In the airport La Aurora in Guatemala, a group of writers and tourist guides are planning to take a flight that will take them to enjoy the Caribbean part of Guatemala in a complete travel to this tropical paradise.

The flight to Puerto Barrios is a full experience. We traveled in a small airplane which flies over the Capital City, leaving it behind to fly into the big plain which extends towards the Atlantic. The journey was calmed, with a fantastic view of the Motagua's river-bed. In less than half an hour we traveled the 297 kilometers that separate us from the Capital City, and we are starting our descent over the tropical lands of Izabal.

In there the organizers of this tourist offer, a hotel group from the area, await with a refreshing cocktail. A convertible bus transfers us, profiting to give us a small tour of Puerto Barrios. This is a city where the wood houses at the Caribbean style, the smell of coconut bread and the monument to the banana worker, advertise other costumes different to the ones we are used to see in other rural areas of the country.

The hot and humid air of the coast relaxes you immediately, so when we arrived to the hotel we changed in the luxurious hotel room and took a bath in the pool with Jacuzzi. We are staying in one of the suites of the Amatique Bay, a hotel complex located in a beautiful bay, where the sunset brings a soft breeze and some yachts anchor in the coast.

In these pleasant hours of the night, we took advantage of time and visited the pool and beach installations. In the beach they were celebrating a garifuna party around a fire, which attracted a considerable amount of visitors. The music, the Jungujugu dance and the environment of the ancient Spanish castle built next to the coast, gives a magical air of invasion that accompanies us the rest of the night.

The next morning we left that small town of chalets, majestic houses and ancient style port, but with luxury yachts. We board the ship towards the frontier with Belize, crossing the huge entrance of Lake Izabal to the ocean. In there we found Playa Blanca, an extension of silvery sand that accompanies a calm and warm ocean.

The morning passed by pleasantly with a volleyball game, a swim and a relaxing time in the hammock. Continuing our travel to Livingston, we adventured in the Cocolí River, a natural reserve which allows navigation among the mangroves, and where we could feel as if the jungle was swallowing us through a huge green tunnel.

We also had time to visit Siete Altares (Seven Altars), with its waterfalls that show us why this place of entertainment has such fame. The ascension of this waterfall shows you several crystalline and refreshing cascades that invite you to take a dive.

Finally we arrive at Livingston, hungry with too much adventure. In the hotel Villa Caribe, they had prepared the best of the Caribbean foods. The delicious tapado from Izabal, a dish prepared with seafood, crab and fish, dressed with coconut oil. But the most authentic town of the Guatemalan Caribbean coast awaits us with its drums and the joy of its people, a mix of garifunas and the fluctuating population of tourists that stay in here for long periods enjoying its enchantment.

At sunset we traveled to our next lodging facility. The ship cleaves the ocean again, this time colored with the gray tonalities of the approaching night. The trip gives us new strengths and while we approach the big navy enclave of Puerto Barrios, the rests of some cargo ships remind us of the power of nature. Maybe that is why the arrival at Green Bay Cays feels ghostly and mysterious.

The so called Cayos del Diablo (Devil's Cays) for the pirates' ships that used them to hide from the Spaniards, are two big green masses that emerge from the ocean imposing respect. Behind them, they hide a wonderful bay, our last destination in this impressing trip, where they receive us with some delicious coconut beverages. In here we found the ecological hotel Green Bay, the perfect place to rest, although it is possible, after dinner, to enjoy some music in the coffee-bar.

At dawn, we are prepared to climb one of the main geotouristic attractions of our trip: the Cerro San Gil. This is a hike of no more than two hours and with no difficulties, so it is ideal for every kind of person. Besides, it has impressive views of the Caribbean coast.

When you descend, you can profit to take a dive in Las Escobas, another of the natural gifts of this particular, tropical weather. The common rains of the afternoon create these crystalline waterfalls of pure, fresh and transparent water. For the tired muscles there is nothing better than this stimulating aquatic surrounding, full of thick vegetation and the sound of the waterfalls.

When we left our idyllic trip, the Caribbean wave us good bye with a storm that surround everything with a romantic halo. It is midday, we have only been here for 48 hours, and however, the amount of experiences that we have enjoyed during our trip cannot be measured in terms of time.

Fire, Dance and Creole-Caribbean. Izabal is an ideal region to realize every kind of natural adventure and aquatic sport, like fishing or diving. It also reunites several close, interesting archeological points. Its Departmental Capital City is Puerto Barrios, a city of interesting Caribbean architecture, in which the Hotel del Norte stands out, and with a frenetic nightlife.

The most outstanding town for the afrocaribbean origin of its inhabitants is Livingston, which characterizes for its music, played with instruments of light percussion, like chichara, clave or palmada, accompanied by guitars. The ocean environment is resumed in this place, with its autochthonous language, the creole-caribbean.

This trip was possible thanks to the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT).