Monterrico Beach

The lowlands of Guatemala are a taste of paradise. The spectacular black volcanic sand beaches extend from México to El Salvador along the Pacific Ocean. One of the most popular destinations on the Pacific Coast is Monterrico, a natural reserve covering 28 square kilometers; 65% of which consist of canals that thread through mangrove swamps, as well as a black volcanic sand beach where sea turtles nest. Monterrico provides the perfect "tropical" atmosphere offering fun activities for the entire family; an ideal day here would include an early morning tour of the mangroves, followed by an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing on the beach or just laying in hammock watching the gentle pacific surf. While you are in the heat of the Pacific Coast, there are other interesting things to see.

The town of Santa Lucía can offer you a real surprise. In outlying areas of the town, mysterious stone sculptures can be found deep in the sugar cane fields. Many of the sculpture pieces greatly resemble Olmec carvings of Mexico. The town of La Democracia has an archaeological site named Monte Alto; this site has given up a large collection of enormous stone heads which are on display in the central plaza of the town. The meanings behind the sculptures of Santa Lucia and La Democracia are still unclear yet considering the incredible fertile land on the Pacific Coast, some archaeologists believe that the pot-bellied images could be fertility images or guardians of the earth's bounty.