THE PACIFIC COAST - Guatemala - page 323

Association (ARCAS, www.arcasguatemala.com ) has a sea turtle, crocodile, and man-
grove conservation project here. Volunteers are welcome for a minimum one-week com-
mitment ($50 per week for accommodations only) and assist in various projects, including
caring for the animals, construction projects, mangrove reforestation, environmental edu-
cation, and turtle egg collection/hatchery management. Turtle nesting season runs June-
November with the peak of the action in August and September.
You can get to Hawaii from Monterrico via public bus ($0.50), pickup ($5), or via a
20-minute boat ride through the canals ($20). Buses leave at 6 A.M., 11 A.M., 1:30 P.M.,
and 3:30 P.M. Hawaii is host to a few weekend homes for Guatemala's elite but has also
added some recommended hotels of late.
NIGHTLIFE
ForaCentralAmericanbeachtown,thenightlifesceneinMonterricoisprettytame(week-
endsaside).Thisiscertainlynotyouraverage“springbreak”destination.Mostplacesclose
at10P.M.,withonlyafewexceptions. Theliveliest placeintownis Johnny's Place (right
on the beach, tel. [phone], www.johnnysplacehotel.com ) , where the party goes until 1
A.M on weekends. Another hotspot is El Animal Desconocido (8 P.M.-1 A.M. Thurs.-
Sat.),whereyoucanchillouttoaneclecticmixofdanceandrockmusicinacolorfulatmo-
sphere. Another good option for a drink is Taberna El Pelícano, behind Johnny's Place,
but it also closes early. The poolside bar at El Marlin is another popular watering hole. It
sometimes closes late. A great place to watch the sunset and enjoy a drink is Mañanitas
Beach Lounge (tel. [phone], 11 A.M.-1 A.M. daily), situated above the beach with a
second-story patio.
See MONTERRICO-HAWAII AND ITS SEA TURTLES
RECREATION
You won't find a whole lot to do around here other than the beaches. Whether from a
lack ofentrepreneurial initiative orwhat have you,the recreational options aside from sun-
bathing, swimming, and walking along the beach are pretty limited. You can always tour
the mangrove-lined canals and perhaps do some bird-watching, but there are curiously no
outfitters offering such trips in these parts, unlike elsewhere along the Pacific Coast. For
boat tours, ask at the CECON station for recommended boatmen and tour guides (trained
byCECON)whocantakeyouaroundtoseebirdsand,withsomeluck,iguanasandanteat-
ers. Some of the beachfront hotels rent boogie boards.
ACCOMMODATIONS