The Caribbean Coast
of Guatemala

Izabal

Guatemala's small Caribbean region occupies the country's eastern coast where the Río Dulce flows into the Caribbean Sea. This area developed distinct cultural characteristics due to its isolation from the rest of Guatemala—until recently, no roads connected it to the capital, making boat travel the primary transportation method. The region's population includes Garífuna people, descendants of African and indigenous Caribbean populations, who maintain their own language, music, and culinary traditions. The tropical climate brings year-round heat, humidity, and significant rainfall. The Río Dulce itself forms a spectacular water corridor, with a dramatic canyon section flanked by 100-meter limestone cliffs covered in jungle. Lake Izabal, Central America's largest lake, sits inland. The coast offers a different Guatemala entirely—reggae music replaces marimba, coconut-based seafood dishes replace highland cuisine, and the laid-back Caribbean atmosphere contrasts with highland formality.

Things to see and do on the Caribbean coast

Take a boat through the Río Dulce canyon with jungle-covered limestone walls
Visit Livingston, accessible only by boat, for Garífuna culture and cuisine
Explore Castillo de San Felipe, a Spanish colonial fort at Lake Izabal's outlet
Snorkel or dive near Punta de Manabique and offshore coral reefs
Kayak through mangrove channels and hot springs along the río

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Unique travel experiences to do on the Carribean coast of Guatemala

Garífuna Cultural Immersion

Spend time in Livingston, Guatemala's only town where Garífuna culture dominates, accessible exclusively by boat from Río Dulce or Puerto Barrios. This isolation has preserved traditions largely disappeared elsewhere in Central America. Take dance workshops to learn punta, the energetic hip-swaying dance performed to drum rhythms. Visit local homes where women still prepare traditional foods like hudut (fish in coconut broth) and cassava bread from scratch, and join cooking classes to learn these techniques. Attend evening drumming sessions where locals gather to play traditional music using drums, maracas, and turtle shells. Some community organizations offer programs teaching Garífuna language basics—a mix of Arawak, West African, and European influences.

Livingston
cultural

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Río Dulce Boat Living Experience

Stay at one of several waterfront jungle lodges accessible only by boat, or charter a private sailboat to explore the río at your own pace. These accommodations range from budget backpacker spots to upscale eco-lodges, all positioned along the river's banks where jungle meets water. Days revolve around river rhythms—swimming in warm fresh water, kayaking through mangrove channels, visiting hot springs that bubble up along the riverbank, and watching river traffic pass by. Some lodges offer complete isolation with solar power and composting toilets, while others provide more comfort without sacrificing the jungle setting. The río hosts an international sailing community.