Lago Izabal
Lake Izabal is the largest one in Guatemala, and it's the source of Rió Dulce. There are several nice sites to visit all around the lake. Here are a few ones.
El Boquerón
El Boquerón is a small canyon on the River Sauce, a tributary of Lake Izabal. The canyon is only 2-3 kilometres long, but it's quite scenic. I explored it with a canoe and a young guide.
Finca El Paraíso
After reaching Finca El Paraíso, there is a trail along a river to get to a thermal water spring. I visited the site on a weekend, so there were lots of local people that came on this nice day to swim in the river.
When I first got into the water, I was very surprised. The water was cold, and I was a bit disappointed. I quickly realized that the hot water was in fact the waterfall. Yes, it's hot enough so that one can't stay under it for more than a few minutes. One must alternate between the cold river and the very hot waterfall. It's the hottest shower I took in Guatemala.
Quiriguá
Quiriguá is a Mayan archeological site that has been occupied in the years AD 200 to 850. The site contains only a few poorly restored pyramids that are not very interesting. Quiriguá is more famous for the quality of the stelae discovered there.
One can gape at a dozen magnificent stelae and a few altars. In all the sites I have visited, these are the most beautiful stelae I have seen up to now.
On the road
After leaving Quiriguá, I drove on a small rural road. A few times, I had to cross shallow rivers without any problems. When I reached some other river, I was face to face with this bridge, and I hesitated for a long time before crossing it.
Notice that some of the planks are not very straight, and that the space between some beams are somewhat intimidating. I was afraid veer off and to have to put a foot on the bridge, but what happens if I step in a hole? The motorbike won't fall in the river, but I could get stuck for quite a while.
After hesitating for several minutes and after straightening some planks, I thought it was not worth it to risk falling on the bridge. When I was ready to turn back, a young farmer offered me help to get across the bridge. I drove very slowly, and he helped me keep my balance by holding the bike from the rear. I crossed it without any trouble. Phew!
In front of a small restaurant along the road...