Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hotel La Iguana $$
( 2478-3135; iguanabungalows@yahoo.com; r midweek/weekend Q350/400; )
This has simple, pleas-
ing rooms with a double bed and a bunk in each. It's a fair walk from the center, but
simple meals (Q35) are available in the restaurant and bungalows come equipped with kit-
chen.
BUNGALOW
HOTEL
Villa Victoria $$
( 4185-3605;
www.turicentrosvillavictoria.com
; r with fan/air-con Q250/300; )
On the main street,
halfway between the boat landing and the beach, this is a reasonable deal. Rooms are
fresh and simple, with two double beds. It also doubles as a Turicentro, meaning that local
kids come and use the pool (which has an awesome waterslide, by the way) and they
crank up the music ridiculously early on weekends.
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Chiquistepeque
On a virtually untouched stretch of beach, this little fishing village is home to
Hamaca y Pes-
cado Project
( 7858-2700;
www.hamacaypescadous.blogspot.com
; s/d Q100/150)
, a grassroots education
and environmental awareness project. You can volunteer in the literacy program that they
run, or just hang out on the beach. Accommodation is in comfortable rustic beachside
cabañas
(cabins), and home-cooked meals go for Q35 each.
If you've got a group together, you can rent out a house that sleeps five comfortably. If
you're coming from Tulate, get off at La Máquina and change buses there. Otherwise, it's
best to get to Mazatenango for one of the two daily buses (10:30am and 1:30pm) to
Chiquistepeque (three hours, Q15).
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Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa
POP 111,700 / ELEV 356M
Another 71km eastward from Mazatenango is Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, an important
stop for anyone interested in archaeology. In the fields and
fincas
(plantations) near the
town stand great stone heads carved with grotesque faces and fine relief scenes, the
