Rio Dulce is a hidden gem in Guatemala. It offers a lush escape from the bustling cities and the perfect place to relax in a tranquil environment. You find this town and river in the southeast of Guatemala where beautiful accommodations are offered along the river between Rio Dulce and Livingston. Even though one of the key things to do in Rio Dulce is relax at the beautiful resorts near the river and calm down, there are day and half-day trips possible to explore the area. Explore the best things to do in Rio Dulce, Guatemala in this Rio Dulce travel guide.
Combine Rio Dulce with a visit to Flores, Guatemala.
When you are travelling from Belize to Rio Dulce, I assume you are travelling from Hopkins or Belize City. From Hopkins, The easiest route is to first take a taxi to the bus stop at the main road in Hopkins (or take a local bus / hitchhike), next to Watson Hardware and Puma Gas Station. From here you can take a bus to Punta Gorda to catch a boat to Livingston. The bus ride takes approximately 3.5 hours. From Belize City it is also possible to travel to Punta Gorda, however, this might take between 6 and 7 hours. We travelled with James Bus Line. You can find the latest schedules here. The bus will depart from the Hopkins junction around 20 minutes after departure from Dangriga.
The last boat is leaving at 09:30 and 14:30 Monday till Friday. So, remember, there are no boats between Guatemala and Belize at the weekend! We made this mistake and had to change our itinerary slightly and stay one additional night in Rio Dulce. From Livingston, the last boat is leaving for Rio Dulce at 14:30. When you are staying at for example Hotelito Perdido or other accommodation on the Livingston side, I would align on private transport with your accommodation.
Most accommodations are located along the Rio Dulce River. Public boats between Rio Dulce (where shuttles arrive) and Livingston (where the boat from Belize arrives) operate on a set schedule and are more affordable. You can buy your boat ticket at the local ticket office in Rio Dulce. A single trip between Rio Dulce and Livingston costs Q150. Alternatively, you can book a private boat or charter a boat with a group of people. As we didn’t want to wait till 14:30 (when the public boat left, as that was 4 hours after our arrival to Rio Dulce) we arranged a larger group of people waiting for the same boat. They decided the boat would be leaving earlier and we didn’t have to wait longer while paying the same price.
When going to Livingston, we arranged the boats with our accommodation Hotelito Perdido, where we paid Q50 for our 20-minute boat ride to Livingston. During our stay, we have also done a day trip to Livingston and Playa Blanca arranged with our accommodation.
The Rio Dulce area is ideal for canoeing, and therefore, renting a canoe and exploring the river at your own pace is a fantastic way to enjoy nature. If you are not an experienced paddler, I recommend sticking to the river branches. When paddling on the main river, pay close attention to the larger boats.
During our time in Rio Dulce, we visited the Lampara Waterfall, which can easily be reached from Hotelito Perdido. However, more waterfalls can be found near the river. When canoeing to the Lampara Waterfall, you can park your canoe at a small house, where you have to pay a small entry fee, and someone will guide you to the waterfall. Over there, you can walk up to visit the multiple pools and swim in the waterfall.
Livingston, a town rich in Garifuna culture, is located at the end of the Rio Dulce River and is a must-visit when visiting Rio Dulce. Only the boat ride to Livingston along the Rio Dulce River is an experience, and the final part of the stretch offers the best views. Once you’ve arrived in Livingston, you can immerse yourself in the Garifuna culture and explore the vibrant streets. Though, I must admit, the first time visiting Livingston I was slightly underwhelmed as it was mid-day. If you want to explore Livingston for the culture and photography, the morning or evening is the best time to visit.
Check out my photographic diary of Livingston to explore more of Guatemala's local life
One of the highlights of visiting Livingston is indulging in the local Garifuna cuisine. Especially the Tapado (a coconut soup with loads of seafood) is something you can’t miss. I would recommend sharing a person with 2-people and getting something else on the side, it is not the cheapest dish. Also, hudut is a flavorful fish dish.
In Livingston, we enjoyed Tapado at Buga Mama. Next to that, one of the most popular restaurants in Livingston is Las Tres Garifunas.
Even though this ‘to do’ is hard to avoid, as all transport along the Rio Dulce happens by boat, still, it is something to put on the list. The boat ride on the river is beautiful and especially the final 20 minutes towards Livingston were my favourite. Along the boat ride you’ll run into wildlife and lush green scenery as well as local culture. All hotel staff in Rio Dulce arrive by boat and it is special to observe the local life taking place on the water. So, even when you are staying close to Rio Dulce town and no boat ride, or only a short boat ride, is needed, I still encourage you to take a boat trip.
Already at Lake Atitlan, we had a conversation with a girl from Guatemala who told us her favourite place in the country was Playa Blanca, the most beautiful beach in Guatemala. From our hotel, we booked a ‘day trip’ to Playa Blanca and Livingston by boat, where our first stop was Playa Blanca. First of all, there are a lot of locals at this beautiful beach! Before entering, you pay a small fee, however, that includes a ticket for a drink. Afterwards, it is time to relax! However, good to know is that the currents around Playa Blanca become quite rough in the afternoon. Therefore, our boat driver advised us to leave at 1 pm for Livingston. I can tell you, this was a bumpy ride! So make sure to not leave too late.
Also, you could extend your trip to Playa Blanca and Livingston with a visit to Siete Altares. However, check on the status of the waterfall beforehand, as you don’t want to be surprised with a waterfall without the water.
One of the main sights near Rio Dulce is Finca Paraiso, a natural hot spring waterfall. The perfect spot for relaxation. As Finca Paraiso is close to Rio Dulce (on the other side of town, not on the way to Livingston), it is only possible to visit these hot springs when staying close to Rio Dulce. Therefore, it is not possible for all accommodations. If you are staying at for example Boatique Hotel, you will be able to visit on a day trip! From Rio Dulce it is a 35-minute drive to the hot springs. From the main road, you can get a collectivo towards El Estor and tell the driver you want to get out at Finca Paraiso. From this point, it is possible to walk to the hot springs.
Rio Dulce offers a range of unique and beautiful accommodations along the river. Staying at a place like Hotelito Perdido allows you to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying great company, cozy rooms and amazing food. Most accommodations along the river provide opportunities for tours, canoe rentals and communal dinners, enhancing your overall experience.
As no boats are running during the evening and canoeing to a restaurant in the dark, the main option for dinner is communal dinners at your accommodation. It proves the importance of great accommodation in Rio Dulce!
Nevertheless, there are a couple of restaurant recommendations in Rio Dulce and Livingston to recommend. As already mentioned, in Livingston you need to taste the Tapado soup! You can do this overlooking the sea at Buga Mama or have a meal at Las Tres Garifunas.
We didn’t have any time to visit restaurants in Rio Dulce (they weren’t open at the time we had to wait for our boat, and in the end took an earlier boat). However, if you are waiting for the boat or you are staying at accommodation closer to Rio Dulce town, try restaurants such as El Viajero, Restaurante Las Amandas or Sundog. Alternatively, there are some restaurants on the side of the river such as Paréntesis, Cañón del Río and El Viajero (yes, another one).
My favourite accommodation during my trip to Guatemala was El Hotelito Perdido. An amazing, tranquil, place to fully relax and enjoy meeting other travelers. They host a shared communal dinner. Private rooms start at €30 and bunk beds from €12.
Another beautiful location at the waterfront, located near Hotelito Perdido, is Palmeros del Rio. There is a lush garden, places to chill around the water and an on-site restaurant. Rooms start from €25 a night.
If you want to save yourself a long boat ride from Rio Dulce towards Livingston, Tortugal Boutique River Lodge is the perfect place to stay. It offers a great communal stay and the suites are beautiful. You can book one from €80.
A beautiful Boatique hotel and hostel including lodges and bunk beds. Rooms overlook the indoor patio or the river, and next to a restaurant, there is a swimming pool available! Also, the lodges look amazing and quite modern. You can book a room from €100 and bunk bed from €30.
