Río Dulce, Part 2

After Livingston, we spent another couple days exploring the Río Dulce by kayak from the tiny rustic Hotelito Perdido , run by a couple from London & Poland. See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   15.7766, -88.8025 

We loved this place! It was a great opportunity to relax from our adventures, learn about the culture from a new point of view, and have some time to play and explore the wild side of Guatemala. Chris, one of the two owners, picked us up in Livingston and brought us there by boat.

Río Dulce - Geoff Río Dulce Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido

Hotelito Perdido has a couple backpacker beds in a loft over the central lodge, and a three private bungalows elsewhere on the property. Communal meals (with homemade bread!) and refreshments are provided if you want them, and are kept track of by an honor system. Electric power is provided by solar panels. Our hosts entertained us with long stories of the area, especially regarding what it takes to open and run a hotel in Guatemala. We loved exploring the areas around their hotel, as well as just napping in the sun on their dock by the river.

Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Our Bungalo Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Crab Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Making Bread Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Hairy Spider (Tarantula) Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Solar Power Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Flower Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Map Under Bar

Our first kayak trip was to Catarata Lámpara, a waterfall up the river. Here is the little map our hosts drew to show us how to get there:

Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Kayaking - Map to Waterfall

We encountered all sorts of curious creatures, plants, and people while paddling along the water.

Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Kayaking Río Dulce - Kayaking - Roots Río Dulce - Eggs by the River Río Dulce - Palm Trees by the River Río Dulce - House by the River Río Dulce - Seeds Río Dulce - Flower Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Flower Río Dulce - Fishermen

This is a huge bug we found gnawing on a tough softball-sized fruit growing by the side of the river. Sorry we didn't get any great photos of this big fellow, but believe us — it was bigger than a finger!

Río Dulce - Kayaking - Huge Bug on Fruit Río Dulce - Kayaking - Huge Bug on Fruit Río Dulce - Kayaking - Huge Bug on Fruit

These curious birds look to be muscovy ducks:

Río Dulce - Kayaking - Muscovy Ducks

Then, suddenly, it started to rain. And we don't mean a light Seattle drizzle — it dumped! We tried hiding under a tree, but finally gave up and continued kayaking. Luckily we have a waterproof camera !

Río Dulce - Kayaking - Rain Río Dulce - Kayaking - Rain - Bailing the Kayak - Laura

We reached the end of the navigable portion of the river, and got out to hike the rest of the way. We encountered a bunch of local people waiting out the rain in a boat hut. See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   15.7492, -88.7755 

Río Dulce - Kayaking - Rain - Boat Hut Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Rain - Boat Hut

We were already soaked, so we decided to hike on through the rain.

Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Rain - Laura Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Laura Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Laura Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Geoff Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Spikes with Biting Ants

Catarata Lámpara — the waterfall — unsurprisingly, was raging! See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   15.7469, -88.7708 

Río Dulce - Waterfall - Catarata Lámpara Río Dulce - Waterfall - Catarata Lámpara - Geoff & Laura Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Laura Río Dulce - Hike to Waterfall - Grasshopper

The rain tapered off to late afternoon sun.

Río Dulce - Kayaking - Hike to Waterfall - The Sun Comes Back Out Río Dulce - Kayaking Río Dulce - Kayaking - Flowers Río Dulce - Sunset

The next morning, we kayaked in the maze of water passages that make up the Manatee Reserve on the north side of the river. There were lots of birds and plants to investigate, but we didn't spot any manatees. (Apparently it's pretty rare to see them.) See in Google Maps  See in Google Earth   15.7654, -88.8845 

Río Dulce - Hotelito Perdido - Map Under Bar - Manatee Reserve Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve - Geoff Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve - Flower Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve Río Dulce - Kayaking - Manatee Reserve - Shellfish Río Dulce - Kayaking Río Dulce - Kayaking - Egret with a Fish