Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The small town of Poptún is unremarkable in and of itself, but there are a number of
good recreational opportunities in the vicinity. Travelers coming from Guatemala City of-
ten break up their journey with a stay in Poptún's landmark Finca Ixobel. In the vicinity of
Poptún are numerous caves, jungle rivers, and forests easily explored with help from area
lodges.
Halfway between Río Dulce and Flores, Poptún has always been a favorite stopping point,
particularly before the road to Flores was paved and travelers needed to split up the gruel-
ing journey on a rutted dirt road. Nestled in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, which
extend into neighboring Belize, the area is unlike the rest of Petén in that it is cooler by
virtue of its altitude at more than 600 meters (2,000 feet) and features a largely pine-for-
ested, karst landscape. There are many relatively unexplored Mayan sites here as well as
some small expanses of tropical forest, which have survived the expansion of the agricul-
tural frontier to which most of southern Peteén has succumbed. A military base once oper-
ated in this area, but it has been closed down since the 1996 peace accords, as elsewhere in
Guatemala.
Recreation
Poptún'swonderfulsettingatacomfortablyhigheraltitudeanditspine-studded,karstland-
scapemakeexploringthispartofGuatemalaadelight.Youcanchoosefrom,amongothers,
treks to remote Mayan sites, jungle hikes, caving, or tubing down lazy stretches of jungle
river.Alloftheseactivitiescanbearrangedatarealodges,particularlyFincaIxobel(onthe
road from Río Dulce, tel. 5892-3188,
www.fincaixobel.com
), which pioneered ecotourism
in this neck of the woods and is always on the lookout for new offerings. You can choose
from a number of
caves,
which can take two hours, a half day, or a full day of explor-
ing. The full-day trip takes you to
Cueva del Río
($10), an underground river with rapids
and waterfalls where you can swim and leap into the river in total darkness. There are also
trips twice a day to
Ixobel Cave
($5), with its rim stone walls, stalactites, and stalagmites
a 45-minute walk from the farm. Just 25 minutes' walk from Finca Ixobel,
Echoing Cave
($5) offers a fun adventure exploring the cave's hidden chambers and caverns, and it is a
good option if you have only two hours' time.
See
NAJ TUNICH
Horseback riding
is also available at the Finca Ixobel with trips lasting as little as two
hours or as much as two days ($53). A full day of horseback riding costs $23.
Finca Ixobel also runs a number of excellent multiday jungle adventures lasting a min-
imum of three days and costing $30 per person per day, with a two-person minimum. The
