Highlights of Izabal: Livingston + Castle + Boat Ride Tour

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Garifuna and Mayan cultures, explore the natural beauty of Livingston, and discover the rich history of the Castle of San Felipe on this cultural, nature, and history tour in Guatemala’s Caribbean region.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Rio Dulce - After we pick you up at your hotel´s dock or the main dock of Rio Dulce, we will start with this breathtaking adventure through the highlights of Izabal.

Our tour includes visits to Laguna Jardines, Agua Caliente, Isla de Pájaros, and more impressive places that will leave you with your mouth open surrounded by nature, breathtaking landscapes, local fauna, and the breeze touching your face.

  • Livingston - We will visit the Rio Dulce Canyon on a private boat ride and pass by the lagoon gardens and bird island.

Then, Livingston the main city of Garifuna culture. Panoramic view

  • Castillo de San Felipe de Lara - The last part of our tour features one of the most emblematic castles in Latin America, Castillo de San Felipe de Lara. It was built by the Spanish against English pirates lurking in the Caribbean.

The castle was built in the middle of the 17th century. This defensive fortress functioned as a prison and customs center, in addition to fulfilling the function of a military center. Today, this monument is part of a corridor of castles on the Atlantic coast.

The tour of the castle is wonderful, and its history takes you to its beginning and battles against the pirates.

This is a panoramic visit.

  • Rio Dulce - At the end of the day, we will go back to Rio Dulce, just where we started.
What's Included
  • Panoramic tour to the locations described in the itinerary
  • Private Boat Ride - Round Trip
  • Certified Tour Guide by The Guatemalan Tourism Board
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
Additional Information

Embark on a captivating journey beginning with a convenient pickup from your hotel’s dock or Rio Dulce’s main dock.

We’ll launch into an awe-inspiring adventure through Izabal’s highlights, starting with the serene Laguna Jardines. Feel the exhilaration of Agua Caliente’s warm embrace, marvel at the stunning Isla de Pájaros, and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant local fauna.

Next, we’ll visit the Ak Tenamit Mayan Association, a transformative boarding school in the Maya Queqchi community, where young minds learn trades that contribute to the restaurant and tourism industries. Our journey then takes us to Livingston, the heart of Garifuna culture, where vibrant traditions thrive. The tour culminates at the historic Castillo de San Felipe de Lara.

Concluding this unforgettable day, we’ll return to Rio Dulce, leaving you with cherished memories of a day steeped in culture and natural beauty.

Enjoy the panoramic tour through all of these mesmerizing locations

  • Bring mosquito repellent and sun protection
Location
Rio Dulce
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(2 Ratings)
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1 star
L3899psmicheleb
Jan 30, 2024
Loved it all - Boat ride was wonderful, went through beautiful Flower Garden, long swath of water lilies with some unusual colors, mangrove, canyon walls, water birds, nesting site for herons and cormorans. Before reaching Livingston there is a half hour stop for restaurant, bathrooms, hike into the forest and hot pools for swimming if desired. Pelicans cavorting around in the water and gathered as a welcoming committee on the dock in Livingston. At the restaurant we were treated to a performance of Garafuno drumming and dancing by a local family that was amazing, the male dancer could really move! The castle/fort was fantastic, out of all the forts we've visited definitely the most interesting and the park it sits in was beautiful including a very colorful local cemetery, restaurant, swimming pool, lake beach and pathways all around for sauntering. Highly recommend and I would do it all over again. Not mentioned in the tour information is a quirky little pirate museum in a luxury hotel just by the entrance to the park where the fort is situated. If time permits it's worth a quick visit too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hugoleonelg2023
Apr 8, 2023
Interesting tour - This is a highly personalized trip, so it will be modified to suit your group's specific interests. The guide is very knowledgeable about the area and gives good explanations about the different places visited.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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