We are not talking about the famous islands in the United States, but of the magnificent coast in the Guatemalan Pacific, a very rich natural ecosystem that deserves to be preserved.

Reaching Monterrico, in Santa Rosa, is a bit complicated, even though it is one of the most wonderful trails in the country. From the capital city you have to go to Escuintla, and from there, take the highway to Taxisco, and in two hours or a little more, you get to La Avellana.

At this point, the highway ends and we have to sail through the canals. Ferries offer the possibility of taking your car across the canal for 50 quetzales. These are stable but you have to watch out for the rainy season. So if you do not want to jeopardize your car to the swamp waters, you can leave it in the dock where it will be safe.

Boats leave every 30 minutes, and for only three quetzales they take you to Monterrico through the canals and mangroves of great natural beauty. This is one of the charms of the visit, since the ecological adventure wraps you from the very beginning.

You need to account that the small Hawaiian population has no lodging (you can only rent rooms), so it is better to look for a hotel in Monterrico, where the options are now numerous and cheaper.

With this problem solved, the excursion to Hawaii can be made in different ways. Early in the morning, estimating two hours and a half out and the same back, the healthiest thing to do would be to walk these 12 kilometers, since the trail is really beautiful and the sea breeze makes it really pleasant. It is also perfect for renting a bike, making sure it is a mountain bike, because it is a sand road. If you crossed on the ferry with your car or if you rent a pick-up truck for Q50.00, the trail takes about 20 minutes.

The biotope Monterrico-Hawaii is a natural reserve of 20 kilometers of coast and mangroves full of birds and aquatic life, with palm trees and big beaches of a pale gray tone. It is an impressive natural treasure that remains hidden for big masses of people.

On the trip to Hawaii, some big mansions along the seashore show the increasing interest for tourism in this coast. When you go farther away from Monterrico, people disappear and you are before the immensity of this area in the Pacific. Reaching the Association for the Rescue and Conservation of Wild Life, ARCAS, there is a small group of constructions where a group of volunteers work, but, above all, the home to different animals in danger of extinction.

Even though the place seems full of fauna and flora, many of the old visitors have disappeared along the years, like the manatee or sea cow. ARCAS, proposing to create consciousness for environmental protection, is a non-governmental organization that receives visitors to let them know about their projects.

It is a perfect visit for any tourist, but its main function is among youth people and groups of students. The itinerary for tours to the park, in which the volunteer acts as a guide, starts by being acquainted with the fabulous location of this place.

The cabin, where international volunteers or visitors stay (with prior arrangement), is next to the shore. Around it are the crocodile and iguana reproduction areas. For the daring, it is possible to get close to these green dragons, but you have to be aware that their tranquility is just apparent. Further away is the turtle habitat, where nests with thousands of eggs are taken care of, and where you can see hundreds of turtles.

You can take a relaxing bath in this sea, but you have to be precautious and never do it alone. At sunset it has become a tradition to free the little turtles to help them in their first great voyage along the beach to the sea.

One of the most gratifying experiences of the whole trip is making a campfire at night right in front of the ocean. Maybe in the dark a Ridley turtle will come to lay eggs on the shore and the vital cycle, which has remained for millions of years, will continue.

These aquatic forests, real natural labyrinths, are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and home for a variety of wild animals, including raccoons, crocodiles, iguanas, ant-eaters, and numerous birds. The Hawaiian mangroves are some of the few remaining in the southern coast of Guatemala, and they serve as a resting place for migratory birds that travel from the cold north to the warm south.

Underwater an intense wild life exists, with great richness of fish and shellfish. The fishing methods that are still been used and do not respect the natural balance, can weaken this environmental reserve and break the ecological circle of this biotope.