Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
river. This area is seldom explored, though a new jungle camp has put this remote area on
the map.
Accommodations
The exquisite little jungle lodge,
El Hotelito Perdido
(tel. 5725-1576 or 5785-5022,
www.hotelitoperdido.com
,
dorm beds $4, bungalows $13-20 d), lies on the quiet banks of
the Río Lámpara hidden away (as its name implies) from civilization. If you're looking for
an exotic, affordable escape to the outer limits of civilization, El Hotelito Perdido might
just do the trick. The accommodations are built in typical thatch roof jungle style and in-
clude a dorm and shared or private bath bungalows with typical Guatemalan fabric ac-
cents. Solar panels provide electricity, while rainwater is collected for showers. Breakfast,
lunch, and dinner ($1.50-5. 50) are available at the hotel's restaurant and include a variety
of dishes including vegetarianfare. There's a nearby waterfall for exploring in addition to
gorgeous views of the Río Dulce canyon from the grounds, kayaks for rent, hammocks for
loungingandaswimmingdock.Otheractivitiesincludefull-moonkayakingtripstonearby
hot springs, jungle hikes, and bird-watching.
To get here, hitch a ride on any of the boats heading in either direction between Río
Dulce town and Lívingston. They should have no problem dropping you off here. The
lodge also offers a pick-up service for $4 per person from the Lívingston municipal dock.
Back along the Río Dulce, another kilometer or so upstream, is a spot where warm sul-
furous waters bubble from the base of a cliff, providing a pleasant place to swim. Shortly
thereafter, the river widens into a lake known as El Golfete. The lake is home to a dwind-
ling population of manatees protected on its northern shore by the
Chocón Machacas Bi-
otope
(7 A.M.-4 P.M. daily, $5). The large, slow-moving aquatic mammals (also known
as sea cows) are extremely elusive creatures and fewer than 100 are thought to inhabit
these waters. The walruslike animals are threatened throughout their range by long repro-
ductive cycles (they reach sexual maturity late in life) and collisions with motorboats. The
186-square-kilometer (72-square-mile) park is run by CECON and there are aquatic routes
through several jungle lagoons as well as a nature trail running through the park and its
protected forests.
The river continues its course upstream past the expensive villas of Guatemala's olig-
archy to the town of Río Dulce, at the confluence of the river and Lake Izabal. A long
bridge connects both shores along Highway CA-13, which continues north to Petén.
