Top Things to do in Izabal
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7 Things to Do in Izabal That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Izabal, Guatemala including Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua, Hot Springs, Punta de Palma, Castillo de San Felipe de Lara, Seven Altars, Playa Sand Bay, Playa Blanca.
Restaurants in Izabal
1. Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
Reviewed By stet20 - London, United Kingdom
Amazing interesting place and very difficult to find. Built in or around the 2nd -3rd century AD. Had to charter a taxi from Rio Dulce which cost me 250 Quetzales (£8) after haggling but definitely worth it!! The entrance fee Q.80 for tourists and the drive there is breathtaking along the mountainous terrain which took about an hour from Rio Dulce. It’s a very important unmolested site probably due to its geographic isolation. Some of the most important Mayan Stèles and most intricate Mayan art are all located here! Some of the carvings are strangely alike those of ancient Egypt!! All the Stèles are worth spending time gazing and learning about.. there is an Acropolis to the rear of where the Stèles are located.
2. Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By D0M1NIC - Brighton, United Kingdom
Loved this place. We've never visited anything like this before. We got a collectivo from Rio Dulce (listen out for the guys shouting 'Finca' or 'Paraiso') which cost 15Q each and takes about 15/20 mins. They drop you off on the side of the road, walk up the embankment and turn right. Some guy will approach you and ask for 15Q entrance fee. This is fine but try and get a ticket/receipt if you can (he also can't break 100Q notes so bring change)! Then it's a short walk through the woods to the waterfall. Once there there's benches to put your things and a guy checked our ticket (which we didn't have but he said this was fine as long as we had paid). Then head into the cold pool water and it's a very short swim over to the Waterfalls which are really hot! (not boiling though so you can't hurt yourself). Around to the left is a log which you can use to climb up to another bit and underneath this log is a small cave network you can explore. Going round to the right are some roots you can use to climb on top of the waterfall and you can jump in from up here and a short walk behind there is a hotter spring (this one could burn) and a cave to get mud which people were putting on their skin and did seem quite nice! Hide any food on the walk back to where the collectivo drops you off though as local kids will pester you for anything you've got! Get a collectivo from the other side of the road (there is a shelter) and it's 15Q back to Rio Dulce
3. Punta de Palma
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Jeffry C - Guatemala City, Guatemala
Llegando al puerto municipal de Puerto Barrios, Izabal se te acercan los lancheros que te ofrecen llevar hacia punta de palma a nosotros nos cobro Q 200.00 de ida y Q 200.00 de regreso ibamos 11 personas = 7 adultos y 4 niños.
les recomiendo no irse en la parte de adelante de la lancha porque brinca demasiado y lastima la espalda.
llegando a la playa nos dimos cuenta que habían bastantes personas ese día, pues si mucho hay 3 locales donde venden comida, luego solo encuentran un lugar donde les alquilan, mesas, sombrillas y sillas.
me percate que muchas personas iban preparadas para acampar o ellos mismos llevaban sus mesas y sillas, por parte de la municipalidad se encuentran baños que cobran como Q 2.00 por entrar y unas mesas de concreto, pero ese día todo estaba lleno.
por ser del lado del atlantico de Guatemala, esto es caribe por lo que uno puede caminar adentro del agua hasta 200mts y el agua no supera los 1.80mts de altura.
Recomiendo la playa por la arena blanca, el agua fresca y la vista espectacular. Mi forma de pensar deberían de haber mas comercios para poder escoger mas de comida.
4. Castillo de San Felipe de Lara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By GilB867 - Memphis, Tennessee
We booked this shore excursion through Holland America when our ship stopped in Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala for the day. I thought the price of the excursion was over priced but wanted the security of being with a a group from the ship, and knowing what type transportation we would have. I was well pleased with the large comfortable air conditioned motor coach provided for the three hour round trip ride. I enjoyed seeing the Guatemalan countryside, people, and buildings along the way. Tours to Castillo de San Felipe can be booked locally in Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla.
Castillo de San Felipe de Lara is a historical Spanish colonial style fort listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was built in 1651 at the entrance to Lake Izabal, which is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Dulce River and Lake El Golfete.
Castillo de San Felipe was built to protect the port of San Antonio de las Bodegas on the south shore of Lake Izabal from English pirate attacks. At night they would block the narrow passage into the lake with a large chain that crossed from the fort to the opposite bank of the river. Then take it down the next morning.
The fort itself is an extremely beautiful old structure of white cut stone (it appears to be limestone) and red tile roofs, and red tile courtyards. It is very well preserved, and has gorgeous views of the river and Lake Izabal, really pretty. The fort is very small and can be viewed both inside and outside in two hours or less. There are some displays inside the fort to view as well as a prison.
If you are anywhere near Castillo de San Felipe in Guatemala this is a must see attraction, both for it's historical significance and its extremely beautiful setting.
5. Seven Altars
Overall Ratings
4 based on 271 reviews
Hike or take a boat ride to this series of fresh Waterfalls where crystal-blue pools entice you to take a dip.
Reviewed By TravelBob-LA - Lafayette, Louisiana
There is very little to do in Livingston, so you'll go out here because you have to do something. And, that's going to be about it. The walk down the beach is depressing because of the massive amount of garbage (the entire beach is lined with huge amounts of plastic garbage that washed up years ago, you can hardly believe how gross it is), the dead fish everywhere, and the dogs. We love dogs but on this occasion one of them, and then three of them, went on the attack. It was terrifying. Luckily a young boy beat the dogs away with rocks and sticks. The falls themselves are so so. The water is fairly slow moving and you're left feeling like it is not as clean as you'd like. We reluctantly swam. There just isn't much to it. The guy who manages the place is nice and has cool drinks and a decent bathroom. He was nice enough to call to get us a boat for the return trip to Livingston. There was no way we were going to risk a dog attack. Go here because there isn't much else to do. Walk the ecological disaster-of-a-beach to get there if you want the full experience!
6. Playa Sand Bay
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
We are a small paradisiacal place surrounded by magical palm trees with white sand beach in the Guatemalan caribbean that invites to rest, sunbathe and enjoy the waves of the sea.
Reviewed By Leonardo T
Es un típico parador de playa, con su restaurant y bar con muy buen ambiente. La atención es muy buena, pero no mejora la calificación, el poco espacio que tiene de playa. Tiene también un hotel (no me alojé ahí, pero parece bonito, sin lujos).
A destacar: La atención y buen ambiente
A Mejorar: Ampliar espacios para la playa
7. Playa Blanca
Overall Ratings
4 based on 204 reviews
The speedboat ride to this beach is well worth its price to enjoy one of the few sandy Beaches in eastern Guatemala.
Reviewed By clariyandy - Guatemala
I was surprised to find a new restroom/changing facility complete with toilet paper and mirrors! There are hammocks and picnic tables as well as a concession stand. The water is very calm, no waves, more like a lake. We spent a pleasant few hours here and would go back in a heartbeat.
