Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Down on the Coast
The pace of life on the coast - where midday temperatures regularly hit 104°F (40°C) -
slows right down. There's very little industry in these parts, and economic opportunities are
few. The big employers on the coast are the sugar cane, chicle and African palm farms,
which provide seasonal work. It's hardly cushy employment (imagine cutting cane with a
machete in 104°F heat) and many coastal-dwellers migrate to the cities in search of better
opportunities.
Fishing is another income source. There are a few large industrial operations, but the
bulk of fishermen (Guatemalan fisherwomen are extremely rare) either work independ-
ently, selling the day's catch at market, or in small cooperatives.
Housing on the coast is radically different to the rest of the country. Due to the extreme
heat, cinderblock is not the popular construction material it is in the rest of the country, nor
is corrugated iron for roofing. The classic coastal house will be open plan, often with
wooden walls and a thatched roof. Doors will always be open and windows often lack
glass, instead just having wooden shutters to keep out the monsoonal downpours of the
rainy season.
