Escuintla
The bustling and sweltering city of Escuintla is located at the junction of the two main coastal roads from Guatemala City. It will interest travelers mainly as a place to eat or refuel while heading to or from the Pacific coast.
With a population of 130,000, Escuintla is Guatemala’s third largest city. It’s a busy town that offers travelers little in the way of attractions. Even so, a quick stop in Escuintla will give you a sense of the speed and heat of Guatemalan coastal life. Beneath the central plaza is a large, sprawling marketplace.
There are a few places around here to eat Guatemalan fare, including ceviche and fresh seafood. If you get stuck in town and need to spend the night, there are plenty of cheap hotels.
There are frequent buses between Guatemala City and Escuintla. The four-lane highway leading away from Guatemala City has great views of the Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego volcanoes. There is another four-lane highway heading south from Escuintla to Iztapa, Puerto Quetzal, and Puerto San José.
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Incredible Stays
Paredon Surf House
Paredon Surf House offers excellent surfing, and serves as a base camp for sightseeing some of the highlights of the Pacific coast. This guesthouse has a wide variety of accommodations in different sizes, and all come with idyllic views.
View DetailsPelicanos Hotel
Pelicanos Hotel sits on the beach of El Paredón, offering guests accommodations a few steps away from some of Guatemala’s best surfing. Staying here you can spend all day enjoying the waves, and take the opportunity to explore the marine wildlife near the coast.
View DetailsKawilal Hotel
You can go for a steamy dip on the Has hot springs on the grounds of nearby Santa Teresita spa, where you can take a dip in hot springs that get their heat from the nearby Pacaya Volcano. This hotel has an upscale vibe and interesting architecture, with a total of just 18 rooms.
View DetailsSwell Surf and Lifestyle Hotel
El Paredón has a life all its own, separate from the rest of life in rural Guatemala. The waves here have attracted a thriving surf culture, and Swell and Surf Lifestyle Hotel invites you to experience the very best of those positive vibrations. It puts you right next to the volcanic beach, which is known for its black sand.
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