How to Spend 2 Days in the Beach Town of Monterrico, Guatemala

Oh, you’ve got to go to the beach in Guatemala!…no one has heard. You hear all about its Mayan ruins, majestic volcanoes, picturesque lakes, and dense jungle. 

But if you’re looking for a change of scenery during your trip and you feel like dipping your toes in the sand, you can visit the beach town of Monterrico, only a few hours away from the beautiful city of Antigua.

This is a place to relax watching gorgeous sunsets, see wildlife and nature or do nothing. Which is exactly what we were looking for after spending several weeks around the mountains.

You could visit Monterrico on a day trip from Antigua, but if you’re going to come here it’s better if you stay for two days to unwind at the beach and enjoy other activities that you can only do either at dawn or at the end of the day.

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These are the things to do in Monterrico, Guatemala, during a 2-day visit

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Start Your Trip Relaxing on the Beach

The first thing you’ll notice is the dark tones below your feet, which doesn’t fit with the typical white- sand-dream beach you see on tourism sites. Why is the sand black in Guatemala? 

Well, there’s a whole lot of volcanoes here. And the erosion of all that solidified lava, full of basalt, results in the black sand (more like deep brown) that feels like melting lava when the sun hits around midday.

However, the contrast of the white foam washing on the dark sand after the strong waves crash is a beautiful sight.

Talking about waves, you have to keep an eye for that here. Although you can swim in Monterrico, there’s also a strong undertow that doesn’t make it the ideal place for a calm exploration of the Pacific Ocean. Riptides have claimed several lives.

I opted for a more relaxing experience. I waded through the water, sat on a beach chair to see the waves and took long walks along the shore.

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Stay for the Gorgeous Sunsets

This is one of the best spots to see breathtaking sunsets in Guatemala. No mountains or volcanoes in the way. Maybe some clouds to add some drama to the scenery.

It’s worth staying one night to fully relax at the beach and see the show in the sky.

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Bonus tip: if you’re looking forward to having a quiet time at the beach, go on a weekday. During the weekend people from Guatemala City flock to Monterrico, as it’s the closest beach. 

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See the Turtles Nesting at Night

Monterrico is a nesting site for several species of turtles that come to the beach at night to lay their eggs between June and September. Your chances to find them will increase if you visit during the last two months of the season.

We joined a night walk with a guide from the Tortugario (CECON) -an environmental project to protect marine turtles in Guatemala- to see them.

We walked in the dark on the beach. If you point a light to a turtle before she lays the eggs she gets upset and returns to the water without dropping them, so you have to be careful.

It was busy, with people coming and going on foot, motorcycles, and ATVs, some of them patrolling the beach. Everybody was careful, turning off the lights when driving close to a nesting point.

Someone drew figure eights on the sand with their flashlights to sign that a turtle was around. Two guys spotted the tracks, guarded the turtle making sure that people didn’t get too close until it dug the nest and laid the eggs.

As soon as the turtle started covering the eggs they dug them out and took them. If left on the beach, the eggs fall prey to crabs, birds, and dogs. 

Some eggs are sold to the conservation project, and some are sold for consumption. Yes, unfortunately some people still eat them. At least some are kept to protect the turtles.

Eggs are taken to the Tortugario where they are buried and, once they hatch, around 50 days later, they are released into the ocean. Want to be part of that? Keep reading.

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Release a Baby Turtle (or Two) into the Ocean

You may not see the turtles nesting but you may see the hatchery. If you come between August and December you’ll have the chance to release a turtle hatchling into the ocean after a small donation to the Tortugario.  The release normally takes place towards the end of the afternoon.

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Take a Boat Tour at the Monterrico Nature Reserve

Get up early the next day and jump on a canoe with guides from the Tortugario as they paddle through the waterways of the Chiquimulilla Canal on a mangrove swamp.

You’ll see up close the beautiful curves drawn by the roots of the white, black, and red mangroves, and water lilies adding a touch of colour to the landscape. You’ll find more flowers during the rainy season as the rain raises the level of freshwater.

Bring your binoculars as this is a great site for birdwatching. 

If you take the early morning tour (there is another tour in the afternoon) you’ll see more wildlife and you may see three volcanoes in the distance -Pacaya, Fuego and Acatenango- as the view is clearer at that time

The Monterrico Nature Reserve (also known as Biotopo Monterrico-Hawaii) is part of a conservation project aimed to protect the birds and the mangroves.

Part of the project is picking up the floating ripe mangrove seeds and taking them to areas where there are none. Once they attach themselves to the soil, they will grow and expand the population.

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How to Get to Monterrico from Antigua

The fastest way is to take a taxi (always use official taxis) or an Uber, but it’s also the most expensive.

A less costly option that doesn’t involve sitting on an uncomfortable bus for four hours is to take a shuttle (you’ll see signs for it all over Antigua’s tour agencies). The trip is about two hours and change.

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Where to Stay in Monterrico

A budget option, right on the beach and off the main street is Hotel El Delfín. It’s more like a hostel, but you also have private rooms with private bathrooms. It’s on the basic side, but it’s clean and food isn’t bad.

For a more upscale option you can stay at Dos Mundos Pacific Resort, on the east side of town.

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Is Monterrico Worth Visiting?

It depends. If you’re staying only a few days in Guatemala I wouldn’t go out of the way to visit Monterrico.

The town is rather underwhelming and, although the beach is scenic, swimming conditions aren’t the greatest. It’s more like a walking beach.

But if you’re staying in Guatemala beyond two weeks and you would like to take a break from the mountains, feel warm, and have the chance to see turtles -if you go at the right time-, then it’s worth staying for two or three days.  

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Switch your hiking boots for flip flops for two days and see the waves crashing on Monterrico’s shores or spot sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach. 

This is a chance to experience a different side of Guatemala.

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