Antigua Guatemala's Blog

Part of the adventure of traveling to Monterrico is the breezy boat ride through mangrove swamps. While those in cars can opt to cross a bridge that will take them past rusty, sunken ships, travelers taking the chicken bus will invariably end up on a small, motorized boat for the last part of their trek to the beach. (Those traveling by car can still take the scenic mangroves boat ride by catching a small ferry like that pictured above.) Guatemala is home to three species of mangrove, including black (Avicennia germinans), white (Laguncularia racemosa) and red (Rhizophora mangle). Guatemala’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) reports that each species is an endangered one. More than 100 species of birds can be spotted in the Pacific Coast Lowlands or the Chiapas-Guanacaste region, with elegant white egrets being among the most commonly spotted birds on the mangrove trip. Visitors particularly interested in the wildlife of the mangroves can hire local guides in Monterrico to lead them on an early morning mangrove boat tour.

The expansive stretch of beach in Monterrico offers a prime breeding ground for four species of sea turtles. However, poaching of sea turtle eggs is quite common among the local population. There are several turtle conservation organizations that try to combat poaching and promote sea turtle preservation and protection. During the months of October and November, tourists have the opportunity to search for sea turtle eggs and donate them to the conservation organizations. Lucky visitors can even witness sea turtles hatch and scramble from their nest on the beach to their life in the sea.