The town of Fronteras, Rio Dulce, may not be pretty, but if you need something there’s a fair chance that you’ll find it somewhere along the road. Food, fruit, banks, hardware, and even a sizable marine store. Just don’t step into the road without looking both ways.
Remember the 70s and 80s when America was already desperately addicted to soda, but hadn’t yet become a full-on junkie for plastic bottles?
The view of Tijax Marina from our helicopter.
Looking west over towards Lago de Izabal.
Pretty much the extent of Fronteras, Rio Dulce.
That’s our marina, center top of the picture. They run us over to town on a boat whenever we request.
The Rio Dulce is only about 170 miles from Guatemala City, but that 170 is across winding, hilly, two-lane roads laden with old trucks carrying heavy loads. Add in some random construction projects and the estimate for trip time is between 6 and 10 hours. With no rental car companies, the choices for transport from the Rio to the City are confined to the bus or a private shuttle. The cost is $7 for a bus ticket or $180 for a van. Sometimes I’m stingy, sometimes I’m not.
I’ll never understand why people can’t act like adults and sit up for a few hours. The bus is reasonably comfortable if people don’t try and turn it into a motel room. I’m the tallest guy on the bus, by a long shot, and I can sit up—and yes, Ali is very tired of hearing about this particular gripe of mine. Anyway, not the most enjoyable day we’ve ever spent, but I do appreciate the fact that there was internet for the seven solid hours across Guatemalan countryside. Technology has come a long way in the past decade.
We made our way from the bus station to our AirBnB without any trouble, and situated ourselves as apartment dwellers in Guatemala City for the next month. Time to make some explorations.
9 Comments on “The Rio to the City”
Let us know how your AirBNB works out and what section of the city you are in?
We are out a ways, in an up and coming area, but it worked for the stuff we needed to get done. We just use Uber and get many steps in along the way. But this is the downtown area I wanted to stay at, but she didn’t have our dates. Good for a family for a 2-week or less stay, right in centro. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31838184?source_impression_id=p3_1563377859_GbN2oLfynKDU92mt
Wondering why you choose Guatemala
City instead of Antigua for a month? Or even one of the villages at the lake?
Because we had stuff to do (dentist/ortho appointments, camera repair, etc.) plus we enjoy cities once in awhile. And because most leave the city immediately for other destinations, actually makes us want to stay. We will also be going to Antigua and the lake. We have plenty of time for it all. Have you been here?
looks like you are checking you trades on the bus ride
It’s a great moment to see Pat on a small tablet in Guatemala on a bus. 🙂
I’m glad to see you guys set up shop for a bit and show us Guatemala. It’s a part of Central America I’ve always wanted to see.
Thank you for sharing- especially documented proof of Pat’s reluctant adoption of modern conveniences.
I’m trying to imagine the amount of research you must do to find these cool places you visit!
Hi, yes have been to Antigua and the lake several times. I mostly stay in San Pedro La Laguna at the lake. It’s a nice size and hotels and house rentals are easy to find. Also good Spanish schools. All the villages are interesting at the lake. Be careful of mosquitoes.
My Capt. and I cruised for 16 years and just sold our M/V Frances Ray this year in La Paz.Your pictures are great and you are making me miss Guatemala a whole lot. We spent 3 season there!!…….