::: Escuintla:::(Pacific Coast)


The city of Escuintla is located at 14.30° N 90.78° W. In 2003 the city had a population of about 68,000 people. It is on the border of the central highlands and the Pacific coastal plain.

A trip past Escuintla to the shores of the Pacific brings visitors to mangroves, unique black volcanic sand beaches and meandering tropical waterways. The hub of this popular weekend destination is Monterrico, actually located in adjacent Santa Rosa, featuring several small hotels.
To the north along the Pacific towards Mexico, visitors encounter Puerto San Jose, home to the world's best saltwater sports fishing fleet. Essentially all of the world records for billfish have been and continue to be set in this catch and release, near onshore destination. The waters teem with smaller to bigger fish, turtles and whales. If you're not after the big marlin, it is hard not to return with a cooler full of mahi-mahi fillets.
Naturally beaches and the Pacific add up to surfing, a sport growing in popularity in Guatemala. Board rental is reasonable and plentiful and accommodations are like California’s in the 30s-spartan and natural.
The South Coast of Guatemala is home to many archaeological sites, one of the most spectacular of which is Takalik Abaj, rising on ten terraces from the Pacific to 5100 feet (1550 meters). The highest terrace is home to the Takalik Maya Lodge, increasingly recognized as one of Guatemala’s authentic ecological destinations. The site's origins are Olmec, a mysterious group that well predates the Maya. Just "down the hill" from Takalik Abaj, the city of Retalhuleu bills itself as the "capital of the world" but more accurately it is the Central American capital of water and theme parks. Families can choose themes from Polynesian to Maya and spend days soaking up the sun and fun.