From Wikitravel

Monterrico is the most popular beach in Guatemala and also the closest to Guatemala City and Antigua. There are nice waves for surfing, but beware of the undertow. Don't forget to bring some sandals. The sand is of the black volcanic variety and is too hot to walk on after 10am.

Contents 1 Get in 2 Money 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 11 Get out

Get in

By bus from Guatemala City to Iztapa (from the bus terminal in zona 4, 05:00-18:00 more or less every hour, 1 hour and 45 min), boat across the canal of Chiquimulilla to Puerto Viejo, and from there by bus to Monterrico (four buses a day). Or by bus to Taxisco, another bus to La Avellana, and finally boat to Monterrico. There are also 3 direct buses from Guatemala City to La Avellana, leaving the bus terminal in zona 4 at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30 (check the schedule with Transportes Cubanita). From Antigua you can use a shuttle service that is more expensive, but maybe more comfortable and with less hassle. By car head for Escuintla - Puerto Quetzal - Iztapa - ferry to Puerto Viejo - and then to Monterrico. Or you can take the Carretera al Pacífico from Escuintla - Taxisco - La Avellana and ferry to Monterrico.

Money

You are going to want to bring all the cash you need for your stay. There are no ATMs in Monterrico and the closest one is 3 hours away. Some of the more expensive hotels might exchange American Express travelers checks e.g. Johnnys Place. Be warned VISA travels checks are not accepted anywhere in town.

Get around

See

• The mangrove swamp

• Club Auto Safari Chapín, from Escuintla along Carretera al Pacífico, just before Taxisco

Do

There's not much going on in Monterrico, the beach life is pretty much it. At times there is a lot of litter along the beach, although the hotels between the Dulce y Salado and the Eco Beach place generally keep it clean.

Learn

Spanish school Proyecto Lingüstico Monterrico, Calle Principal, Monterrico Taxisco, Tel 619-8200, 691-7505, espanolenlaplaya@yahoo.com. 20 hours/week USD 60 (+ accommodation USD 85).

Buy

Eat

Many of the hotels along the beach have restaurants. Some of the best are at the Hotels "Pez de Oro" and "Johnnys". But "Johnny's" customer service is subpar. The tables are dirty and the menu is one of the most expensive in town.

Food in most of the beach from restaurants is rather expensive your best bet for budget food is along Calle Principal. Here you will find a place selling chow main tostadas for a bargain price. Vegetarian food is particularly hard to come by here with seafood being predominant on most menus.

"El Caracol" serves very tasty sandwichs and desserts, especially crepes. Their prices are competative. The couple managing the hotel attended culinary school and are skilled cookers.

Drink

• El Caracol The best place for a cocktail and for watching the sunset. The strawberry daiquiri is awesome! Closes early, 22:00.

• El Animal Where you go after Caracol. Lively place. Watch out for possible quarrels between the staff/management and local gangs.

• Johnny's Place Ice cold fresh fruit smoothies all day long. Close at 10:00

Sleep

The hotels usually operates with different prices for weekends-weekdays. On the weekends it can be difficult to get a room at your hotel of choice. Book ahead, or be prepared to walk along the beach asking for available rooms.

• Hotel "Café del Sol". Excellent menus, nice and clean rooms, on the beach, ask for our salsa y merengue courses. 180/140Q. Tel 5810-0821 www.cafe-del-sol.com

• Pez de Oro. One of the best hotels in Monterrico.

• El Mangle, Tel 5514-6517, 5490-1336. Q180/150 double weekend/weekdays.

• Hotel Baule Beach

• El Kaiman Cheep and clean Q80 for a double and they have great pizza cooked in a clay oven.

• Johnnys Place, Tel 5812-0409, 7762-0015. Q190/150 double weekend/weekdays. Dorms, private rooms, pools, traditional bungalows and deluxe bungalows. Pools, great restaurant, and volleyball every afternoon. www.playademonterrico.com

• Hotel El Marlin, Tel 5715-4934 (owner Antonio López). Not quite finished in spring 2004, but has potential. Pool and a small bar. Q150 double.

• The Guesthouse, behind El Marlin, same owner. Basic accommodation. Q50/35.

• El Delfin

• El Caracol, This small hotel, two houses down from Johnny's, has the feeling of a bed-and-breakfast. The management is friendly and they have a puppy that will play with the guests. There are only three rooms at the facility, which conveys a more intimate interaction with management. The prices are good, too. For a private, double bed room, the price tag is $10 per person. The decor in the hotel is very soothing. Candles are lit every night. There are areas in the front patio that have hammocks, couches and hammocks.

Get out

• Shuttle service to Antigua Saturday and Sunday Q40. Reservations at Proyecto Lingüstico Monterrico. The Hotel El Delfin also runs a shuttle service.

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