R�o Dulce ( Sweet River ): Approximately 30 miles long, the R�o Dulce is Lake Izabal's outlet to the Caribbean. At its widest point, the river has a "lake-like" stretch known as El Golfete. The El Golfete is a long, huge lake-like body of water between Rio Dulce and Lake Izabel to the southwest, which is the largest lake in Guatemala. The river is only 12 km long and is breath-taking, lined with lush tropical vegetation, cliffs and awe-inspiring scenery. To get to Rio Dulce we had to go through Puerto Barrios. While we ate at a resturant at the edge of the ocean, Puerto Barrios is like a dead end of the world. While it is not pretty, it is dusty and most of the people seem very listless. The town fell into this condition after the United Fruit Company moved its headquarters out of there in the 1960's. And it really looks like it. However, the countryside is brilliant green with jungle and cocoa farms. It is about 90�F and very hot and humid most of the time. The Rio Dulce is over a quarter of a mile wide. Over the millennia it has carved a spectacular gorge in the mountains at the end of El Golfete and empties into Bahia Amatique on the Gulf of Honduras. The Rio Dulce is a large aquatic community. Outside the towns of Fronteras and El Relleno there are no roads or footpaths other than a road leading to San Felipe, therefore most of the homes and businesses on the Rio Dulce have a boat dock and a boat. The thick jungle on its banks is full of the voices of monkeys and many species of birds. White egrets perch in trees along its shores searching for fish. Parrots, pelicans and other water birds are everywhere. Narrow tributaries off the river twist and turn, leading to secluded lagoons. Dwellings sprinkled along el Rio are constructed with walls made of wooden planks or slender tree trunks and roofs of palm thatch. Water lilies grow in gigantic clusters here and there and mangroves send their roots into the water at the shore.

We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of our information. The Rio Dulce town is a popular moorage spot for people sailing around the Caribbean. It is more insulated against Hurricanes. A tour of the Rio Dulce is often done when touring the Mayan ruins of Quirigua. It is best done with a very good tour company, so that they can make all of the arrangements. It is easier and safer! Again, we prefer Clark Tours, who have been in business for over 80 years. There are also, buses which arrive in Rio Dulce from Flores, Antigua, and Guatemala City, on a daily basis. Shuttles from Coban are possible as well. In addition, boats come up the river from Livingston every couple of hours. Getting around Rio Dulce really depends upon your mood. You can walk, take a chicken bus, sail, hire a Lancha, take one of the many shuttles or minibuses or even a Tuk-Tuk. If you're heading to one of the further sites, you can even mix & match! Its' up to you! If you plan to see Castillo De San Felipe. A small fort built from the days of pirates. You need to be on a boat and it takes about a half day for the trip. If you plan to see Quirigu�; the Mayan ruins southwest of town. Either arrange transportation in town, or take a Chicken Bus out to the site. You could take a boat tour of the Rio Dulce, which can include a waterside view the Castillo De San Felipe, a stop by some hot springs, and other natural features of the river. The journey is particularly beautiful and is well worth trying out, the trip then ends at Livingston. We had Clark Tours to arrange the whole tour, including a stay at a beautiful lodge along the river. There are many places outside the immediate town on the banks of the river that are nice. They can only be reached by boat. Most have private shuttle boats and will come to pick you up if you call them. We suggest getting a hotel in Guatemala and then letting them arrange either a car or a tour of all of Guatemala; including Rio Dulce. La Aurora International Airport (IATA: GUA, ICAO: MGGT) serves Guatemala City, Guatemala. It is located 6 km south of Guatemala City's center and 25 km from Antigua. It is administered by the Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil. You can take a taxi from the airport to Antigua but we highly recommend that you contact the hotel/villa where you are staying and have them arrange for a shuttle to pick you up from the airport and take you to Antigua. The cost is about $30 including tip. You can do the same on your way back to the airport. Therefore, we have placed a link to Priceline.Com on this page so you can arrange your flights into and out of Guatemala; as well as your hotel, when visiting this area.