Monterrico, Guatemala

A weekend trip to Monterrico Beach in Guatemala.

After three and a half weeks taking Spanish lessons in Antigua, with over a week left to go before leaving on our separate ways, we needed a break from all of that intense studying. We needed to relax. We needed to have some fun. We needed a vacation from our vacation. And, so, my friends and classmates and I squeezed into a shuttle bus and headed to Montericco Beach.

Monterrico is a volcanic black-sand beach on Guatemala’s Pacific coast in the Santa Rosa Department. It’s considered to be the best beach in Guatemala…though Guatemala isn’t as known for it’s beaches as some of the other Central American countries (like Belize or Costa Rica) so take that title with a grain of black sand. Still, though, it’s a popular weekend and holiday destination for local families and has become more and more popular for backpackers looking for a getaway from Antigua or Guatemala City.

My friends and I spent a weekend at Playa Monterrico lying in the hammocks that line the coastline, wading in the water and letting the giant waves beat down our backs, muddying ourselves playing in the sand, strolling around the town, drinking cuba libres by the hotel swimming pool and having conversation en Español with the hotel’s talking parrot.

Monterrico Beach may not have been the greatest beach in the world, but it was the greatest beach within a short drive of “home.” And, sometimes, that is all that matters.


 

Photos from our weekend trip to Monterrico Beach in Guatemala:

Volcanic black sand beach at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Lying in hammocks at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Volcanic black sand beach at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Lying in hammocks at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Wandering town at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Wandering town at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Black sand beach at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Wading in the water at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Me at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Playing in the black sand at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Jumping in the hotel swimming pool in Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Cuba libres by the swimming pool at our hotel at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Cuba libres by the swimming pool at our hotel at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Classmates taking a weekend trip to Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Cuba libres by the swimming pool at our hotel at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Talking Parrot at out hotel at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Sunset at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Cuba libres by the swimming pool at our hotel at  Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Swimming pool at our hotel in Monterrico Beach in Guatemala

Weekend trip from ANtigua at Monterrico Beach in Guatemala


Things to do at Guatemala’s Monterrico Beach:

 

Relax on the Black Sand Beach

If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend beach getaway that doesn’t involve crossing the border into El Salvador, Monterrico Beach is the place to go. You don’t have to do anything but grab a drink and soak up the sun if you don’t want to.

Sea Turtle Conservation

Annually, around August to November season, Monterrico serves as a breeding ground for sea turtles. “Tortugarios” (sea turtle hatcheries, like Tortugario Monterrico Wildlife Reserve) look after the eggs and tourists can visit to help release a baby turtles out into the wild.

Mangrove Swamp Tour

Taking a tour mangroves is a great way to watch for birds and other animals in the tranquil, natural setting of the area. Float through the water, among the tule grasses that grow alongside the banks of the mangroves, and enjoy views of the volcano in the distance.



Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.

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