Sweet waters and breathtaking river journeys
Central and East, Guatemala
Guatemala's most famous river is the Rio Dulce, just 26 miles (42 km) long. With its clear water, abundant tropical vegetation and fascinating wildlife it is an attraction in itself, whilst on the coast is Lake Izabal, home to the endangered manatee. The largest lake in the country at a more than 45 kilometres, Izabal is surrounded by verdant rainforest which is in itself inhabited by hundreds of bird species, monkeys and many other animals.
Background
The river begins its journey near the twin towns of Fronteras and El Relleno and finds its way into Lake Izabel and onward to its outlet into the Caribbean Sea at the town of Livingston, Guatemala's only Garifuna settlement. Halfway to the Caribbean the Rio Dulce widens to form the Golfete, this part of the river is around 10 miles (16 km) long and up to 3 miles (4.8 km) wide. As it winds its way closer to the Caribbean, the Rio Dulce narrows significantly and flows through a steep-walled canyon, made of white limestone cliffs, 400 feet high. The El Golfete region and the area where the Rio Dulce flows into Lake Izabal is known as the Rio Dulce National Park, covering an area of 17,784 acres of wetland eco-system, it is home to numerous species of birdlife including cranes, kingfishers, egrets, parrots and herons.