Guatemala is famous for its Mayan culture, mysterious ruins, cobblestone streets, colourful buses, coffee and spectacular volcanoes. A lesser-known aspect of the country are the beaches, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. Here is our selection of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Guatemala.
Surf, peaceful spots, black sand: Guatemala's beaches satisfy everyone's tastes © Stefan Messing / Getty Images
The lack of notoriety of Guatemala's beaches doesn't mean that you have to cross the border into Mexico, El Salvador or Belize or travel to the islands off Honduras to enjoy some sea. The Guatemalan coast also offers many spots to explore and the climate is ideal given the abundance of sunny days throughout the year.
When visiting Guatemalan beaches, remember to always wear flip-flops or sandals: they may be populated by sand mites and sand fleas. Also, many beaches overlooking the Pacific are black sand and walking there in the midday sun is not a barefoot experience, it feels like walking on lava. Be aware that toplessness is categorically forbidden, keep an eye on your belongings and leave valuables at home. Now that you've jotted down these practical tips, you're ready to enjoy the state's best beaches: here's our selection of the 10 best beaches in Guatemala.
"/>
It's easy to spend a day on the idyllic white sand beaches of Playa Blanca, Guatemala © Fredy Estuardo Maldonado / Shutterstock
Playa Blanca
The best beach for Caribbean atmospheres
Playa Blanca is Guatemala's best beach on the Caribbean coast, located about an hour's boat ride northwest of Lívingston. The only way to reach it is by boat: we recommend booking a tour through a travel agency in Lívingston or Puerto Barrios. The beach is privately managed, so make sure the price of admission is included. Many tours include a stop at Siete Altares, a series of small waterfalls and natural pools in the jungle not far from the coast.
What's so special about Playa Blanca? As the name implies, it is an idyllic beach with white sand, surrounded by coconut palms. The water quality depends on the weather: when it rains, it tends to be murkier. Caribbean beaches in Guatemala are subject to erosion, so Playa Blanca is not very wide. The consolation is that you can grab a beer at a restaurant and decide to literally take two steps to drink it in the shade of a palm tree, while the water caresses your feet.
"/>
Guatemalan beaches range from surf spots to fishing villages © Jorge Ortiz / 500px
Playa Punta de Manabique
The best beach for ecotourism
Punta de Manabique is a peninsula about 20 km north of Puerto Barrios. It is a nature reserve full of rainforests and mangrove forests inhabited by various mammals such as spider monkeys, howler monkeys, jaguars, tapirs and peccaries, as well as green iguanas and more than 300 species of birds. Manatees and crocodiles populate the mangrove swamps, while sea turtles come from the ocean to lay their eggs on the beach. The beaches are long and narrow, with rough waters on the eastern side and calmer on the western side.
The actual Playa Punta de Manabique is located near the tip of the peninsula, where the community of the same name also lives. The beach is narrow and the neutral-coloured sand is often littered with driftwood and bits of coral from nearby coral formations, the only ones found in Guatemala. From the long jetty, adventurous people come out to snorkel in these welcoming waters. There are numerous rustic accommodations.
The easiest way to get to Playa Punta de Manabique is to book through a travel agency in Puerto Barrios or Lívingston. If you want to get around independently, you can hire a boat at the public pier in Puerto Barrios.
Playa Amatique Bay
The best beach for an all-inclusive resort experience
Amatique Bay Resort and Marina, just outside Puerto Barrios, is one of the best all-inclusive beachfront resorts in Guatemala. The staff is very friendly, peace and quiet is guaranteed and there is no shortage of recreational activities, from horse riding to massages.
An old stone lighthouse with cannons overlooks the private beach, whose white sand lends itself as a football pitch or beach volleyball court when there are enough people willing to play. Because of the nearby marina and the small stream that flows into the sea, the water is rather murky. It's not great for swimming, but it's great for fishing, kayaking and resting aboard a giant inflatable banana. In addition, the sea is very calm and the views fantastic.
The resort boasts numerous accommodation options and two restaurants. Puerto Barrios can be reached by taxi.
Sign up for our newsletter! For you weekly travel tips, special offers, stories from the world and 30% discount on your first order.
Playa Dorada
The best beach for water sports
The name doesn't lie, the sand and pebbles on this beach really do give it a golden colour. Looking at the palm trees, the clear water and the palapas providing shelter from the sun, you will feel as if you are on the seashore and not on the southern shore of Lake Izabal, between the villages of Izabal and Mariscos. The placid waters make it a great beach for swimming, but keep in mind that you are in one of Guatemala's most popular places for kayaks, jet skis, banana boats or pedal boats, all available for hire. Several restaurants and accommodations are located in the village behind the beach.
Playa Las Cristalinas
The best beach to admire a volcano
Is the water in Guatemala clear? Not really and not always: pollution is a problem, and the waters can get muddy, especially during the rainy season, but some beaches boast crystal-clear water in most months, such as, not surprisingly, Playa Las Cristalinas. It is among the best bathing beaches on the shores of Lake Atitlán and by far among the cleanest. The sand, however, feels like fine gravel. Being in the Guatemalan highlands, here one does not suffer from the heat and humidity that plague coastal beaches and the panorama includes the outline of no less than three volcanoes.
The beach is roughly halfway between San Pablo La Laguna and San Juan La Laguna, and can be reached on foot, by tuk-tuk, chicken bus from both cities, or by sea in a private boat or kayak. On site you will find a restaurant that prepares simple but tasty dishes.
"/>
Head to Moterrico to see some of Guatemala's best black sand beaches © SL-Photography / Shutterstock
Monterrico
The best beach to enjoy the sunset
Given the absence of beaches in Guatemala City, Monterrico is a favourite of the capitenos (inhabitants of the capital) for the weekend and during Semana Santa; the wealthier choose it to buy their holiday homes or stay in the country's most beautiful resorts. It takes about three hours to get there by car from the city via Iztapa. If you are up for an adventure, head instead to La Avellana and take the ferry across the nature reserve to Monterrico.
Monterrico beach is one of the best black sand beaches in Guatemala. It is quiet during the week, but becomes very crowded during weekends and Semana Santa. A particularly magical time to enjoy the beach is at sunset, when the fiery red orb slowly cleaves the horizon, the black sand no longer burns under the soles of your feet and the silhouette of a surfer stands out against the myriad of pink, orange and yellow hues.
From June to December, the Tortugario Monterrico releases baby turtles into the ocean waters. You can 'adopt' a newly hatched turtle and release it into the sea for a small fee. However, you should be aware that touching the hatchlings, especially without gloves, stresses the animals and increases the risk of transferring diseases between the turtles and humans; choose instead to make a donation and let the more experienced staff 'handle' them.
Read also:
"/>
Iztapa
The best beach for sailfish
Before Puerto San José was built about 15 km further north, Iztapa was Guatemala's main port; today it is just a scenic black sand beach with a river running parallel to the sea behind it. The surfing here is not bad and the beach is a great starting point for whale-watching adventures. But the fishing is the real star attraction. Iztapa is one of the best Pacific beaches in Guatemala (and one of the best places in the world) for sailfish fishing. World records have been set here and experts claim that, on average, it is possible to catch between 15 and 25 sailfish in a day.
The city has a good tourist infrastructure with numerous hotels and resorts to choose from, many of which are designed to accommodate sports enthusiasts and organise fishing trips.
El Paredón
The best beach for surfing
Between dirt roads and thatched-roof houses, the small town of El Paredón looks like a typical laid-back beach town. As in many of the Pacific beaches in Guatemala, the sand is dark and enters the water with a downward slope. It used to be a secret, but now the information is public knowledge: if you are looking for the best surfing beach in Guatemala, El Paredón is the place for you. Despite the tourist shuttles that connect it with Antigua, the town remains quiet, without an invasion of tourists. The wi-fi connection is fast on a good day, but on bad weather days, forget surfing the net. Instead, it is possible to cut through the waters in the real world, especially with a surfboard, regardless of your level. The waves are constant throughout the year and are rarely crowded. Surfing is considered an integral part of the local way of life, in fact almost every hotel rents boards, offers courses or has a school nearby. If you also want to try something different, visit the Sipacate-Naranjo National Park to the west of the city. Here you can laze on the beach or explore the mangroves and lagoons and spot more than 90 species of birds, freshwater turtles and sea turtles.
"/>
Sipacate and El Paredón beaches offer the best surfing experience in Guatemala © Chrispictures / Shutterstock
Sipacate
The best beach for the range of activities on offer
A short boat ride or more than an hour's drive from El Paredón, Sipacate is a great option for a dynamic experience. Despite being a small town, it offers plenty of accommodation and restaurants. With constant waves throughout the year, Sipacate is one of the best surfing beaches in Guatemala, suitable for beginners and experts alike. If you want to try a different activity, you are spoilt for choice: the channels behind the beach are ideal for kayaking, SUP and birdwatching.
Playa Tilapa
The best beach to escape the crowds
Want to avoid the tourist hordes? Playa Tilapa, in front of the fishing village of the same name, located a few kilometres south of the Mexican border, is far enough away from the beaten track to give you a solo beach experience. Accommodation options are limited, but you will find many restaurants in which to eat. Sometimes fishermen sell part of the day's catch to people.
The series of canals and the Río Naranjo make it impossible to reach the beach from the village, so it is necessary to board a boat from the pier and sail for about 10 minutes.
Published in May 2022
