|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One
of the opportunities that the International Billfish/ Sailfish angler
traveling to Central America can experience during their deep sea
saltwater sport fishing charter vacation is the sights and culture
of host country. The Great Sailfishing Company can put together
a custom tour package that will enhance your central America / Guatemala
sport fishing vacation. Please read about these destinations and
let us put together a truly custom deep sea charter adventure, that
you or your family will remember for years to come. Remember, when
it comes to International bill fishing for sailfish Guatemala, Central
America is number one worldwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Caribbean coast of the province of Izabal provided landscapes
and cultural traits different from the rest of Guatemala.
Now days the coastal population is a mixture of Native Americans,
ladinos and garífunas (Caribbean African Americans).
At the apogee of Maya culture many people lived in this area
taking advantage of the fertile earth, later abandoning it.
It was not until the United Fruit Company came with its banana
plantations at the end of the 19 century , that this part
of Guatemala began its modern development. To satisfy the
needs of the banana company, then President of Guatemala,
General Justo Rufino Barrios, founded Port Barrios at the
end of the 19 century, which was soon followed by a railway.
Since the beginning of the 20th century up to our days, Port
Barrios is the most important port in Guatemala being considered
more a transit point than a tourist attraction. In the province
of Izabal are found the following attractions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snaking
its way between mountains, the waters of the Motagua River
flow towards the Caribbean. Near them is found the park and
archeological site of Quiriguá, which lies surrounded
by a tropical forest in turn surrounded by a sea of banana
plants. Quiriguá is not very big but offers a great
archeological treasure: the stelas, altars and zoomorphs found
there are considered the best and most intricately sculpted
during the classic period in all the Maya world. Only Copan,
in Honduras, comes close. |
|
|
|
The
big sandstone stones were quarried and placed just so, where
they were sculpted. The hardness of the stones used and a
favorable climate permit us to observe these objects sculpted
over 1,200 years ago. Other archeological sites have more
stelas but the ones in Quiriguá are unsurpassable in
their style and sculpturing technique. For example, among
the 21 best sculpted monuments, stela E stands out (year 771
AC) which is the largest quarried stone so far discovered
in the Maya world. It is 35 feet tall (8 meters), 5 feet wide
and 4 feet thick weighting 65 tons.The
sculptures that catch the eye the most in Quiriguá
are the enormous zoomorphs; big sandstone rocks intricately
carved to represent animals. The stones are covered with figures
and glyphs in the characteristic Quiriguá mixture of
high and low relief and represent some of the most intricate
sculpting found in the Maya world. Nothing similar has been
discovered any other place.
During
the classic period (200-900 AC) Quiriguá, as Tikal
and other Maya cities of the Guatemalan lowlands, greatly
prospered. The Motagua River was an important commercial route
and in the nearby mountains, outcrops of jade are found, the
object most important to the Maya civilization. As a reminder
from that era, from stela E engraved in sandstone with an
enormous headdress that covers his head, his body intricately
adorned and his fierce stare directed forward, a Maya king
watches the years pass…oblivious that the temples of
his city lie in ruin and rest on a carpet of green grass. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Sweet Gulf as it was called many years ago due to its fresh
water, is the biggest lake in Guatemala with an extension
of 590 square kilometers. If offers great natural beauty in
beautiful beaches, forests, caves, small waterfalls and springs
of thermal water. On its sparsely populated shores a wide
variety of animals can be seen: pelicans, iguanas, manatees,
toucans, crocodiles, turtles and tapir as well as orchids
and bromeliads. Due to its biodiversity parts of the lake
are protected as reserve areas. It's a navigable lake and
in the afternoon, due to the wind, waves of considerable size
may form; it's best not to be on the lake if the wind is blowing.
During colonial times pirates used the lake as access to Guatemala
until the Castle of San Felipe was built. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Due
to the constant harassment by intrepid English pirates of
mule trains and towns of Lake Izabal, in the XVI century the
Castle of San Felipe was built. The castle was not very big
but it had cannons and a small guard force. So that pirates
did not go pass, besides the guns, a heavy chain was placed
in the water between the castle and the opposing shore. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From
Lake Izabal this river travels 42 kilometers until it reaches
Amatique Bay. All along its course animals and vegetation
can be seen. Near Livingston the river passes between two
rock walls that rise over 100 meters, covered in vegetation
with vines hanging meters in the air. One part of the river
balloons out and forms the Golfete. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It
is a small lake of about 62 square kilometers and on its north
shores is the Reserve of Chocón Machacas, protected
are and home of the manatee. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's
a party town situated at the mouth of the Rio Dulce on the
Caribbean Sea and is only accessible by boat. Its inhabitants
are of garífuna origin, which incorporate Native American,
African and ladino beliefs. From there one can travel to the
most beautiful beaches of the Guatemalan Caribbean coast:
Siete Altares. In Siete Altares one can find beautiful waterfalls
and pools of water, in fact some of the first Tarzan movies
were filmed there. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
