Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
yellow-headedparrot
(Amazona oratrix).
Savannahsandfloodedswampforestsharborjag-
uars, tapir, and howler monkeys. Also protected are coral reef outcrops, the only ones of
their kind in Guatemala, at the tip of the peninsula. All in all, it's one of Guatemala's most
wonderful and least-visited wild places.
The reserve is managed by conservation organization Fundary, which is working with
some of the approximately 2,000 people inhabiting this area in an effort to involve them in
the conservation of the wonderful marine ecosystem they live in. Locals live mostly from
fishing, particularly
manjua,
a type of small sardine. The waters off the coast of Honduras,
Belize, and Guatemala have been somewhat overfished and so economic alternatives, in-
cluding ecotourism, are being sought to provide a livelihood for the local population.
As fishing continues to be an important part of the local economy, new ways to make
existing fishing operations more efficient have come into play. Together with USAID,
Fundary has recently been able to bring solar power to the area, allowing locals access to
heretofore uneasily obtained luxuries, such as ice, in a sweltering coastland. The availab-
ility of ice and refrigeration, in turn, makes it easier to cater to visitors and keep food for
theirconsumption.ThecommunityofSanFranciscodelMar,abouthalfwaydownthepen-
insula, now has its own solar-powered freezer and fish-processing plant. The women are
making some extra cash producing and selling ice cream. It's all a bit reminiscent of Paul
Theroux's
The Mosquito Coast.
Recreation
It'sagreattimetoexplorethisarea,asit'scleartourismisstillinitsinfancy.Thatallmight
change soon, however, with the new cruise-ship terminal just a few miles away in Puerto
Santo Tomás de Castilla. For now, your best bet is to contact
Fundary
(tel. 7948-0435,
Puerto Barrios or 2232-3230, Guatemala City,
www.guate.net/fundarymanabique
), which
is working with local communities to promote ecotourism. Among the activities are visits
to the mangrove-lined canals of
Bahía La Graciosa, Laguna Santa Isabel,
and adjacent
Canal Inglés
forbird-watchingandmanatee-spotting.ThecanalisnamedafterBritishlog-
gers who dug the 10-kilometer trench connecting Laguna Santa Isabel to the Río Piteros.
Along this canal is the small community of
Santa Isabel,
with a solar-powered visitors
center,whereyoucanfishwiththelocalsorsitinonademonstrationofthelocalcharcoal-
making process. You can also kayak in the mangrove swamps and canals near the small
community of
Estero Lagarto,
farther north and closer to the Punta de Manabique out-
crop. Farther east, the Río Motagua marks the border with Honduras. Near the mouth of
thisriveristhesmall settlement of
El Quetzalito,
whereyoucanalsodosomebird-watch-
ing or crocodile-spotting. It's reached by road one hour from Puerto Barrios and then by
traveling for half an hour downstream on the Motagua.
Accommodations and Food
