Quebec to Panama 2017-2019
(North and Central America)
16 months - solo travel - Suzuki DR650

Rió Dulce

November 13, 2018  —  Guatemala 2
Río Dulce - Guatemala

Rió Dulce is a river as well as a town once named Fronteras. Before the construction of the bridge linking the shores of the Rió Dulce, the town really looked like a typical border town. I think that nowadays, nothing has changed. The town is chaotic, and the trucks, cars, and bus traffic is intense.

Moreover, Rió Dulce is the starting point for a very popular boat excursion to Livingston. There are a lot of tourists arriving in large groups. I did a part of that tour and it was not great, we were packed in a boat that was going way too fast between some interesting locations.

In my case, I didn't go directly to Livingston, on the ocean front. I stopped at a finca on the Tatin River, an affluent of Rió Dulce. In the next post, you will see the second part of my trip on the river, a stage that I really liked.

Río Dulce - Guatemala
The enormous bridge over the Rió Dulce, and the boats used for tours.
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Not really.
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
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Boat Excursion

The tour offers some nice views at certain locations along the river. The negative side is that everything is rushed and it's difficult to enjoy the trip.

Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Río Dulce - Guatemala
Agua Caliente; a hot spring gushes in the river next to this pier.
Río Dulce - Guatemala
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Castillo San Felipe

Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
View from the boat.
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala

After I came back from Livingston, I visited the fort overland.

The fort was built in 1651 to prevent the pirates from looting the village and the caravans sailing on Lake Izabal. Ironically, the pirates managed to capture and burn it in 1686. By the end of the 1700s, pirates had vanished from the Caribbean, and the fort was converted into a prison. The fort as seen nowadays was rebuilt in 1956.

Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
The fort's ground has become a park.
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala
Castillo San Felipe de Lara - Río Dulce - Guatemala