Sun, surf, and sand in… Guatemala? Who knew! Pics of and words about Guatemala’s Caribbean coast.
Did you know that Guatemala has a Caribbean Coast?
Don’t worry, I didn’t either.
When I think of the Caribbean, I think of beaches in the
Dominican Republic, waterfalls and reggae in Jamaica, yachts in the Bahamas or Belize, and fruity drinks in Cuba or Cancun. I don’t think of
Guatemala. For me, Guatemala evokes
ancient Mayan ruins and rituals, green lush jungles rife with flora and fauna, colonial cities and active volcanoes.So it was with much surprise that I discovered that Guatemala does indeed have a coastline that stretches along the Caribbean sea. A coastline with palm trees, cerulean waters, and unforgiving humidity.
Liebling and I spent two days in Livingston, Guatemala, technically and spiritually part of the Caribbean. We hopped into a minibus that took us from Antigua to Rio Dulce, then took a speedboat from Rio Dulce to Livingston. The photographic evidence of our journey follows below.
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| Looking at the yachts at the private dock in Rio Dulce. |
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| A yummy lunch of chicken skewers and rice before hopping on the speedboat. |
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| The 2 hour speedboat ride took us past houses on the water that looked like these. |
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| A glimpse of our boat. I was afraid I would fall out! The boat was very shallow and we ended up getting pretty wet. |
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| Approaching Livingston. |
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| Members of the Garifuna tribe. This tribe is indigenous to the region and speak a dialect that to me sounded like a mix of Jamaican patois, Spanish, and African language. It was cool to see so many people in the town that looked like me! |
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| Our hotel in Livingston, the Hotel Villa Caribe. We didn’t have accommodation so found this hotel on arrival. Only $70 USD a night for a large room with our own balcony- loved it! |
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| Liebling on our little balcony. |
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| The view of the hotel pool from our room. |
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| Fresh fruit and juices for breakfast, mmm! |
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| A view of the sea. |
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| On the main road of Livingston. |
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| Beautiful architecture. |
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| For $10 USD we did a day trip out to a private beach and got a tour of the area on speedboat and foot. |
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| Lazing around on our own private beach- apart from one other couple, we were the only ones there! |
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| The devilishly handsome Liebling emerges from the sea. |
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| A crab on the beach. |
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| Our boat. |
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| Cheesing in paradise. |
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| So much vegetation! |
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| Including in our tour was a trip to “Las Siete Altares” (The Seven Altars), a series of seven waterfalls boasting pools of milky turquoise water. |
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| I felt like this was a scene out of Blue Lagoon! |
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| Our last day there we were treated to a tasty (albeit greasy) breakfast of egg, ham, beans, cheese, fried plantain (!), and potato. We could definitely tell by the type of food we ate while there that we were in the Caribbean! It totally reminded me of my Jamaican heritage. |
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| A slightly sunburned Liebling eating breakfast. It was sweltering hot, even at 9am! |
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| Leaving Livingston after an enjoyable two days on the beach. Long live the Caribbean! |
Have you ever been to the Caribbean? If so, where? Did you enjoy yourself? How did you cope with the heat?
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70 Comments
These pictures are stunning! That seven altars place looks so cool. I went to Cuba in 2008 to ring in 2009 and was only there for a week. It was fun but we got a cold spell for a few days and all of us had only packed one pair of pants. While some days were really hot we still had a nice breeze, it was never humid. Our resort was in Veradero but the day trip into Havana was lovely. My camera was broken though so I was unable to document the trip. I will have to make it back and probably stay in Havana rather than do the resort thing again.
I have. Went to the Bahamas @ age 17. The beaches were so beautiful…And sadly, it was the first time I realized that water should be BLUE not BROWN…LOL.
Also- I didn't know Guatemala had a Caribbean coast myself…Nor realized they had a black population. The more you know…lol
I found you via OneBrownGirl (Tracey Friley) and I really enjoy this blog. Now I want to go to Guatemala. I never thought of it as a caribbean vacation either! I've been to a few places in the Caribbean and now I'm adding this to my list – prices seem great too! I'm going to pin this blog post 🙂
~Thanks for sharing this! I wanted to go to GUA before, but after reading bad reviews decided not to go.Adding GUA back on my list!! Fabulous, gorgeous pics by the way! I've been to a few islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda, Aruba, St Thomas, St John, Barbados & Trinidad. I love the Caribbean, the water, food and culture!! I beat the heat by staying close to the water..LOL!
Jacqueline
You and your man are such a gorgeous couple!!! What a beautiful part of the world that I have never thought to visit. Thanks for igniting my wanderlust.
ugh, looks awesome, I'm living all of my traveling dreams through you!
Wow. Amazing. I didn't make to west of Atitlan, and now I regret that. I'll have to return to Guatemala. Thanks for the inspiration.
OMG! Those pics look just like PANAMA! I never knew the Garifuna were in Guatemala! Not only are your posts entertaining, they are educational as well. I am so going there. I never had a desire to go to Guatemala, but because of what I have seen here (thanks to you) it's now on my list. Oh and if you loved Guatemala, you will DEFINITELY love Panama! Cuidate, chica.
It took a couple days of misery to realize that no one in Martinique did anything during the middle of the day. They closed up shop and hid inside under their air conditioners, and so we did that as well. Everything before noon or everything after five, none of that business hours nonsense getting in the way.
But man, if they lose those air conditioners.
The Garifuna people were originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A mixture of Slaves and the native Carib population. There was an uprising there in the late 1700s against the British. The British won, they then proceeded to deport thousands to Central America, who were the ancestors for the present day Garifuna. Thats why you will find them on the Caribbean Coast of these Countries Guatemala, Belize,Honduras etc. Going to School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, one will be taught this in their History lessons.
Oh I love the pics by the way lol I've commented before here so I'm not new. Now back to lurkdom.
So beautiful! I don't think I knew that the Garifuna were in Guatemala too…another great reason to visit…I love learning about Afro Diaspora cultures!!!
There is something really special about the Caribbean; Ive been to Jamaica, and I loved it…hung out in Ochos Rios (loved it) and Negril (not my fav)…also visited some spots up in the hills to visit my then bf's family…
I want to check out DR/Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas next…
I have to comment this one…
Love all… It took me back in time…
I've been there… I think even the hotel in Livingston is the same (not much more)… and the places are amazing… as you describe… too goodddd…
Not known, but really deserve a visit!!!
LOVE IT!!!!
XOXO
Thanks!! I've also been to Cuba but really long ago and on an all-inclusive so I never made it to Havana. I would love to go back!
I didn't know about the Garifuna either!
Thanks for reading, Aisha!!! Hope you'll stick around- so glad we were connected through Tracey!
Wow, Jacqueline, it sounds like you've really been to a bunch of places in the Caribbean! It's one part of the world I admittedly take for granted- I guess I figure because my parents are Jamaican it's so easy to go there?
haha thanks Andi! The same could be said for you and L.. :-0 I would love to seek your pics from Guatemala whenever you make it there!
Aww thanks!
You definitely do!
Gracias, chica!! I really really have to make it to Panama, argh!!
LOL! I was once told that life moves slower in the Caribbean because of the heat! Not too sure that I buy that though!
Thanks so much for the history lesson! A Vincy friend of men told me the same thing. Thanks for coming out of lurkdom to educate us!
Take me with you! I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't been to Jamaican in YEARS so you know it way better than I do!
Awesome!! Glad I was able to take you back!
I loved Guate but didn't make it to the coast – clearly I need to go back!
Great post! Will have to remember all these tips for when we visit Guatemala on our rtw trip.
Thanks for sharing!
I found your blog while searching pictures of my country. I’m from Puerto barrios which is in the Caribbean coast. I haven’t been there for ten years!!! You brought back so many memories. I moved here when I was only three and went to visit only once. I miss it and all the different cultures. The garifuna are wonderful, fun and very happy people. I love their food, music and culture. I’m very happy you had a good time there. Hopefully one day I will go again. I’ve been too scared because of the news we hear here in the U.S, but so many people have told me it really isn’t that bad.thank you for your post!
Glad you enjoyed! Hope you get to go back soon!
Guatemala looks gorgeous! I stayed/worked on Trinidad and Tobago for a month- people were so friendly there. I miss it!
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