http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Guatemala , Monterrico en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:34:42 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:34:42 +0000 We arrived to the turtle project in Hawaii in Guatemala not in US on the 31st and stayed there two nights for training. It is Olive Ridley turtle season but they also get some Leatherbacks during their season. The first night there there was a nest of turtle hatchlings in the hatchery which we had to measure their lengths record and then release the turtles on the beach by the ocean. Th http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/The-Hawaii-Project/blog-436897.html I crossed the border sat in the back of Manolo's jeep feeling a little worse for wear after last night's party. I could have stayed in Tacuba much longer just chilling at Mamas y Papas and exploring El Impossible. But the clock is ticking and I need to get a move on at the 10 month mark alreadyFirst stop back in Guatemala is the sleepy and inaccessible village of Monterrico. Despite being qui http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-434090.html We arrived in Monterrico after a very long confusing day of travel. We had 18 people in a 12 passenger van. Pretty crazy but if I remember correctly it only cost us around a dollar for an hour ride. In town we walked to our hostel and a little boy helped us find it. His name was Verando and he became our friend the entire time we stayed there. We walk into our hostel JOhnnys and it might http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-407880.html Hi Its a beautiful day in Antigua and I hope that you are able to enjoy some sunshine today. As always I am enjoying a short break from class. Yesterday I had a test on Nivel 3 and today I got a new book so that is very exciting. Also Edna made us banana pancakes served with chocolate syrup so I feel it will be a good day. She has made them often since we told her of our love for them. A ve http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-402339.html Great title right I really drew you in Well you're going to have to wait a little longer to find out about that because I'm going to start at the beginning of the dayWell the sunrise wasn't exactly ideal considering that the clouds from the storm hadn't fully moved away by 6 in the morning. I got a few decent pictures and did enjoy being alone for a while just sitting and watching the waves http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-396214.html Antigua is cold this time of year I wish I had figured that out before I arrived carrying nothing with me except light tshirts clothes.I had no idea what to expect when I arrived in Guatemala City Airport except the hope that someone from my language school would be there to pick me up when I got out. As soon as I cleared customs There he was. Sergio my driver.It was going to be a 45 minu http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-367470.html After a relaxing couple of days it is time to head to the beach for my last few days in Guatemala. We took a nice 2 hour shuttle rideno sickness to the beach in Monterrico. Along the way we saw a volcano erupt which was pretty neat. We stayed at Johnny's which is a cute little resort on the beach. The biggest decision of our days was whether to lounge in a hammock or on the beach. Lex http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-363481.html Hey EveryoneSo i finally arranged some time off and went on a vacation like i had been planning the entire time. I decided not to leave the country like i had originally thought i would do and instead went to an island that is still part of Guatemala called Monterrico. It was only a 3 hour bus ride from where i was but the difference in weather would be the same as going from Washington state t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-355126.html Dann endlich weg vom Regen und ab an den Strand Haben ein Shuttle nach Monterrico genommen. In Monterrico sind wir in einem Strandhotel untergekommen mit direktem zugang zum Strand. Da gerade Regensaison ist war es hier recht Ruhig. Sind hier 3 Tage geblieben und haben versucht zu schwimmen hab in meinem Leben noch nie so hoche Wellen gesehen und wie wir gekaempft haben rein zu kommen. Der ge http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-344838.html Paradise island. Last weekend I went with a friend to an island near Monterico. We took three chicken buses and a boat to an island on such a hot day. It took about five hours but boy was it worth it The local buses are interesting to say the least. You sit two to a seat but when the bus fills up which it always does people just tend to come and sit on your lap forcing you to move up and they http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-306781.html Hello againWell you will have to hang tight for pictures. Apparently i didnt pack the cord that connects the camera to the computer so until i find one in one of the many markets yes they will have one the markets have everything you are out of luck for pictures. But we are taking some mostly alot of mental pictures though.So we left Antigua on.... ummm on friday Im starting to loose the d http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-293702.html We entered town and turned toward the beach. When we paused to gain our bearings and choose a course of action a cute little local girl ran up to the window to suggest some places to stay. She was about nine years old and a hard worker running ahead of the truck directing us to various establishments. We checked out a couple before checking into the Marlin hotel. A color changing pool ch http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-291246.html One thing that I forgot to mention in my last blog entry was that I've had my first bit of bad luck I had my purse stolen from my bag when I was on a chicken bus last week. It didnt have much money in it but it had my memory card in it with all my photos from my first 6 weeks travelling. Stupidly I kept putting off getting the photos onto a disc. Oh well thats life. It wasnt my camera pass http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-218359.html Being Westcoasters all we are not accustomed to being too far from the Pacific Ocean so this weekend we decided to take a little day trip down to the coastal down of Monterrico.This is considered one of the more touristy spots in the country lots of Guatemalans from the City have vacation houses here but you'll also see a ton of young kids living the beach life down here which evidently mea http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-210207.html Last weekend I spent just over 24 hours in the beach resort of Monterico. We left on our shuttle at 8am and in just over 2 hours arrived in the tiny place of Monterico. It is known for its playa negro and huge waves. And they are HUGE Within half hour of arriving and booking in at the hotel I was on the beach in the beautiful boiling hot sunshine it was lovely. After relaxing all day with som http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-182482.html After Chiquimula we took several buses and a boat to get to Monterrico which is an island because it is surrounded by a swamp and the pacific ocean. Monterrico was not much more than a main street which seemed to be a continuation of the black sand beach you find at the end of it. From the moment you arrive you can hear the crashing of the waves which follows you wherever you go along with the in http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-161518.html In Monterrico nog wat de lege uitgehangen en rond 3u terug richting Antigua vertrokken. Hier hadden we nog wat tijd voor een ijsje en McD's eindelijk en toch ziet het er altijd beter uit op de poster sOm 7u op de colectivo naar Guatemala City 2u en in Guatemala City nog een uurtje moeten wachten op de nachtbus2de klasse naar Flores. Toen we int station aant wachten waren hadden we al n http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-138406.html Jow wekker om 5u zo al niet te fameus geslapen door de hitte en muggen... In ons bed horen we ook het 'gedonder' van de golven Om 5.30u staken we van wal met Celso als gids voor een tochtje met de boot door de mangroven. Het gebied maakt deel uit van een natuurreservaat voor behoud van schildpadden tortuga's iguana's en cocodrillo's... Mooi initiatief wat we hier eigenlijk nog niet hadden http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-138403.html Joew menskeseffe vlug een kort berichtje om te laten weten dat we nog leven... We zijn de afgelopen 3 dagen in het Neerglabbeek van Guatemala verzeild geraakt maar dan met palmboompkes zee strand en hamaca's geen gsmbereik geen internet... ma we hebben het goed naar onze zin gehad veel relaxed en gehangen in de hamaca Verslag volgt nog waarschijnlijk overmorgen van de afgelopen d http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-138007.html Woohoo Definately our favorite spot in Guatemala so far. We planned on staying and studying for 2 weeks and ended up staying for a month. Its really great here. Monterrico is a hard place to describe because it is just a tiny quiet town right on the ocean during the week but on the weekend tons of tourists come in to enjoy the beach. Personally I like it better during the week when we are t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Monterrico/blog-132156.html