Things To Do in Livingston, Guatemala
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Livingston, Guatemala Attractions
There are several reputable tour agencies in Livingston that can organize tours. In addition, every hotel in town can set you up. If you're looking for a reputable outfit, try Exotic Travel (tel. 502/7947-0049) or Happy Fish (tel. 502/7947-0661; www.happyfishresort.com).
Río Dulce
A boat trip up the Río Dulce is one of the most popular area attractions. Just upriver from Livingston, the Río Dulce enters a narrow canyon known as La Cueva de la Vaca, which features steep walls some 92m (300 ft.) tall. One section, La Pintada, is made up of sheer, bright white-rock cliffs. Unfortunately, near the waterline, much of this white rock is marred by graffiti. However, beyond the graffiti is lush tropical rainforest. There are a few hot springs along the river, which form different heated pools and swimming areas. As you exit the canyon, the river broadens out into El Golfete. This long, wide section continues on until the river once again narrows near the town of Río Dulce.
Off El Golfete lies the Biotopo Chocón Machacas, a protected area of mangroves and rainforest canals that's home to a healthy population of manatees. Often called "sea cows," manatees are massive aquatic mammals that can reach more than 3m (10 ft.) in length and weigh more than 454 kilograms (1,000 lb.). Many tours take a trip through the Biotopo, although sightings of manatees are far from guaranteed. Nonetheless, the area is quite beautiful, and the bird-watching is excellent.
Finally, some tours go all the way to the town of Fronteras, which is also simply known as Río Dulce. Fronteras sits at the demarcation point between Río Dulce and Lago Izabal. A visit here usually includes a tour of the Castillo de San Felipe. All of the tour agencies in town offer trips up the Río Dulce. Prices range from Q90 to Q225 ($12-$30/£6-£15) depending upon the specific tour. Try Happy Fish.
Attractions in town are limited to a small municipal museum (tel. 502/7947-0944) with a few interpretive and written displays detailing the Garífuna culture and history, and a small park just outside the museum, where you'll see a few crocodiles in a round enclosure. The large reptiles are impressive in size and menacing, but the unkempt and small pens they are kept in make this quite a sad display. The museum is open Monday from 2 to 5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to noon and 1 to 5pm. Admission is Q5 (65¢/35p).
While the local population lives largely off the sea, there are no major sportfishing operations in Livingston. If you're interested in a fishing outing, contact a tour agency or ask around the docks for a local fisherman who's willing to take you out. Snorkelers will need to travel out of Livingston to the nearby cays of Belize. Contact Happy Fish (tel. 502/7947-0661; www.happyfishresort.com) about day trips. Rates are Q3,375 ($450/£225) for up to seven people.
- Natural Attraction
Los Siete Altares
No trip to Livingston is complete without a visit to Los Siete Altares, a series of seven waterfalls connected by a lazy jungle creek. The whole thing is set amid lush rainforest, and while it's a pretty spot year-round, it's best to visit during the rainy season, when the creek and… - Beach
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is the best beach in the area, partly due to its distance from the outflow of the Río Dulce and the heavy pollution generated by the residents of Livingston. The sand here is a bit whiter and softer, and the water a bit bluer than you'll find closer to town. This is…
Livingston, Guatemala Shopping
Aside from street vendors hawking handmade jewelry and simple trinkets, there's not much of a shopping scene in Livingston. One major exception, however, is the Q'eqchi' women's craft cooperative, run by Ak' Tenamit (www.aktenamit.org), a community development project that does major educational, health, and social work with the Q'eqchi' Maya of the area. Offerings include woven baskets, various textile projects, and artisanal papers made from banana and corn byproducts. They are located about a 15-minute boat ride upriver from Livingston; however, their wares are also sold at the gift shop at Bugamama . Still, if you want to visit them directly, you can hire a boat at the docks to take you there for around Q75 ($10/£5) round-trip.
The local music is percussion-based with roots in West Africa. In some cases, modern electric instruments are added, and a rock or reggae influence can be heard. CDs are available in gift shops around town, and from street vendors, but be sure to take a listen first to make sure it's of reasonable quality.
Livingston, Guatemala Nightlife
For years, the most happening bar in Livingston has been Ubafu, 2 blocks west of Calle Principal, on the road to the cemetery (no phone), which has live Garífuna, punta, or reggae music most nights. Traditional Garífuna drum ensembles feature a variety of conga-style wooden drums with skin heads, but one of their more interesting percussion instruments is made from several turtle shells, which are strung together and worn by the drummer like a personal trap set. This is still my favorite bar; however, it's getting a run for its money from the new waterfront nightspot, Tropicool Disco (no phone). For a more formal presentation of Garífuna drumming and dancing, head to the Hotel Villa Caribe (tel. 502/2334-1818), which has presentations to accompany their dinner service several nights a week.
