Blogs from Flores, Petén Region, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 2

I arrived at Arcas in Peten, Guatemala after a long journey in taxi, colectivo and lancha (small boat). Arcas is a rehabilitation centre in the jungle for animals and birds. Some have come in as injured and others have been confiscated by the government from illegal trafficking. I stayed as a volunteer for two weeks and looked after parrots, toucans, baby crocodiles, turtles, a falcon and a macaw who kept trying to escape! Other animals at the centre included monkeys (spider and howler), racoons, coatimundis, grey wolf, puma, jaguar, ocelot, jaguarmundi, margay (small wild cat), agouti, peccari (wild boar), otter, stork, owls and an eagle. Looking after means feeding and lots of cleaning! The aim of the centre is to rehabilitate and release the animals and birds where possible so we were not allowed to touch ... read more

HE SAID... We were leaving Rio Dulce today and heading northwest to Flores, with an estimated drive time of three hours. We woke early at 5:30am, the fresh air breezing through our open air bungalow (with the ever present concern of mosquito bites keeping us on our feet with DEET-based repellent). We headed to the riverside deck at 6am to make use of the free wifi and relax in the still morning air. Our breakfast burrito (ixchel) came out of the kitchen at 7:30am, and it was fantastic – refried beans, egg, cheese and salsa. It was a shame to be leaving our El Tortuga bungalow, as our stay had been so relaxing. We loaded our bags onto the hotel’s longboat and made the five minute trip to a tiny dock under the imposing concrete bridge ... read more

After a great stay at lake Atitlan we followed the Gringo trail back to Antigua and onwards inlands. Compared to South America the countries in Central America are relatively small, so after a two hour drive in a reasonably comfortable van we arrived in Coban. The small town has little to offer for travellers, but it made for a good base for a trip to our next destination, Semuc Champey. Semuc is a very interesting natural phenomena where the river dips under the rocks for a couple of hundred of meters and leave a series of shallow pools, great for swimming and playing. Not surprisingly it is a favourite place for the locals to come and hang out. The trip out there is an adventure by itself, 2 hours on steep and unpaved roads, but sharing ... read more

On Tuesday 5 we left Guatemala City and headed for the island of Flores several hundred miles north east. We had booked a first class coach for 10am, first class here consists of padded leather seats which can recline, a toilet which was pretty grim and air conditioning that wasn't very strong but at least it was pretty comfortable. The journey to Flores should have taken 9 hours according to our ticket (arrival should have been at 7pm) but unfortunately it took a lot longer than this - 3 hours longer to be exact. There were a number of reason for the delay - the coach stopped at regular intervals at the side of the road for no apparent reason, the coach stopped off for petrol only to stop just 10 minutes later at another petrol ... read more

GUATEMALA, here we come! 01/01/15 GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR IEDEREEN! Goeiemorgen, 7u30 open ritsen die tent. Het blijft een zalig zicht, wat een playa! Toch een uur of drie geslapen in die veel te kleine tent. Wat mij betreft een gedroomde oudejaarsnacht! Geen dure party van 60 -100 dolar op het strand maar een simpele maaltijd en gewoon de hele nacht jammen/zingen rond een vuurtje op het strand. Ergens een man of twintig. Brazilianen, Argentijnen, Mexicanen, Fransen, nen simpele Belg, een Amerikaan die "miljaardedju " ferm zot kon spelen. Het leukste was de verschillende muzikale invloeden. Is er hier eigenlijk iemand die geen gitaar speelt of zingt? " Buzze" maken, een laatste zwemke in de prachtige Caribische zee en op weg naar Chetumal ( grens Belize). Mijn poging tot liften op 1 januari mag ik wel vergeten, volgens ... read more