Home
Guatemala
PLAN MY VISIT
Guatemala Destinations HotelsThings to do Transport Maps Vacations Team
  • Top Destinations
PLAN MY VISIT →
  1. Home
  2. Guatemala
  3. Destinations
  4. Caribbean Lowlands

Caribbean Lowlands, Guatemala

The Caribbean Lowlands are unlike the rest of Guatemala. The regional landscape is composed of jungle coastland, a river valley, and Guatemala’s largest lake. The Caribbean town of Lívingston is an enclave for the Garífuna people and is culturally distinct from the rest of Guatemala. What’s more, some of the finest Mayan stelae can be seen at the site of Quiriguá.

Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
Caribbean Lowlands Guatemala
←→

The Caribbean Lowlands offer travelers the opportunity to experience large swaths of rainforests, a unique coastal culture, and even some nice beaches. In a country not especially known for its coastline, the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean Lowlands are an anomaly. The region stretches from Lake Izabal all the way to the Caribbean Sea and the border with Honduras.

The Río Dulce waterway connects Lake Izabal with the Caribbean Sea. This 19-mile (30-km) river and much of the surrounding forest falls under the protection of the Río Dulce National Park. The river is bordered by dense tropical forests and at one point runs through a dramatic canyon known as La Cueva de la Vaca. Although the Río Dulce area is still sparsely developed, jungle lodges are beginning to pop up along side streams. This area is beginning to position itself as an ecotourism destination.

The Río Dulce empties into the Bahía de Amatique near the town of Lívingston. Lívingston has an exotic setting and an interesting mix of Garífuna, Hindu and Q’eqchi’ cultures. Garífuna and Hindu influences, which are not found anywhere else in Guatemala, give this town a truly unique flavor. Lívingston makes a great home base while exploring the area’s outdoor offerings, which include waterfalls, beaches, and the Río Dulce valley.

With a surface area of 227 square miles (590 sq km) and a maximum depth of 59 feet (18 m), Lake Izabal is the largest lake in Guatemala. Today much of it is still undeveloped, but that may change over the coming years. At the lake’s westernmost boundary is the Polochic Wildlife Preserve, a vast expansive of wetlands, savannas, and flooded forests. This is a great place for bird watching and experiencing some truly wild natural areas. Other lakeside attractions are found along the north shore—these include hot springs and the limestone canyon of El Boquerón.

If you’re a historical buff, you might want to visit the Castillo de San Felipe. The Spanish built this castle, which stands along the northern shores of Lake Izabal, in 1652. It’s still in fairly good shape and a visit here offers panoramic views of the lake. A more substantial historical dig is at Quiriguá—these Mayan ruins date back to the seventh century and include some of Guatemala’s best-preserved stelae. The ruins here are smaller than those of Copán but architecturally very similar.

The Caribbean Lowlands stand in nice contrast to the rest of Guatemala, much of which is set at a higher elevation and culturally more homogenous. Travelers interested in experiencing the full range of life in Guatemala will surely enjoy a visit to this incredible region.

Personalized Trips for Caribbean Lowlands, Guatemala

Active Couple Mayan Culture Explorer, Guatemala
Guatemala
Active Couple Mayan Culture Explorer

Customer Reviewed We loved GUATEMALA. This was our first visit to Central America and found the country intriguing, complex, and exciting. Hope to visit Central America and South America in the future. Would definitely recommend traveling to Guatemala for friends and family.

13 days $$View Trip
Friends Vacation Exploring Mayan Ruins, Guatemala
Guatemala
Friends Vacation Exploring Mayan Ruins

Customer Reviewed I think efforts are being made, and change can be slow. People are aware of the problems of pollution in the air and lake.

10 days $$View Trip
See More Trips

Where to go in Caribbean Lowlands, Guatemala

Rio Dulce, Fronteras, GuatemalaRio Dulce, Fronteras, Guatemala
Puerto Barrios, GuatemalaPuerto Barrios, Guatemala
Lívingston, GuatemalaLívingston, Guatemala
Lake Izabal, GuatemalaLake Izabal, Guatemala
San Felipe's Castle, GuatemalaSan Felipe's Castle, Guatemala
Quirigua, GuatemalaQuirigua, Guatemala
Playa Blanca, GuatemalaPlaya Blanca, Guatemala
←→

Key Attractions

Bocas del PolochicCastillo San FelippeQuiriguaPlaya BlancaSiete Altares

Key Destinations

Lake Izabal, Izabal Livingston, IzabalRio Dulce Fronteras, Izabal
Excellent!
Trustpilot Rating
Based on 705 reviews
Trustpilot
GUA and BZE a success!
Anywhere inc made another trip a delight. I can’t wait for my next Adventure with Anywhere!!
Mar 17, 2020
– Shawn Ng
Trustpilot Rating
Easy & Cost Effective
easy to use and transact, would definitely recommend to friends and family. thank you for making my experience while in ...
Mar 11, 2020
– Elle Mac
Trustpilot Rating
Enrico Estrada of Anywhere.com planned…Great Trip!!
Enrico Estrada of Anywhere.com planned an amazing trip for my husband and me to Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The tr...
Jun 24, 2019
– FAITH HOF.
Trustpilot Rating
Book with Anywhere! Easiest decision you'll have to make
Booking with Anywhere was the best decision we made. Our trip was absolutely amazing, everything we wanted, plus everyth...
Apr 26, 2019
– Stephanie
Trustpilot Rating
Great company
Great company! They’re more than helpful and they make your trip a time to remember. The customer service is in a class ...
Apr 26, 2019
– Johnny
Trustpilot Rating
We were delighted with the quality of…
We were delighted with the quality of service. The staff were professional, courteous, punctual and reliable. We would ...
Apr 05, 2019
– Deepak D
Trustpilot Rating
The trip was a once in a lifetime…
The trip was a once in a lifetime experience. Anywhere.com did an exceptional job of planning this trip. It couldn't h...
Mar 30, 2019
– Vickie B.
Trustpilot Rating
This service is outstanding
This service is outstanding. We had changes to be made, and they were done so with ease. All of the excursions and dri...
Mar 23, 2019
– Linda A
Trustpilot Rating
Wonderful staff, amazing service.
I highly recommend this company! Everyone throughout the whole process was friendly, professional and so understanding a...
Mar 08, 2019
– Luanne
Trustpilot Rating
awesome company to deal with
awesome company to deal with. Everything they planned, including hotels and sightseeing tours, was wonderful. Every ve...
Mar 06, 2019
– Happy tra.
Trustpilot Rating
The Hidden Treasure of Travel Agency ( that shouldn't be anymore )!
Super pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable staff! We plan to have them coordinate our next trips to the areas they ser...
Feb 15, 2019
– Mari
Trustpilot Rating
I would recommend anywhere to anyone…
I would recommend anywhere to anyone traveling anywhere. I was treated exceptionally well with professionalism and kindn...
Feb 14, 2019
– Steven
Trustpilot Rating
Best vacation of my life
Best vacation of my life! I told them the type of vacation and experiences I wanted and they somehow found the most perf...
Feb 08, 2019
– Lisa
Trustpilot Rating
This is our second vacation with…
This is our second vacation with Anywhere. As the first time, the use experience of the website was easy, our travel pla...
Feb 07, 2019
– Rosemary
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere did a fantastic job planning…
Anywhere did a fantastic job planning my vacation. My family loves to travel and this was one of the best trips we’ve ta...
Jan 11, 2019
– Elena
Trustpilot Rating

Let's Dream Together

Share your bucketlist to get inspiration and local connections.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.

Guatemala Vacations
  • Adventure
  • Archaeology
  • Bird-watching
  • Community
  • Family
  • Nature
  • Rainforest
  • Romantic
  • Sustainable
Highlights
  • Mayan
  • Unique & Authentic
  • Relaxation
  • Mountains
  • Rainforests
  • Lakes
  • Volcanoes
  • Indigenous
  • Colonial
PLACES TO GO
  • Antigua
  • Tikal
  • Peten
  • Panajachel
  • Languin
  • Chichi
  • Quetzaltenango
  • Pacific Slope
  • Quirigua
  • Acantenango Volcano
  • Pacaya Volcano
  • Todos Santos Cuchumatanes
THINGS TO DO
  • Nature Walks
  • Birdwatching
  • Ruins
  • Archeology
  • Hiking
  • Coffee Farms
  • Horseback Riding
Trustpilot 5 of 5 rated service
Trustpilot "Excellent"
Plan My Visit→+1 (888) 456-3212
MessengerContact AnywhereWhatsapp ContactCall USA: +1-888-456-3212

© 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy