The western half of Guatemala’s Pacific coast offers a fascinating Maya ruin, a water park and more volcanic beaches. The region’s most popular beaches are from near the port town of Champerico, which drawn weekend crowds from Quetzaltenango, while the Tulate beach further east near Mazatenango is popular with Spanish school students studying in Xela.

Several excellent restaurants and hotels will be found in the coastal town of Retalhuleu, which serves a convenient base for exploring the coast. Located just a few minutes out of town, the Xocomil water park makes a great place for family outings, with a wave pool, water slides and a tubing stream, as well as restaurants and picnic facilities.

The Abaj Takalik archaeological site is found about 30 minutes from Retalhuleu. This fascinating site, first occupied in about 800 BC, presents an interesting mix of Olmec and Maya architecture and art. Stela 2 at Abaj Takalik bears the oldest inscribed date yet discovered in Guatemala, and dates to 235 BC. Because the ruins are located in lands Formerly dedicated to farming, visitor will see coffee, banana, cacao and rubber tees growing along the wooded paths. Birding at this site is excellent and parrots, motmots, tityras and a surprising number of other species are commonly seen.

Another great place for bird watching is Manchòn Guamuchal, a private wildlife reserve found about an hour from Retalhuleu. The reserve consists of mangrove swamps, savannah and dozens of ponds that were until recently, dedicated to shrimp farming. The ponds attract incredible numbers of herons, White Ibises, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Muscovy, Ducks and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, as well as numerous raptors, such as Grey-headed Kites and Crested Caracaras. Although transient, Jabiru storks have also been sighted here! Arrangements must be made in advance with the owner or an authorized guide before entering the reserve.