Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

The Pacific Slope

December 14, 2018  —  Guatemala 2

The Guatemalan Coast has a few nice attractions, and is endowed with some decent beaches for surf enthusiasts. As you already know, beaches are not my favourite places. I only took a few days on the coast. Beaches in Guatemala have the advantage of not being developed for foreign tourism. It's mainly a local affair.

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Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins

Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
A jaguar with a human head.

Theses ruins are far from being the nicest. However, they are interesting since they are from the Olmec culture, much older than the Mayas. The first Olmecs have their roots 1200 BC, and their civilization disappeared around 500 DC. In fact, they were rather assimilated by the Mayan civilization.

Due to their old age, the state of conservation isn't very good. The site holds a few structures and steles on which it’s possible to observe vague shapes.

Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
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Ruines de Tak'alik Ab'aj - Animal Rescue Centre

Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala

Oddly, there is also an animal rescue centre on the site of the ruins. Animals have been rescued from owners that had them illegally or who mistreated them.

Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Peccary.
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Gray fox.
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Coyote.
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Ocelot.
Tak'alik Ab'aj Ruins - Guatemala
Ocelot.
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La Democracia

La Democracia - Guatemala

These Olmecs sculptures are located in the central park of the village of La Democracia.

La Democracia - Guatemala
La Democracia - Guatemala
La Democracia - Guatemala
La Democracia - Guatemala
La Democracia - Guatemala
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Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Museo El Baúl

El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala

In the heart of a region where sugar cane is the main crop, on a private finca, there is a superb collection of Olmecs/Mayan sculptures. Most of the steles were discovered in the middle of fields, and later moved to this site. The site guardian told me that as recently as this year, a statue was discovered while plowing a field.

El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
The face of a jaguar.
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
Outline of a jaguar.
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
There is a date written in the Mayan language; 37 DC.
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
Jaguar's head with an iguana body.
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
El Baúl - Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa - Guatemala
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Sipacate

Sipacate - Guatemala

A small seaside resort along the coast. A nice place for the pool, and also for surf enthusiasts.

Sipacate - Guatemala
My campsite.
Sipacate - Guatemala
Sipacate - Guatemala
Sipacate - Guatemala
Sipacate - Guatemala
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Along the coast

Hawaii - Guatemala
Hawaii - Guatemala
Hawaii - Guatemala
Small ferry to cross the mangrove.
Hawaii - Guatemala
Hawaii - Guatemala
Laguna Güegüecho - Guatemala
Laguna La Encantada - Guatemala