EL ORIENTE AND IZABAL - Guatemala - page 378

On the outskirts of town are some pricier options that are conveniently near the main
highway should you not want to stay in the heart of town. Hotel Marbrissa (25 Calle
y 20 Avenida, Colonia Virginia, tel. [phone], www.marbrissa.com , $85-140 d) has com-
fortable rooms centered around the hotel's large swimming pool with all the amenities you
would expect in this price range, includingair-conditioning and minifridge. There are also
larger suites with a kitchenette and living and dining room. The open-air palapa -style res-
taurant here is one of the nicest in town for its tranquil atmosphere overlooking the swim-
ming pool.
On the main road into town at the junction leading to Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla,
Hotel Puerto Libre (tel. [phone], www.hotelpuertolibre.com , $28-40 d) has rooms
with air-conditioning, private hot-water bath, and TV. There's a lively swimming pool and
the hotel restaurant serves mainly seafood dishes but also does delicious parrilladas. En-
trees are priced $5-12.
Outside of town just past the airstrip on tropical grounds bordering the sea is the
outstanding Amatique Bay Resort and Marina (tel. [phone],
www.enjoyguatemala.com/hotels/hotelamatiquebay.htm , $120-250 per room), where com-
fortable accommodations are housed in neocolonial villas. There are standard rooms and
larger suites with full kitchen; the largest of these have additional sofa beds and a living
room.Allhaveair-conditioningandtheusualamenities. There'sawhite-sandbeachonthe
tranquil waters of the Bahía de Amatique and a swimming pool complete with a Spanish
galleon. Three restaurants keep vacationers happy, including one that's right by the swim-
mingpoolandserveslighterfareandsandwiches.Theothertwoaremoreformalandserve
a variety of international dishes. All in all, this complex is a self-contained leisure city
built in colonial style somewhat resembling a seaside version of Antigua, complete with a
whitewashed church. It is a popular day trip with cruise-ship passengers docking at nearby
Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla. The hotel is affiliated with Interval International.
FOOD
Local dishes include tapado, a seafood stew made from prawns, fish, and shellfish,
seasoned with plantains, yucca, and coriander, and cooked in coconut milk. Tortillas de
harina are flour tortillas stuffed with cheese, or anything else for that matter.
As for restaurants, Safari (northern end of 5a Avenida, tel. [phone], 10 A.M.-9
P.M.)ispopularwithlocalsforitslargeportionsofexcellentseafooddishes($7-10)served
in style on an open air, thatched-roofed platform over the sea. It also does excellent chick-
en and meat dishes ($4-6). Another good seafood option is the restaurant at Hotel La
Caribeña (4a Avenida between 10 and 11 Calles, tel. [phone]), known for its caldo de
mariscos and tapado. Forlighterfare,trythericeandbeans.Forburgers, tortillas de harina