Rio Dulce - how sweet it is...

After days of non-stop travel from Lago Atitlan through Coban, Lanquin, Semuc Champey and back through Coban, we arrived in Rio Dulce, on Lago Izabel absolutely exhausted. We splurged our first night in a yachtie hangout called Bruno's in town (not worth the money, except for the very cheap drinks at happy hour...), and then moved to the Tortugal resort further up river, which was absolutely worth the money. Views over the Rio Dulce, free kayaks, and friendly staff. We took a bus out one day to Finca Paraiso (Paradise Plantation), where they have a natural hot spring waterfall with water so hot it's almost painful. The hottest shower you'll find in Guatemala, guaranteed. What a beautiful place. After two days of luxury at Tortugal, though, we took the colectivo lancha (public mini boat) down the Rio Dulce river to the harbor town of Livingston. Livingston is more Caribbean than Guatemalan, with the dominant culture being Garifuna, a mixture of ex-slaves and native Carib peoples that settled here hundreds of years ago. It was so nice to see the ocean again!