saber cómo llegar.

Visitar el Cañón de El Boquerón

El cañón de El Boquerón es una de las maravillas naturales de Guatemala. Es un cañón profundo con altas paredes a ambos lados, repleto de exuberante vegetación. Alberga una gran variedad de vida salvaje. El Boquerón es un destino obligado para cualquiera que visite Guatemala. Haz clic aquí para obtener más información y saber cómo llegar.

Hiking en Hacienda Tijax

Hacienda Tijax es un hotel con un entorno único ya que sus habitaciones están justo sobre el humedal de Río Dulce . En el hotel hay avisos de no darles de comer a los cocodrilos que habitan en el área. Para explorar todas las instalaciones (piscina, restaurante, habitaciones y áreas comunes) caminas por muelles que se conectan entre sí. Y si tienes suerte puedes ver a algún cocodrilo pasando.

Además de poder hospedarte en Tijax también puedes tomar con ellos el tour de senderismo. Este hike conduce a puentes colgantes, plantaciones de hule, cascadas, un museo de insectos y el mirador Torre del Shamán desde donde hay una bonita vista panorámica. El hike es liviano y los caminos no son empinados. Sin embargo, pueden llegar a ser resbaladizos por la humedad del área. Te tomará 45 minutos completarlo.

Para tener acceso a este hike pagas 80GTQ (10USD) en la recepción del hotel. Una buena opción es tomar el tour guiado porque te explican el recorrido y la historia del sitio. Tambien puedes montar a caballo y hacer kayak por los alrededores. De esta manera, puedes incluso llegar al Castillo de San Felipe en kayak.

Cómo llegar a Hacienda Tijax

Desde el Puente de Río Dulce (CA13) con dirección hacia Petén serán 2 km y encontrarás a tu derecha la señalización del kilómetro 276. Avanzas 100 metros más y viras a la derecha. Encontrarás una bifurcación y sigues el camino hacia tu derecha. Después de 50 metros llegarás a la entrada principal del aparcamiento del hotel.

Comunícate con la recepción de Tijax vía WhatsApp o llamada telefónica (+502 3732 8104). Coordina con ellos que lleguen por ti al muelle principal del pueblo.

Hacer zip line o tirolesa en Río Dulce

De los lugares para visitar en Río Dulce hay un sitio perfecto para aventureros: hotel y parque de aventuras Tenamit Maya . Las actividades de este sitio están enfocadas en retos acrobáticos dentro de la selva. Puedes hacer el circuito de 10 tirolesas sobre la selva y llegar a un río, hacer kayak y darte un chapuzón en sus aguas termales. También puedes subir puentes y escaleras flotantes entre los árboles. Para ello, pagarás 150GTQ (19USD) aproximadamente. El precio dependerá de la temporada y el número de actividades que quieras tomar en tu paquete de retos.

Cómo llegar a Tinamit Maya

Para llegar a Tenamit Maya es necesario tomar una lancha del hotel mismo. Se encuentra en el muelle principal de Río Dulce. Lo mejor será ponerte en contacto con la administración de Tenamit para coordinar. También podrías tomar un taxi-lancha, pero este es muho más caro.

El clima en Río Dulce

Río Dulce tiene un calor húmedo y sus temperaturas se mantienen entre los 25°C a los 32°C. La mejor época para viajar a Río Dulce es desde finales de febrero hasta finales de junio. Ello debido a que las lluvias son escasas y podrás disfrutar de los lugares para visitar en Río Dulce sin ningún inconveniente.

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Lugares para visitar en Livingston

Las 8 mejores ruinas mayas en Guatemala. Mapa, tours y precios

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15 Chill Things to Do in Rio Dulce & Livingston

by Julie | Nov 14, 2022 | Guatemala , Travel

Trying to decide whether to add Rio Dulce and Livingston to your Guatemala itinerary? 

Are you wondering what there is to do along Guatemala’s Caribbean Coast?

In this travel guide, I’m going to share with you all the fun things to do in Rio Dulce and Livingston. They’re two perfect destinations for history, culture, food, and nature lovers as well as for anyone who just wants to chill out.

Disclosure:   This post may contain affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop.org Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Please see this website’s  Disclosure  for more info.

I have to admit that I wasn’t all that excited at first about visiting Rio Dulce and Livingston. There wasn’t much clear information in guidebooks or online on what to do there and where to stay. I was honestly worried both places would be a waste of time.

But other travelers I met on the road assured me that both places were worth the visit. So, I packed my bags and headed there on a tourist shuttle from Flores intending to stay for 3 nights max.

In the end, I stayed a week.

Rio Dulce became one of my favorite places in Guatemala . It was the perfect place for me to chill out and get away from all the stress and anxiety of traveling around Central America .

There are also tons of things to do in Rio Dulce besides lying in a hammock beside a river. There’s kayaking through mangroves and lagoons, swimming in waterfalls, lying on Caribbean beaches, eating coconuts and seafood, visiting castles, exploring ancient ruins seeing and hearing wildlife, and hiking through the jungle. Perfect for those who love history, culture, food, and nature.

The only 2 things I was disappointed about were that I didn’t get to see any manatees and take a deep dive into Garifuna culture. The weather just wasn’t the best when I was there.

But before I share with you all that there is to do in Rio Dulce and Livingston, let’s talk about what the differences are between the two towns and where you should base yourself. In my opinion, where you stay makes all the difference in whether or not you fall in love with this part of Guatemala .

Check out my 2022-2023 Guatemala Travel Guide for more tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration for visiting the land of eternal spring. You’ll find over 15 travel articles to help you explore the history, culture, food, and natural beauty of Guatemala.

Table of Contents

• About Rio Dulce & Livingston

How to get to Rio Dulce

How to get to livingston, 15 things to do in rio dulce.

• Where to after Rio Dulce

About Rio Dulce and Livingston

I used the Lonely Planet Guide Guatemala to plan my trip to Rio Dulce, Unfortunately, the current guide is an absolute mess when it comes to the Caribbean Coast, so it was really difficult for me to figure out where to stay and what to do there. Hopefully, this guide will make it easier for you than it was for me.

Here are the main cities and bodies of water on the Caribbean Coast:

• Rio Dulce (town)
• Rio Dulce (river)
• Livingston (town)
• Caribbean Sea
• Puerto Barrios (city)
• Lago Izabal (lake)

1. Rio Dulce Town

If you’re coming to the Caribbean Coast from Flores or a tourist shuttle from Antigua or Guatemala City, you’re going to be dropped off in Rio Dulce Town.

Rio Dulce is a small town of about 7,000 people. It’s the town that you see in the photo above. On one side of the town is the river, Rio Dulce, and on the other is the lake, Lago Izabal. There is a major road, CA-13, that runs through the center of town.

The town used to be called Fronteras when the only way to cross the river was by boat. Fortunately, a bridge was constructed over it, and crossing the river became as easy as pie. Thus, the town’s name changed to Rio Dulce (the same as the river’s name).

A fun fact is that at 3.5 kilometers, the bridge is supposedly the longest one in Central America .

That main road CA-13 is a nightmare to walk along. No sidewalks. Shops spill out onto the street, Pedestrians, pedestrians, pedestrians. Cars, trucks, semis, buses, tuk-tuks. All honking their horns and not caring whether they run you over or not.

Rio Dulce Town is nothing to write home about.

Avoid basing yourself here.

That all being said, there are important reasons why you’ll probably need to visit Rio Dulce Town.

• It’s the transportation hub of the area
• It’s got tons of fabulous places to pick up essentials like food, toiletries, money, SIM cards, etc.

Rio Dulce – Transportation Hub

If you need to go somewhere else on the Caribbean Coast or to another city in Guatemala , then you would do it in Rio Dulce.

• Tourist shuttles – ( Google Maps ) When I arrived in Rio Dulce from Flores (and Guatemala City as well), the tourist shuttle dropped me and all the other passengers off in front of Rio Dulce Travels ( Google Maps ). This is a small travel agency located in a Colifato restaurant and coffee shop in a strip mall. It’s run by a helpful guy who speaks good English. I bought my tourist shuttle ticket to Honduras here and he was good at making sure I filled out all the necessary online forms and had all the essential documents to cross the border. You can also book tours here.
• Litegua Bus Station ( Google Maps ) – There’s a bus station on CA-13 called Litegua Station. You can get a bus here to the border with Honduras, Flores , Puerto Barrios, and Guatemala City.
• Fuente del Norte Bus Station ( Google Maps) – Across from the Litegua Bus Station is the ticket office and pick-up-point for another bus company, Fuente del Norte Buses. They have buses to Flores.
• Colectivo Stop – You can also catch a colectivo (public minivan) across from the Litegua bus station on CA-13 to different places in the area such as Quirigua and Puerto Barrios.
• Buses to Lago Izabal– Take a colectivo or bus heading to El Estero from the intersection of CA-13 and A-7 in Rio dulce for tourist attractions such as El Paraiso, the Castle of San Felipe de Lara, and the El Boqueron Canyon.
• Water taxi – You can take a water taxi to Livingston and to your hotel along the Rio Dulce (river).

Rio Dulce – Shopping for Travel Essentials

The other reason to spend time in Rio Dulce Town is to pick up essentials like food, money, toiletries, bus tickets, and SIM cards. You can find pretty much all you need along CA-13 or at the strip malls near Supermercado La Torre Rio Dulce and Rio Dulce Travels.

• Supermercado La Torre Rio Dulce ( Google Maps ) has a pretty good stock of medicine for headaches, colds, diarrhea, etc, and vitamins and other toiletries. It also has a good selection of western food like peanut butter as well as fruits and vegetables.
• Rio Dulce Travels – ( Google Maps ) Buy your tourist shuttle tickets here; it’s also where you get on and off the shuttle; they also offer tours to attractions around Rio Dulce. I bought my shuttle to Honduras here.
• ATMs – ( Google Maps ) There is a row of ATMs in front of Supermercado La Torre Rio Dulce as well as an ATM on CA-13 between Sundog Café and the Supermercado La Torre Rio Dulce.
• Pharmacy – ( Google Maps ) I picked up some medicine at a pharmacy on CA-13 between Sundog Café and the Supermercado
• Cell phone stores – There was a Claro shop in the strip mall near the Supermercado where you can get a SIM card. I’m not sure if it’s still there, but I stopped in to ask about a SIM card.
• Sundog Café is VERY popular with ex-pats; it’s right on the water and is good for a beer and pizza. I always went there to catch the boat to my hotel
• Restaurante Las Amandas – I had a good breakfast here while waiting for my boat.
• Colifato – I just had a coffee here while I waited for my boat; they sell western food as well
• Churrasqueria Chusin –I had a huge tortilla stuffed with freshly grilled meat and veggies. It’s got very affordable and tasty Guatemalan food . Locals seem to love this place. It’s located on CA-13.

2. Rio Dulce (river)

After arriving in Rio Dulce town, you’re probably going to head straight to your accommodations.

Most likely it will be in some secluded hotel or hostel along the river also called Rio Dulce (Dulce River or Sweet River). And most likely you will plan to stay 2 or 3 nights and end up staying 4 or 5 or 7, because you will become so relaxed that you won’t be able to extract yourself from your hammock.

The 43-kilometer river starts at Lago Izabal and flows past Rio Dulce town. It eventually widens so much that it becomes a lake called El Golfete. Eventually, though, the river narrows again and starts to meander its way past Livingston before emptying out into the Caribbean Sea.

The river and its surrounding shores and mangroves, lagoons, and forests are located within Rio Dulce National Park—home to an assortment of migratory birds as well as manatees, tapirs, and crocodiles.

3. Livingston (town)

Livingston is a town of 7,000 people located at the point where the Rio Dulce enters the Caribbean Sea.

It’s important to note that the ONLY way to get to Livingston is by boat from either Rio Dulce or Puerto Barrios. From Rio Dulce, expect to pay at least Q150 one-way or Q300 roundtrip. There are 2 boats a day that go to Livingston (morning and afternoon), but if there are enough people, a boat will go at any time during the day.

Livingston is the home to the Garifuna ethnic group. The Garifuna are of African and Caribbean heritage who migrated to the eastern coast of Central America from the Caribbean islands. They have their own language, cuisine, and music. You’ll find Garifuna people in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Lonely Planet describes this town as having a “friendly, fun, and relaxed vibe.” THAT, sadly, was NOT what I experienced at all. My impression was the same as what I had in Rio Dulce town. Nothing to write home about. A sad, unfriendly, and not very pretty town. But in all fairness, I visited on a cold, wet, and cloudy day. The streets were wet from the rain and I was wearing flip-flops that with horrible traction.

The town has a few hotels and hostels. But I wouldn’t stay here. Stay along the Rio Dulce (river) instead and visit Livingston on a day trip. Perhaps the only reason to stay overnight would be to hear Garifuna music in one of the town’s local bars.

There are 2 attractions near Livingston that are popular, but you can easily visit them on a boat trip from your accommodation.

4. Caribbean Sea

The Rio Dulce flows into the Caribbean Sea. Along the coast are a few beaches. But if you’re expecting Caribbean ones like those in Mexico or Jamaica, you’re going to be sadly disappointed. Don’t expect pristine sandy white beaches and crystal clear blue water. There’s one beach where the sand is nice but most are not. From my experience, the water was a bit murky.

5. Puerto Barrios (city)

Located along the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Barrios (population 120,000) is not a place you want to spend too much time in. There are only 2 reasons for visiting Puerto Barrios:

• You’re taking a boat to or from Punta Gorda, Belize , and thus, entering or exiting Guatemala.
• You’re coming from Guatemala City by bus and then taking a boat in Puerto Barrios to Livingston. Or vice versa coming from Livingston by boat and then taking a bus to the Honduras border or Guatemala City. 

6. Lago Izabal (lake)

Lago Izabal is the main lake that you see on the map. It is the largest lake in Guatemala. There are a few cities and villages along the lake that are tourist hubs:

• El Estor (population 21,000)
• San Felipe de Lara

There are 4 main tourist attractions near the lake that are worth checking out:

• El Paraiso Waterfalls/Hot spring
• Castillo de Sal Felipe de Lara
• El Boqueron Canyon
• Parque Nacional Bocas del Bolochi

You might be interested in these travel guides to Guatemala

• Top 20 Things to Do in Flores and Tikal (2022)
• Where to Stay in Flores and Tikal (2022)
• How to Cross the Border from Guatemala to Belize (2022)

Flores – You can get to Rio Dulce from Flores by tourist shuttle or public bus. Purchase your tourist shuttle ticket at a travel agency or hotel in Flores. I booked mine with Getaway Travels in Flores. The shuttle arrives at Rio Dulce Travels in Rio Dulce. It’ll take 4 hours and cost Q160 (US$23). Alternatively, get the public bus from the Fuente del Norte Station in Flores.

Guatemala City – There are 3 bus companies that can take you to Rio Dulce: Litegua (US$25), Maya de Oro (US$43), and Fuente Del Norte (US$38). I think there is just 1 bus a day. They vary in terms of comfort. Check the Book A Way website for times and tickets. I haven’t used this website before, so I can’t say if it’s reliable.

Antigua – When I did this route, there was one tourist shuttle a day that picked you up at your hotel in Antigua at 6:00 am and arrived in Rio Dulce around 2:00 pm. It was the same shuttle that terminates in Flores. I booked from A Viajar Guatemala.

Honduras – You can take a bus from the border to Rio Dulce and vice versa. You might need to transfer in Morales or some other place along CA-9. There’s also a tourist shuttle that goes between La Ceiba (the port to Roatan and Utila) and Rio Dulce. This is how I got to La Ceiba from Rio Dulce. I used Roneey Shuttle Service for my ride but booked through Rio Dulce Travels. The driver was an American guy who was really helpful.

Flores – You can take a shuttle or bus to Rio Dulce Town and then take a boat down the Rio Dulce (river) to Livingston.

Guatemala City – You can take a bus to Puerto Barrios and then a boat to Livingston or a bus to Rio Dulce and a boat to Livingston.

Antigua – Take a tourist shuttle to Rio Dulce and then a boat to Livingston. In Antigua , I booked from A Viajar Guatemala.

Honduras – Take a bus to either Rio Dulce or Puerto Barrios and then a boat to Livingston. Try contacting Roneey Shuttle Service for shuttles from La Ceiba to Rio Dulce.

What to do in Rio Dulce? How about Livingston? Here are 15 things to do along Guatemala’s Caribbean Coast for those who love history, culture, food, and/or nature or even just doing nothing.

• Stay in a lodge along the Rio Dulce
• Quirigua Maya ruins
• Go kayaking
• Take a boat tour of the Rio Dulce
• Los Siete Altares
• Playa Blanca
• Garifuna culture in Livingston
• Garifuna cuisine
• Agua caliente
• El Castillo de San Felipe de Lara
• El Boqueron
• Bocas del Polochi Wildlife Refuge
• Biotopo Chocon Machacas Nature Reserve
• Sunset sailboat cruise

1. Stay in a jungle lodge along the Rio Dulce

The absolute best thing to do in Rio Dulce is to just chill out. That’s pretty much what I did for most of my week there.

In order to do that, you need to find a place to stay along the river where you’re surrounded by the jungle and where you can hear the roar of howler monkeys. Ideally, a place where you can hang out in a hammock with a cold beer (or a fruit smoothie) and a good book and do nothing for a while.

Luckily, there are loads of secluded hotels and hostels along the river and among the mangroves and lagoons that are affordable and comfortable.

These hotels and hostels vary in level of rusticness. Some are bug-free while others require more tolerance for the insects of the jungle.

Most are so remote that the only way to get to these places is by boat.

I had a hard time finding a place to stay at first. Lots of places were booked up. Not all the places show up under search results when you look under “Rio Dulce.”

So to save you the frustration of searching for accommodations, here are the BEST of the BEST in Rio Dulce. For a list of more places to say, check on Booking.com .

Boatique Hotel and Marina

Average Price: US$22/dorm & US$56/private room  | Breakfast: Not included | Rating: 9.2 (400+ Reviews)

The main reason why I stayed so long in Rio Dulce is that I found the hotel/hostel I stayed at to be the perfect place to relax. This was the Boatique Hotel and Marina .

If the Boatique Hotel has vacancies (it’s very popular), don’t hesitate to stay here. It’s quiet, comfortable, surrounded by nature, secluded, and peaceful. Even though it’s right in the jungle, there are no bugs in the rooms or restaurant. The hotel has a swimming pool and kayaks for rent and does sunset sailboat cruises along the river.

The place has both boutique-style bungalows as well as small dorm rooms for up to 4 people.

It’s not too far from Rio Dulce compared to other places I’m listing here.

The food is really good but quite expensive. If staying here, get the French toast and the Greek salad with pita bread.

The only thing I didn’t like about the hotel was that the owners weren’t all that friendly.

READ REVIEWS AND BOOK YOUR STAY: Booking.com | Agoda

Here are some more chill places to stay at along the river:

El Hotelito Perdido

Average Price: US$10/dorm & US$25 – $40/private room | Breakfast: Not included  | Rating: 9.4 (360+ Reviews)

When I was first looking for a place to stay in Rio Dulce, El Hotelito Perdido was ALWAYS booked solid. It’s so popular! Located right on the River Dulce, the place is very rustic, so if you’re afraid of bugs then you might want to try a different place. It’s got dorms as well as private rooms with or without an ensuite bathroom. You can rent kayaks here and take them out to the nearby mangroves and waterfalls. Everyone I met who has stayed here raved about how wonderful the American owner and staff were. It’s closer to Livingston than to Rio Dulce.

READ REVIEWS & BOOK YOUR STAY: Booking.com | Agoda

Finca Tatin

AVERAGE PRICE: US$13 – $51 | BREAKFAST: Not Included | RATING: 8.9 (345+ Reviews)

I absolutely love Finca Tatin. It’s got these really cool bungalows with their own private patio right on the river. This place is still pretty secluded like Hotelito Perdido, but not as rustic. Still, there are bugs. It’s got a bar, restaurant, lots of hammocks to chill out in, kayaks to explore the river and mangroves, tours to take you around River Dulce, and hiking trails to explore.

The Round House Hotel

AVERAGE PRICE: US$33 – $50 | BREAKFAST: Not included  | RATING: 9.1 (77+ Reviews)

This is another fabulous place right on the river and enveloped by the jungle. It comes with the usual Rio Dulce amenities: hammocks, kayaks, good food, peace and quiet, and a chill atmosphere. Bungalows all have private bathrooms. It’s closer to Livingston than to Rio Dulce.

Tortugal Boutique River Lodge

AVERAGE PRICE: US$46 – $73 | BREAKFAST: Included | RATING: 8.9 (345+ Reviews)

Tortugal Lodge isn’t as secluded as the other places on this list, but it’s still right on the river and it’s very popular. The rooms and facilities don’t look as rustic as the other places either. The hotel is located close to Rio Dulce making it easier to dine somewhere else besides your hotel and it’s close to Lago Izabal, making the tourist attractions around there easier to get to than other hotels.

2. Explore the ruins of Quirigua

COST: Q80 (US$10.36) | TIME: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | LOCATION: Google Maps

The second best thing I did during my stay in Rio Dulce was to take a day trip to the Maya ruins of Quirigua .

These ruins are not in Rio Dulce. You need to take a public bus or colectivo, but they are so worth it. Probably one of the greatest works of art in Central America.

Quirigua has a fascinating history. For centuries it was a vassal state of the more powerful Copan (Honduras), but through treachery, it defeated them and took over Copan’s trade network.

But what is more interesting for archaeology buffs like me is that it built magnificent structures and works of art, which were modeled on Copan’s. The architecture is gone but the works of art are the BEST in Mesoamerica. When you visit Quirigua, you’ll see these beautifully sculpted stelae depicting its rulers and writing recounting its history.

Don’t expect large pyramids and temples like at Tikal. Those are all gone.

For more info on the Maya ruins, check out this list of the best books on the ancient Maya .

How to get to Quirigua ruins:

Check out my guide to Quirigua for info on how to get there by public transportation.

3. Go kayaking on the Rio Dulce

The third best thing I did in Rio Dulce was to go kayaking along the river and its tributaries. It’s so relaxing and it’s a great way to get close to nature. There’s not that much boat traffic on the river, either.

For those staying closer to Livingston where the river becomes narrow, there are some great mangroves and lagoons that you can kayak in.

Another traveler who was staying at my hotel kayaked all the way under the Rio Dulce bridge to the Castle of San Felipe de Lara. A long, long way but doable from my hotel!

Most lodges on the river have kayaks for rent.

Alternatively, you could also do stand-up-paddleboarding. My hotel rented them out.

Other great places to go kayaking in Guatemala are Lake Atitlan and Flores .

4. Take a boat tour of the Rio Dulce

COST: Q300/5 people | TIME: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | LOCATION: From Rio Dulce to Livingston and Playa Blanca

Taking a boat tour of Rio Dulce and the Caribbean coast is an absolute must. It’s the best way to visit a lot of attractions in one day. Plus it’s a great way to see the birds that make the Rio Dulce their home. 

I took a boat tour from my riverside hotel to the mouth of the Rio Dulce and along the Caribbean coast.

We visited 5 places:

• Los Siete Altares waterfalls
• Playa Blanca,
• a restaurant that served Garifuna cuisine
• thermal hot springs along the river.

There were 5 of us on the boat and we paid Q300 in total. I recommend the tour but ONLY if the weather is good. On the day I went the weather was nasty—rainy, cold, wet, cloudy, grey, windy, and scary!

5. Swim at Los Siete Altares

ENTRANCE FEE: Q20 (US$3)| LOCATION: Google Maps

One of the first stops on my boat tour was at Los Siete Altares. Seven Altars reminds me of a very mini Semuc Champey. It’s basically a series of cascades that flows down to the ocean. You walk up the different levels until you get to a spot where the final cascade falls into a pool of crystal-clear water, where you can swim.

How to get to Los Siete Altares

You can take a boat from Livingston or hike from the town. It’s a 3-mile (5-kilometer) walk from Livingston. Or take a boat tour from where you’re staying.

6. Relax on the beach at Playa Blanca

ENTRANCE FEE: Q30 (US$4) | LOCATION: Google Maps

The best beach along the Guatemalan Caribbean Coast is Playa Blanca. You’ll find white sand, palm trees, but perhaps not the clear blue water you normally associate with the Caribbean. A least, when I was there it was a rainy day and the water was a bit murky.

When I got to the beach, I paid an entrance fee of Q30, which came with a free beer. The beach has a bar, restaurant, public bathrooms, and lots of lounge chairs.

To get there, you need to take a boat or hike along a path through the jungle for 7.5 miles (12 kilometers).

7. Experience Garifuna culture in Livingston

If you’re already in the area, it’s worth checking out Livingston to experience the Garifuna culture, especially its food and music.

Lonely Planet describes this place as having a “friendly, fun and relaxed vibe”. Hmm. I didn’t experience this at all. I experienced a drab, quiet, and boring town with overpriced food and people who liked to overcharge tourists. But in all fairness, it was grey, cloudy, and rainy, and I was wet and cold. And the Guatemalans I was with told me that the last time they visited Livingston, they experienced a vibrant and colorful place.

The main reason to visit is to listen to Garifuna drumming music. You can experience the latter by visiting in the evening the bars and restaurants on the main street in Livingston.

The other reason is to try the local cuisine, which I’ll tell you about next.

8. Sample Garifuna Cuisine

OPEN: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm | LOCATION: Restaurante El Viajero

One of the BEST dishes to try during your time in Rio Dulce is the Garifuna coconut and seafood soup called Tapado.

On my boat tour, we stopped at a restaurant along the river called Restaurante El Viajero . Our guide said that this was the best place to eat this dish and it was much cheaper here than in Livingston. I did visit some restaurants in Livingston to check out the prices of the dish on their menus and he was right in that I paid less than what I would have paid in the town.

The other thing to try around the Caribbean Coast is coconut bread called coco de pan . It’s so delicious.

You might be interested in these travel guides to Guatemala:

• 33 Most Popular Guatemalan Dishes and Drinks
• 99 Things to Know Before Visiting Guatemala
• 15 Best Books on Guatemala

9.  Soak in Agua Caliente along the Rio Dulce

Along the Rio Dulce are some thermal hot springs . I visited this small spot beside a restaurant at the end of the boat tour. It was cold, cloudy, and rainy, so it felt good to soak in the warm water for a while.

You won’t find it on any map. Ask at your hotel or ask your boat driver for its location.

10. Visit El Castillo de San Felipe de Lara

COST: Q75 US$10)  | TIME: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | LOCATION: Google Maps

El Castillo de San Felipe de Lara (the Castle of San Felipe of Lara) is definitely worth a visit for history lovers. This beautiful castle is located in the village of San Felipe de Lara—one side of the town is on the shore of the Rio Dulce and the other is on the edge of Lago Izabel.

The castle was originally built in 1652 to protect the villages in the area against pirates. Then when the pirates disappeared in the 1700s, the castle became a prison.

Besides touring the inside of the castle and taking in the beautiful views of the lake and river from the ramparts, the shore of the lake makes for a nice place to relax and have a picnic.

How to get to the Castle of San Felipe de Lara:

You can easily walk the 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the town of Rio Dulce to the castle.

Alternatively, from the intersection of Highway CW-13 and 7A in Rio Dulce, you can take a bus or colectivo (public minivan) heading to El Estero.

Another option is to take a water taxi from your hotel or from Rio Dulce town.

11. Bathe in the Hot Springs Waterfall of El Paraiso

COST: Q20 (US$3) | BOOK A TOUR: Rio Dulce Travels | LOCATION: Google Maps

If you have the time, definitely try to make it out to El Paraiso. It’s not that difficult to get to.

El Paraiso is a hot spring waterfall located north of Lake Izabal.

You can swim in the cool water of the pool at the foot of the falls. But the absolute best part is standing underneath the falls as the warm water from the above hot springs falls comes rushing down on you! It’s so relaxing!

There is also a hidden cave in the back of the falls.

How to get to El Paraiso:

At the intersection of CA-13 and 7E ( Google Maps ) in Rio Dulce, take a bus or colectivo (minivan) going to El Estor, a town on the shore of Lago Izabal. Tell the driver you’re going to El Paraiso, and after about an hour, he’ll drop you off on the side of the road. You’ll need to walk about 2 kilometers to the waterfall. Expect to pay Q20 (US$3) for the colectivo.

12. Go tubing at El Boqueron Canyon

COST: Check current prices here | WEBSITE: Canyon Seacacar Nature Reserve    | BOOK A TOUR: Rio Dulce Tours | LOCATION: Google Maps

North of Lake Izabal is a beautiful river that flows through a narrow limestone gorge in the Santa Cruz Mountains and then eventually empties into the lake. This is El Boqueron.

There are several fun things you can do at El Boqueron.

• Swimming in the river – just off the road running between Rio Dulce and El Estero are 2 bathing spots called Balneario
• Boat trip down or up the river
• Go to Canyon Seacacar Nature Reserve and go tubing down the river
• Hike along the trails of the Nature Reserve

You can camp or stay in a dorm room or hotel right next to the river at Canyon Seacacar Nature Reserve. The Reserve is community-owned and run. Check out their website here .

How to get to El Boqueron

It’s easy to get to the El Boqueron bathing spots. In Rio Dulce, just take the colectivo heading to El Estero. Tell the bus driver where you want to go and he’ll drop you off on the side of the road. You still need to walk some to get to the river. It should cost around Q20 (US$3).

13. Experience the Wildlife of Bocas del Polochic

BOOK TOURS: Rio Dulce Travel | LOCATION: Google Maps

The best place to spot manatees is at the wildlife refuge of Bocas del Polochic . This refuge is a wetland formed by the Polochic River flowing into Lago Izabal.

It is home to the largest number of manatees in Guatemala . The West Indies manatees are an endangered species.

There are loads of other wildlife in the park as well: 250 bird species, 48 mammals, 135 reptile species, and 53 fish species.

How to visit Bocas del Polochi:

Take a bus or colectivo to El Estor from Rio Dulce. Then take a boat from El Estor to the National Park.

Rio Dulce Travels has tours of Bocas del Polochic.

14. Explore the mangroves of Biotopo Chocon Machacas

Another place to spot manatees is at Biotopo Chocon Machachas. This 72-square-kilometer nature reserve inside Parque Nacional Rio Dulce is a network of hiking trails, mangroves, and jungle lagoons. Besides manatees, it’s full of birds, fish, reptiles, tapirs, and howler monkeys.

The best way to visit this reserve is by kayaking through the waterways. Get off your boat and hike along the jungle trails.

You can stay at a community-owned and run hotel inside the reserve called Hotel Q’ana Itz’am.

15. Take a sunset sailboat cruise on the Rio Dulce

If you’re staying at Boatique Hotel and Marina , you can do sunset sailboat tours around Lago Izabal or down the Rio Dulce to the Caribbean Sea. They have their own sailboat.

When I was staying there, it was cloudy and the place wasn’t very busy, so there were no sailboat tours.

They also offer sailing lessons.

You might be interested in these posts about Guatemala

• 32 Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala
• Where to stay in Antigua, Guatemala
• Things to Do in Chichicastenango

Rio Dulce and Livingston Itinerary

• Day 1 – Boat Tour of Rio Dulce with a visit to Livingston
• Day 2 – Go kayaking along the Rio Dulce and the mangroves and lagoons of the nature reserves
• Day 3 – Visit El Paraiso in the morning and then on the way back to Rio Dulce, stop by El Castillo de San Felipe de Lara
• Day 4 – Visit Quirigua – if you leave early in the morning, you can return by 2:00 pm.
• Day 5 – Visit either El Boqueron or Bocas del Polochic

Is Rio Dulce and Livingston safe?

It’s safe to walk around during the day by yourself, but I wouldn’t walk around alone at night.

It’s safe to take public transportation around the area. 

Are there ATMs in Rio Dulce?

There is a row of ATMs in front of the Supermercado La Torre Rio Dulce.

How can I book tours in Rio Dulce?

There weren’t many tour operators in Rio Dulce. I used Rio Dulce Travels to book my shuttle to Honduras. They offer tours to different places around Rio Dulce. Your other option is to book something through your hotel. 

Where to go after Rio Dulce?

Where to next after Rio Dulce?

There are so many places to visit in Guatemala as well as Central America.

I headed to Roatan, Honduras after Rio Dulce. There are tourist shuttles that run from Rio Dulce to the port in La Ceiba.

Another option is to travel to Copan in Honduras. I felt safe traveling alone in Honduras.

Flores and Tikal are only 4 hours away from Rio Dulce. Another popular option is Semuc Champey, but it’s kind of hard to get to from Rio Dulce. But it is possible.

Check out my guide to the best places to visit in Central America .

PRO TIP: No one likes to think about insurance, but accidents do happen. I highly recommend getting travel insurance. During my travels over the past 2 years, I’ve been using SafetyWing for my insurance. They’re very affordable for all ages, and digital nomads can use their insurance long-term.

Are you on Pinterest?

Hey! How about saving one of these pins to Pinterest to read for later?

And feel free to follow me on Pinterest, where you’ll find lots of travel articles for everywhere around the world.

You might be interested in…

• Best Things to Do in Antigua: History, Culture, Food & Adventure
• Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Guatemala
• Where to Stay in Antigua
• Chichicastenango Travel Guide
• Quirigua Travel Guide
• How to Cross the Border from Guatemala to Belize
• How to Cross the Border from Belize to Guatemala
• 15 Best Books About Guatemala
• 16 Best Books on the Ancient Maya
• Top 20 Things to Do in Flores
• Top 50 Things to Do at Lake Atitlan
• Top 35 Things to Do in Guatemala
• Top 20 Things to Do in Rio Dulce & Livingston
• Guatemala Packing List

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Welcome to The Bamboo Traveler, a travel blog dedicated to helping those travelers who want to dig deeply into the history, heritage, and culture of a place. Whether it’s through the pages of your passport or the pages of a book, I’ll help you travel the world and uncover the history, culture, food, architecture, and natural beauty of some of the world’s most fascinating places.

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Guatemala, Tikal & Rio Dulce 8 Day Tour from USD $995 #1 In Value

Dear Traveler, Welcome to a great vacation at an affordable price. Your Guatemala, Tikal tour is fully guided and includes all meals, all hotels, and all activities. Happy Travels! Caravan

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"This was our 8th Caravan tour, so that should speak to how we feel about Caravan Tours. We recommend it to all our friends. Without a doubt the sightseeing was absolutely beautiful. Mountains, volcanoes, and lakes made for wonderful pictures. Highly enjoyed visiting museums and Mayan ruins. Memory of a lifetime. Outstanding meals, everything was a treat and we could not be more pleased. Thank you so much for every safe and enjoyable voyage." Mr. & Mrs. C.E., Clarksville, Georgia

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Sendas de Viaje

Viajar y Caminar

Ruta por el Barranco del Río Dulce

Completa ruta por las dos sendas más conocidas del precioso parque natural del Barranco del Río Dulce, elegido en su día como “set de grabación” natural por Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente

Contenido de esta Senda

Senda viajera camino a los Picos de Urbión. Una escapada exprés que he decidido extender haciendo una parada larga en un espacio natural que tenía pendiente, el Barranco del Río Dulce.

Os aseguro que merece mucho la pena abandonar la autovía A2 y acercarse a ver las panorámicas de los miradores sobre el barranco y revoloteo de los buitres . Estamos sin duda ante uno de los lugares más bellos de la provincia de Guadalajara .

Pelegrina es una pedanía de Sigüenza (de la que dista 10 kilómetros) que cuenta tan solo con 15 habitantes. Pertenece a la comarca La Sierra y se encuentra sobre un cerro en el que se levanta por encima de las casas un castillo en ruinas.

Además del Castillo de Pelegrina , destaca la iglesia parroquial del siglo XII y de estilo románico. Aquí encontraremos también el Centro de Interpretación del Parque Natural Barranco del Río Dulce.

Antes de adentrarnos en esta pequeña localidad conocida por ser parte del paisaje del Barranco del Río Dulce, no dejéis de parar en el Mirador Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente . Se encuentra a unos dos kilómetros de la entrada al pueblo, en una curva cerrada de la carretera según llegamos desde la autovía.

A unos 500 metros de Pelegrina, hay una pequeña área de descanso donde yo aparqué el coche e hice picnic tras la ruta. Es una buena opción si hay muchos coches en el aparcamiento que está justo a la entrada.

Durante mi paseo por las calles pude ver que había un par de bares con terraza.

El Parque Natural Barranco del Río Dulce.

A lo largo de millones de años el río Dulce ha ido disolviendo las calizas y excavando un peculiar cañón repleto de diferentes rocas curiosas, cuevas y torcas. En la parte alta encontramos extensos páramos como si un paisaje de infinitas praderas se tratara, pero de repente, se corta abruptamente por el barranco.

El senderismo es la actividad estrella en este parque natural. La ruta de la Hoz del Pelegrina es la más sencilla y adecuada para hacer en familia y permite llevarse a casa una bonita perspectiva del cañón. Aunque las sendas en torno a Pelegrina son las más conocidas, se puede alargar el recorrido a la ribera del río Dulce hasta los pueblos de La Cabrera y Aragosa.

>> Otras rutas por cañones y barrancos en Sendas de Viaje: Cañón del Tera , Cañón del Forcadura , Cañon de la Horadada , Cañon del Segura o La Foz de Lumbier .

Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente y el Barranco del Río Dulce.

Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente y su programa El Hombre y la Tierra pusieron el Barranco del Río Dulce en el mapa. Recorriendo la ruta de la Hoz de Pelegrina pasaremos junto a la Caseta de Félix, un pequeño campamento donde varios paneles informativos con fotografías nos recuerdan entre otras cosas que aquí se grabaron más de 80 capítulos de la serie de TVE.

Félix quiso hacer llegar a todos su pasión por la fauna ibérica. Lo demuestran sus programas dedicados al zorro y especialmente al lobo, con los que quiso cambiar la visión de temor que existía hacia este animal.

Pero ante todo, Félix fue un pionero. Nos mostró desde parajes como este, la necesidad de cuidar el medio ambiente. Con el paso del tiempo, su mensaje se ha vuelto más contemporáneo y nuestros difíciles retos ambientales son ya una realidad.

Esta ruta es una confluencia de hasta 4 sendas diferentes para dar lugar a una completa caminata que nos permite apreciar el barranco y Pelegrina desde todas las perspectivas posibles.

La primera parte incluye la ruta Hoz de Pelegrina y la ruta Cascada del Gollorio, los dos senderos «oficiales» del cañón. Durante una segunda parte que podéis hacer de forma opcional, ascenderemos a la parte alta del barranco, para regresar a Pelegrina desde una perspectiva diferente.

Pero tened en cuenta que este descenso paulatino hasta el río no tiene un sendero marcado, por lo que a priori os aconsejo hacer la ruta más «oficial» y girar a la derecha en el dicho kilómetro 8 de este track para descender a los pies del castillo de forma directa. De este modo, vuestra ruta final será de unos 10 kilómetros.

Hitos del Camino.

• Entrada al cañón (km 1). Panel informativo.
• Caseta de Félix (km 2,3).
• Cruce ruta de La Hoz de Pelegrina con la ruta de la Cascada de Gollorio.
• Cascada del Gollorio (km 5,5). Recordad que es estacional. Yo la encontré seca al hacer la senda en verano.
• Encinar (km 8). Yo sigo de frente sin sendero marcado hasta enlazar con el camino a La Cabrera, normalmente giraríamos a la derecha para ir directos a Pelegrina.
• Castillo de Pelegrina (km 11,5). Para subir al castillo desde el sendero junto al río hay que subir con cuidado pasando primero un murete junto a una casa de piedra (km 11).

Nuestra Senda.

Camino a Soria como decía Loquillo… Pero antes, una parada que llevaba pendiente años y que siempre me picaba cada vez pasaba a su altura por la autovía A2. Hoy sí, tocaba por fin recorrer el Barranco del Río Dulce.

Aunque es viernes y no hay mucha gente en el pueblo de Pelegrina , prefiero aparcar antes de llegar, en una pequeña área recreativa. Así cuando vuelva, mi premio será un mini picnic de la ensalada de pasta y el refresco sin azúcar que he dejado en la nevera dentro del coche.

Comienzo a caminar por la carretera con el castillo de Pelegrina esperando a recibirme. Nada más llegar al pueblo, una señal me indica la bajada al barranco por la izquierda. Empezaré por el sencillo sendero de la Hoz de Pelegrina que me recuerda bastante al Cañón del Val .

La primera parada de interés es el refugio de «nuestro amigo Félix». Varios paneles informativos recuerdan sus grabaciones en el entorno de este parque natural. Siempre grande el pionero Don Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente.

Un paso de piedras curioso me permite cruzar el río. Está prohibido en este punto acercarse a la parte baja de la cascada del Gollorio . Antes se podía pasar por unas cuerdas, pero se ha puesto un cartel para evitar accidentes.

En poco, cojo el ligero ascenso por la ruta de la cascada . Cuando empieza a llanear, hay un saliente con un mirador natural que me parece lo mejor hasta ahora de la ruta.

La cascada, a principios de junio, está seca. Paso por encima de ella, antes de seguir mi camino. Durante esta parte de la senda tengo un premio mayor. Un buitre leonado observa el barranco antes de lanzarse en vuelo y yo paso a poco más de 5 metros de él.

Dejo ahora todos los caminos oficiales y me dispongo a caminar por la parte alta del barranco. Solo hay que seguir con cuidado y pegado al borde. Desde esta zona hay algunas panorámicas fantásticas de Pelegrina y su estratégica ubicación sobre el cañón.

Cuando debería girar a la derecha para bajar al pueblo, me despisto unos metros y me sirve de excusa para decidir seguir de frente por un encinar. Como voy bien de tiempo, continuo y bajo la loma del monte haciendo un poco de aventura «travesera» entre los árboles.

Cuando enlazo de nuevo un sendero (para ser más exactos, el GR-10 nada menos), estoy a espaldas de Pelegrina. Al cruzar un puente, rodeo por la derecha la base del castillo y aunque me cuesta al principio, tras subir por un muro de piedra, encuentro el camino hasta el castillo.

Última subida y lluvia de vistas panorámicas en modo 360, antes de volver al comienzo atravesando el pueblo. Objetivo cumplido con alguna que otra sorpresa 🙂 .

Autor entrada: Sergio

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• Antigua Guatemala
• Chichicastenango
• About Guatemala
• Port Santo Tomas
• Port Quetzal
• Tour Playa Blanca
• Rio Dulce Tour
• Snorkeling at Belize Keys
• Bike Tour Livingston
• Jungle Trip 7 altars
• Punta de Manabique
• The Guatemala Caribbean
• Archaelogical Guatemala
• The best Thing of guatemala
• Piratas del Caribe
• Livingston Paradisiaco
• Cayos de Belize Expedition
• Local Flights
• Community Support
• Hotels in Livinstong
• Hotel Casona de la Isla (Petén)
• Hotels in Rio Dulce
• Why Happy Fish Travel

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Río Dulce Tour

SNORKELING AT BELIZE KEYS

BIKE TOUR LIVINGSTON

JUNGLE TRIP 7 ALTARS

Livingston y Río Dulce. Que hacer y como llegar

03 Abr Livingston y Río Dulce. Que hacer y como llegar

Siempre que viajas a un destino hay lugares que decepcionan y otros que superan tus expectativas. En mi última visita de tres semanas a Guatemala tuve las dos experiencias. Por un lado la decepción de Lívingston y por otro lado la sorpresa agradable de Río Dulce.

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Visitar Lívingston y Río Dulce Guatemala

Cuando se viene a esta zona de Guatemala lo normal es quedase tres noches para explorar sus  atractivos naturales , que son el lago Izabal, Río Dulce y Lívingston. Lo mejor es quedarte siempre en el mismo alojamiento y desde allí visitar todos los lugares de interés.

Llegué a esta zona en un shuttle con una docena de viajeros. La mitad se iban a quedar en Lívingston y la otra mitad en Río Dulce. Por suerte yo era de los que estaban en la segunda mitad.

Río Dulce es una pequeña ciudad y un río frondoso con una zona de cañón que une el lago Izabal con Lívingston. Es el punto medio de todos los atractivos de la zona, el que más servicios ofrece al visitante y desde luego lo más bonito de la zona.

Por lo que a mí respecta, no hay duda de donde hay que instalarse los días que vengas a este rincón de Guatemala perteneciente al estado de Izabal. 

Como llegar a Río Dulce y donde alojarse

Como llegar.

Salvo excepciones, en Guatemala se llega a todos los sitios por carretera y tienes dos opciones:

• BUS LITEGUA.- Litegua es una compañía de buses que cinco veces al día hace la ruta Antigua con Puerto Barrios parando en todas las ciudades intermedias entre ellas Ciudad Guatemala y Río Dulce.
• SHUTTLE.- Todos los días hay shuttles que hacen la ruta Antigua – Flores con paradas en Ciudad Guatemala y Río Dulce. Es más rápido que el bus de Litegua porque hace menos paradas. Para los traslados en shuttle desde y hacia Río Dulce a cualquier zona de Guatemala, te recomiendo la agencia local Río Dulce Travel . 

¿Tienes SEGURO DE VIAJE para América Latina?

Un seguro de viajes es la mejor inversión porque en América Latina los hospitales privados son muy caros . Yo viajé a Guatemala asegurado con la compañía Seguros IATI   que me daba las mejores coberturas a un precio muy económico.

  Reserva aquí tu seguro de viaje con un 5% de descuento

Donde alojarse en Río Dulce

Los mejores alojamientos están en la orilla del río , no muy alejados del puente de Río Dulce. Estos hoteles están en medio de la pura vegetación, no muy lejos de Livíngston y cerca de la ciudad por si quieres algo.

Todos los alojamientos ofrecen el servicio de lancha a sus huéspedes. A la hora que llega tu shuttle o bus Litegua te pasan a recoger.

Yo me alojé tres noches en el Hotel Kangaroo y lo recomiendo en primera persona . Hay dormitorios compartidos, habitaciones privadas y bungalows, por lo que cualquier tipo de viajero tiene una cama ajustada a su presupuesto.  

Aparte del servicio de lancha, tienen restaurante (con desayuno, comida y cena), lavandería, préstamo de kayak, jacuzzi, áreas comunes y un WI-FI excepcional.

Que hacer en Río Dulce en 3 días 

Mi sugerencia es que si hacéis tres noches en alguno de los hoteles que hay en la rivera del río, el segundo y tercer día hagáis excursiones. Un día para visitar Livingston y otro para las siguientes propuestas que os hago.

Avistar manatíes

Para mí es la actividad más interesante por lo peculiar de sus protagonistas. Cerca del municipio El Estor, en la rivera del lago Izabal hay una colonia permanente y autóctona de manatíes que se pueden avistar a primera hora de la mañana, cuando salen a comer y se dejan ver en superficie.

Sólo hay unos pocos barqueros autorizados para acercarse en lancha a los manatíes. Llegar por libre al embarcadero sólo se puede hacer desde El Estor. Desde Río Dulce has de hacerlo a través de una agencia que te lleve a primera hora de la mañana desde tu hotel y haga la gestión con los barqueros.

Yo hice esta actividad con la agencia local Río Dulce Travel , que tienen un tour de un día que incluye el avistamiento de manatíes, la cascada de la finca El Paraíso y el cañón del Boquerón.

Cascada finca El Paraíso

Es una cascada muy popular y única porque el agua cae muy caliente. De hecho hay zonas donde no pude aguantar tanto calor. Obviamente es una zona termal y el contraste del agua caliente que cae de la cascada con la fría del río, dicen que tiene propiedades curativas.

Hay un pequeño lago y es frecuente ver familias y grupos de amigos que van a pasar el día a la cascada. Yo la visité dentro del tour de los manatíes de Río Dulce Travel pero se puede ir por libre en los shuttles que van a El Estor. La entrada son 15Q – 2$.

Cañón del Boquerón

La tercera actividad de este tour es el cañón del Boquerón. Un circuito fluvial de unos 40 minutos que se hace en una barca de remos. El cañón es bastante sorprendente por lo desconocido y porque no esperas encontrar paredes de 100 metros de altura llenos de vegetación.

Al igual que la cascada de finca El Paraíso, es fácil hacer la visita por libre en los shuttles que van a El Estor. La entrada y el paseo en barca son 20Q – 3$.

Castillo de San Felipe

Entre tanta vegetación te encuentras junto al río una antigua fortaleza defensiva del siglo XVII construida por los españoles en la época colonial. El castillo está en buen estado de conservación y es un lugar muy fotogénico por el entorno donde se encuentra.

La entrada son 20Q – 3$ y el horario es de 10am a 4pm. Se puede llegar en lancha, en coche y dependiendo de donde te alojes, en el kayak que los hoteles prestan a sus clientes.

Que hacer en Lívingston en un día

Yo hice una excursión de un día y por libre desde Río Dulce, pero me consta que hay zonas naturales espectaculares para visitar desde Lívingston. Si tu plan es pasar varios días allí y quieres recorrer esa zona, te recomiendo que consultes a mi amiga Safira, una blogger local que está empezando en este mundo con su web Guatemalteca Viajando .

Como llegar a Lívingston

Hay que hacerlo necesariamente en lancha desde Río Dulce. Los shuttles y buses no llegan a Lívingston . El trayecto es precioso, una maravilla de travesía que dura unos 90 minutos. En mi caso el servicio de lancha pública me la gestionó el hotel. Me pasaron a buscar por la mañana hacia las 10am y regresé sobre las 5pm.

Si el plan es alojarte allí y tu bus o shuttle tiene prevista la llegada a Río Dulce al atardecer, teniendo en cuenta los habituales retrasos, te recomiendo que esa noche la hagas en Río Dulce para salir al día siguiente hacia Lívingston.

Otra opción es que contrates un servicio de lancha privado en una agencia local como Rio Dulce Travel, que te esté esperando tu llegada. Cuando anochece el transporte público de lancha deja de prestar servicio. Solo los privados navegan por la noche previa demanda. 

Que hacer el Lívingston

Una vez que llegues al puerto de Lívingston, tienes unas cinco horas libres. Aparte de ir a la playa, lo más interesante son las actividades que te permitan conocer la cultura garífuna; guatemaltecos de raza negra descendientes de esclavos africanos. 

Hay varios hoteles con puntos de información turística que te organizan tours adaptados a tu tiempo. Aparte puedes ir a cualquier lugar por tu cuenta en tuc-tuc.

• TOUR MURALES.- Hay un circuito de murales que recogen la historia de la cultura garífuna guatemalteca. El tour lo dan los propios garífunas.
• PLAYAS.- Estás playas Caribeñas son pequeñas, con mucha vegetación y poca gente. Te recomiendo la playa Capitanía y la playa Barique.
• CASA DEL CASABE.- Es una pequeña casa/museo donde te enseñan a elaborar el casabe, un pan de yuca muy tradicional de la zona.
• RESTAURANTE LAS TRES GARÍFUNAS.- Un restaurante chiquitito especializado en cocina garífuna con mucho encanto y buenos platos.

Otros artículos de Guatemala

Seguridad en GUATEMALA, ¿es peligroso viajar al país de los mayas? Como ir a TIKAL desde FLORES. Precio, entrada y consejos

Playa EL PAREDÓN Guatemala. Como llegar y que hacer Viajar a Guatemala por libre. RUTAS de 1 y 2 semanas Como ir a TIKAL desde Ciudad Guatemala en 1 día 9 cosas únicas que ver en CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA 

Como llegar a ANTIGUA Guatemala desde el AEROPUERTO 10 cosas que hacer en ANTIGUA Guatemala en 3 días Como ir a TIKAL desde Antigua en 1 día Trekking al VOLCÁN ACATENANGO. Tours, precio y dificultad

Como llegar al LAGO ATITLÁN. Que hacer en 3 días

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NCL's Discover Rio Dulce excursion

By philamike , November 21, 2009 in Guatemala

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Anyone do the "Discover Rio Dulce" excursion on NCL? (Boat tour, followed by a stop in Livingston.) If so, what were your thoughts? I'm considering it for my upcoming cruise on the Norwegian Spirit.

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Most of the commentary here about tours in this area have focused on Go with Gus Tours, http://www.gowithgustours.com/. The feedback for his tour has been overwhelming positive. Having toured with Gus in November 2007 I agree with the consensus, and his tour of the Rio Dulce area and Livingston made Santo Tomas de Castilla one of our favorite ports.

That being said, I am sure that NCL has partnered with a reputable tour operator who will visit the same areas. I would very much consider a tour to these locales while in Santo Tomas. The only other tours I might consider are to the Mayan ruins, either at Quirigua, Copan, or Tikal (though the last two are accessed by air making the tours very expensive). Even so, I would likely put Rio Dulce ahead of them. Traveling by lancha into a very remote part of this continent, observing a different ecology, a different society, is quite fascinating. Livingston is one of those places inaccessible by highway . . . and having been to several such highway-isolated communities (largely in Canada) this is certainly one of the most interesting with its mix of peoples and commerce.

• 4 weeks later...

buckeyes #1

hey philamike,

we're also considering the "Discover Rio Dulce" excursion and we're comparing it to the tour offered by Happy Fish "Tour of Rio Dulce Canyon/Livingston".

Both are comparable in price around $49-50. I'm kinda leaning towards the NCL operated tour b/c they gurantee their excursion (meaning you can't get left behind). Plus if anything happens on the tour (something bad or unforseeable, the cruise will take some sort of responsibility: maybe offer refunds).

On the otherside of the coin, cruise operated tours are often over crowded and rushed.

still undecided over here.......

hey philamike,   we're also considering the "Discover Rio Dulce" excursion and we're comparing it to the tour offered by Happy Fish "Tour of Rio Dulce Canyon/Livingston".   Both are comparable in price around $49-50. I'm kinda leaning towards the NCL operated tour b/c they gurantee their excursion (meaning you can't get left behind). Plus if anything happens on the tour (something bad or unforseeable, the cruise will take some sort of responsibility: maybe offer refunds).   On the otherside of the coin, cruise operated tours are often over crowded and rushed.   still undecided over here.......

My friend and I did book the tour through NCL. Let me know what you decide to do. :-)

Hi where did you get the price of $50 - NCL are quoting $125 and Gus Tours $85 on their web site - have I missed something or is it a different tour?

NCL does have a few versions that include a Rio Dulce tour. The one I'm referencing is this one:

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/shorexDetails.html?groupId=TDE_23

Hey thanks Mike will check that out as that looks more like an excursion we would be interested in

Merry Christmas

• 1 month later...

I've also been looking at the Discover Rio Dulce tour with NCL but it's not on the excursion website. Does this mean it is booked solid for my sailing or that they aren't offering it for my sailing?

I don't know if that means it's sold out, but definitely check with the Excursions Desk after you board. Cruises typically keep excursion slots open for those who don't/can't book in advance online. I know some of my fellow cruisers did a very similar excursion with Go With Gus Tours ( http://www.gowithgustours.com/ ) and enjoyed it a lot.

I don't know if that means it's sold out, but definitely check with the Excursions Desk after you board. Cruises typically keep excursion slots open for those who don't/can't book in advance online. I know some of my fellow cruisers did a very similar excursion with Go With Gus Tours ( http://www.gowithgustours.com/ ) and enjoyed it a lot.   - Mike :-)

So Mike, you said in an earlier post that you booked thru NCL. Have you completed your trip yet? Do you have a review of the excursion?

Yes, I sailed during New Year's. My port reviews are posted here:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/portreviews.cfm?EntryID=62021

(CC doesn't have Santo Tomas de Castilla as a port, so I included that info under Belize City...)

Thanks for taking time to review your trip. I saw reviews of this excursion on NCL site that mentioned the boat is too fast and the waters a little rough for that speed. But, you made no mention of that so must have been fine for you.

Thanks again for all the info.

Sunshinefish

We were on the January 31st NCL Spirit cruise and did the Discover Rio Dulce Tour. We would highly recommend it due to the beautiful scenery. Be prepared for a very bumpy boat ride to start off, however! The boats hold about 20 people – they have a roof over the top for shade, but open sides, and bench type seats seating four across. It took about 30 minutes to get from where the ship is docked to the mouth of the Rio Dulce and that 30 minutes consisted of a fast, rough, bone-jarring ride. After that, we slowed down and were able to enjoy the ride and scenery. Our favorite spot was a water lily garden, where young children (about 4-8 years old) came up in canoes to try to sell us trinkets or have their pictures taken – they were so cute, we were more than happy to oblige (be sure to bring some $1 bills). We stopped at a dock/home nearby and got out for a few minutes to use the rustic facilities and get a drink and/or snack (including tortillas made over the fire). We then had a stop in Livingston for a little over an hour before heading back on the bumpy ride to the ship. You were free to wander as you wished – we followed the tour guide around, visiting a church and then going to a local hotel where a group of young people performed dances at noon.

Has anyone taken this excursion through ncl? Anyone have pictures?

It seems like a good value for the price ncl is charging.

Has anyone taken this excursion through ncl? Anyone have pictures?   It seems like a good value for the price ncl is charging.

I have photos here:

And I highly recommend this excursion.

I have photos here:   And I highly recommend this excursion.   - Mike :-)

These pictures are great. Thanks a million.

Thanks for the great info on Guatemala. We are trying to decide what to do when we go there in December. When you were in Livingston, where the locals aggressive? I hate getting off the ship in Jamaica and Nassau because the locals won't leave us alone. I don't mind being approached, and may even buy something, but when I say no thanks, I mean no! I love the idea of the river cruise and going to an isolated city to see the real culture of the country and meeting with the locals but want to feel safe. Thanks for any input you have.

• 3 weeks later...

Yes, I noticed that too so I called NCL and was told it is sold out for our date. I was told to check the website again before the cruise to see if there are any cancellations (it will reappear). Otherwise, the lady recommended we book our next choice so we are not stuck with a less desirable excursion. I've heard there are private companies that offer the same tour for a much cheaper price.

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