Puerto Barrios Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Puerto Barrios is a seaport and the capital of the department of Izabal on the Caribbean Coast of Guatemala. Its population is about 40,000 people. It is also the commercial heart of the region, because it has two ports: Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomás de Castilla. Santo Tomás is the biggest port in the entire country.
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Get in
Get around
To get around you can take the bus or take a taxi. The bus costs Q2.00 and taxi cost Q4.00. But for you, as a tourist; it may cost you a little bit more.
There is only one route that goes from the Central Market, in Puerto Barrios; to San Agustín, in Santo Tomás de Castilla. The bus stops don't have signals most of the time, so you must have to know the place where you are coming down.
To move in a more wide area, the best ones are the taxis. But be careful. Taxis must have an identification number on both doors. Also, you can negotiate the payment with the driver. Most of the time, this isn't necessary; but like you don't know the city and you don't have your own car, you will have to do it sooner or later. Most of the time, a "carrera" will cost you between Q20 or Q50; depending of the place where you are going.
Assaults a are very common in the country, but Puerto Barrios is a relatively safe city. (At the moment) But be careful with taxis during night. Take them in well illuminated places and if you can, guide them to your destination and ask them to do not pick another person while you're using it. This will cost you a bit more, but you won't get ruined.
English is not widely spoken, you will have to communicate with the rest of the people by using Spanish.
See
Do
One of the most visited places is a local river called "Las Escobas". Is in the cerro San Gil, outside the urban area of Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomás de Castilla. The river is famous for its crystalline water and it's very cold. Is in the middle of the jungle, but is very easy to reach it by a road or walking.
The river has several natural pools, and they look like paradise.
But check the weather report before going there. If it has being raining in the last days, then the water will be dirty. Is not polluted, but it isn't nice to take a bath like that.
Buy
Eat
Is typical os the city the products of the sea. One of the best restaurants is restaurant Safari. It's located in the neighborhood "El Rastro".
Other places are restaurant "El Castillo", "Fogón Porteño", "Pepin Burger", and some others that have special things like churrascos or tortillas de harina. These two are also typical from the city.
If you like Cuban food, you can go to "La Habana Vieja". This restaurant it's located on 8th. avenue and between 7th. and 6th. streets. You can eat the best pieces of meat in there.
If you want to try a typical of the entire country; you can go to "Pollo Campero" (Country Chicken) It's located in 8th. street and 7th. avenue, next to the Central Market. This is an international chain of restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken, but has the special Guatemalan flavour.
If what you are looking for is for 1st. class cuisine, go to the Mar Brissa hotel or to Amatique Bay hotel. The finest restaurants in town. Both of them are a little far away form downtown, but is very easy to get to them.
Drink
One of the most famous places is a disco, called "La Colombina". There you can find the best nightlife in the entire city. But you have to get used to crowds, smoke and beer; and specially to rude people. So this place is not for everyone.
Sleep
There are several hotels in the city. But you have to be careful with them. The city is sadly famous for having a lot of prostitution. So, you can end in a hotel that is used for them.
It´s more safe to use hotels that are big. The may be a little more expensive than others, but you won't get ruined. Some of them are: "Valle Tropical", "Mar Brissa", "Puerto Libre" "Hotel del Puerto" and others.
You can also hospedate in "Hotel del Norte". Is a beautiful hotel that has more that a 100 years. Is in the old downtown of Puerto Barrios an is close of the City Hall and the Central Market. But is too near of the port, so there's a lot of traffic and dust.
Get out
You can take boats that go every day to places like "Punta de Palma". Punta the Palma is one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. But be careful. You may find that the beach is full of garbage after a holiday.
- You can also go to Livingston. This small town has an important "garífuna" community. It's also a good place to eat and dance. You will find typical things like bracelets to take home.
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