Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sailfishing
The Pacific Ocean waters off the port of Iztapa are hailed as the “Sailfish Capital of
the World,” with world records for single-day catch-and-release firmly supporting these
claims. Apparently, a unique pattern of swirling ocean currents between Mexico and El
Salvador creates an eddy unusually rich in pelagic fish, such as herring and mackerel, right
on Guatemala's doorstep. Sailfish and marlin gather to feed on this bait, along with large
concentrationsofdorado,yellowfintuna,andwahoo.Theresultissomeoftheworld'sbest
sailfishing.
Numerous outfitters have set up shop in Iztapa offering sailfishing year-round, though
the most active season is between November and May because of the colder weather pre-
valent in the North American region from which most anglers hail. The Presidential Chal-
lenge, a yearly sportfishing event that has been held since 1997, usually takes place here in
January.
Lake Fishing
Thanks to grand plans for recreational options to be offered on behalf of now-absconded
Pan American Airways, Lake Atitlán saw the introduction of largemouth bass in the late
1950s. The lake's extreme depths make catching the larger fish said to inhabit the deeper
waters quite a challenge, which only adds to the allure of fishing these waters. Your best
betforcatching“thebigone”isduringtheannualspringspawningseason,betweenMarch
and May.
White-Water Rafting and Kayaking
Guatemala has a number of white-water rivers with rapids ranging from Class II-VI (Class
VI being unpassable waterfalls). The most popular river for rafting and kayaking is the
Río Cahabón,
found in the region of Las Verapaces. It features some of Central America's
finest stretches of white water complemented by jungles, caves, hot springs, and water-
falls.AlsointheVerapacesregion,the
Río Candelaria
windsitswaythroughitsnamesake
cave system and is a great place for river tubing and kayaking, allowing the chance to ex-
plore these fascinating caves to their full potential. Another worthy white-water excursion
is Petén's
Río Chiquibul,
at the eastern end of the department near the Belize border. Al-
thoughtherapidsarenotquiteasexhilaratingasthoseontheCahabón,it'shighlyattractive
for its jungle-lined river-banks and proximity to Mayan sites such as Tikal and Yaxhá.
