From the jungles of Tikal we took a 4-hour shuttle ride and short boat trip to reach our next destination - The Kangaroo Hotel on the Rio Dulce.
Rio Dulce is an interesting place; downstream from Lake Izabal in eastern Guatemala, ultimately connecting to the Caribbean Ocean. This makes it a tropical storm safe haven for yacht owners who seek protection for their boats in the off-season.
Scott at our sweet little bungalow - all worked-up over nothing.
The river was our home for six days. To say that it’s laid-back would be an understatement. We spent our time reading, swimming and kayaking to explore the area. We were also lucky to have found a masseuse in town who we loved. A one-hour massage cost 150 Quetzales ($20)!
Our bungalow sat on piers in the middle of a mangrove swamp. The 80 degree temperatures and high humidity demanded a slow pace for this stint of our trip.
Local interests include the most spectacular natural beauty, endless waterlily-lined shores, caves and natural hot springs.
Scene at one of the local restaurants.
The colors on the river were mesmerizing - from the deepest emerald greens to the coolest light grays.
Scott, being Scott, on the water.
Our trip wouldn’t have been complete without this…
On our last night, we experienced a tropical rainfall of 2 inches over an 8-hour period. Our thatched roof worked surprisingly well at keeping us dry.
We also got massive amounts of mosquito bites (or at least I think they were mosquitos) - even with our diligent use of mosquito repellent - of which I was still feeling the effects of the bites more than two weeks later.
Where to next?
We’re wrapping up our time in Guatemala - which gives us a total of one month here. I never would have guessed that when we started this journey we would spend so much time in this magical country - and loving it.
On Monday we are off to experience the hubbub of Bogota, Columbia!
Related post:
Last week’s adventure in Tikal (watch the sunrise video and listen for the Howler Monkeys!)