Livingston

Livingston is a town in Izabal Department, eastern Guatemala, at the mouth of the Río Dulce at the Gulf of Honduras. The town serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. It was Guatemala's main port on the Caribbean Sea before the construction of nearby Puerto Barrios. Wikipedia.
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Top attractions in Livingston

Siete Altares
1. Siete Altares
4.5
(398)
Nature & Parks
Waterfalls
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I recommend coming here if you are in Livingston. This place feels better than it looks on the photos. It's clean and well maintained. We had the whole place to ourselves when we came here and it felt magical. The water is refreshing and just the right temperature and the pools are shaded from the sun by big the lush forrest. Try to allocate at least 30-60 min. Unfortunately we had to rush back as our boat was departing, but wish we had more time here and spent less time having lunch. We were here in March 2025, so during dry season and there was water in some of the pools only and no waterfalls, but it was still nice and worth coming here. If you are coming to Livingston on a boat from Livingston and don't have much time- i recommend coming here and allocating less time on lunch and exploring the town or beaches. The only real downside for me was that we had to walk for about 30 minutes along what would have been a beautiful beach, had it not been forball the rubbish. It's a real shame that the Mayor of Livingston and the locals who are not doing more to keep this beach clean. The photo is of the beach leading to the waterfalls.
Visited January 2022. It's a peaceful natural area. Walking from Livingston takes some time but you get beach views the whole way through. Recommended of in the area but not necessarily a destination. The history of the Garifunas was honestly my favorite part.
Still controlled by the Garinfuna people and we'll deserved.. The place is clean and well managed. Nice trek in the woods/jungle to reach the waterfalls. I spent the whole day there with my wife for her birthday and she loved it. I was a lucky guy that night.
The hidden waterfalls are not simply called hidden, because it is not possible to mark the beginning of the point on the map. From the point here on the map you have to continue walking for another 8 minutes in the direction of the coastline but not next to the water. From there you reach a very local structure and the entrance fee is 20Q per person. There is a preparation of 50 meters and then you reach the first waterfall where it is not recommended to enter, further on there are 3 more large waterfalls and a nice area with such small pools that is hidden under the flow of the water. The walk is marked with ropes and is very clear, a total walk of 15 minutes each way. You can take a ferry to the starting point.
I had no expectations when I came to this place. I didn’t even looked it up on the internet. It was a great surprise! A unique place hidden in the jungle with those pools that seem taken from a dream. Almost no people when we were there at around 3pm. Everything was super clean. They charge 20 pp. TIP: if you don’t want to walk a lot (the walk is not particularly beautiful) or don’t have a lot of time you can take a boat (50pp) or a Tuk Tuk (from the city center) until the hanging bridge (5pp) and work from there around 20/25m. We used the Tuk Tuk to go back.
Nice space to explore, recommend visiting at the end of the rain season for the full pool experience but it is well maintained.
I absolutely love this place for several reasons.If you want to see semuc champey and rio Dulce/Livingston area but only have time for one then come here it’s like a mini version of it. The walk here is on a very dirty beach but don’t let it deter you because this place is beautiful!I love that the waterfall has rocks you can stand on behind it.Also be super careful of where you jump in and swim in the pool by the water fall because there are rocks and branches that you can’t see well that can hurt you or worse if you’re not careful and just jump in. 20Q to enter.Wear sturdy footwear as you are walking on rocks , there are deep holes you can trip on. Water is cold if your use to tropical water but after that long hot walk welcomed💖 Otherwise beautiful so beautiful 💖💖💖
Absolutely heavenly place, 5q pp tuktuk + 30 min walk, 20q pp entry. Totally worth it
Playa Blanca, Livingston
2. Playa Blanca, Livingston
4.6
(917)
Outdoor Activities
Beaches
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Beautiful clean beach. Professional service and an amazing atmosphere. The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere. Fast delivery and a beautiful interior. I highly recommend this place.
What a perfect beach. We took the colectivo to get there. That costs Q100 and is about an hour boat ride. The entrance is Q35 but includes a drink; a soda, water or coconut. The beach was almost completely empty the day we went. There are sitting areas, bathrooms and cabins where you can stay. Also there is a restaurant. Lots of shade and perfectly clean. What a great place.
Beautiful white sand beach very touristy with drinks available and fresh coconut to drink from. We took a boat ride from Rio Dulce to Livingston overnight and then the boat brought us to Playa Blanca the next day. As with everything in Guatemala, make sure the price for everything is negotiated first before you do anything! Restroom was environmentally friendly and such a cool idea.
Beautiful private beach with soft waves and just perfect for relaxing with the family
Secluded Beach you can only reach by boat. We rented a jetski and arrived at 930am. It was empty and super clean. They offer drinks and food at very reasonable prices. Would recommend a visit if you are in the area
Beautiful beach. Only way to arrive is by boat. Water was warm, since it had rained, the water was a bit murky, but we still enjoyed it. There’s a couple stands that sell drinks and snacks, but don’t expect to have a large meal there.
You can sleep here! They have 2 bungalows and 3 tents. We really recommend this experience. At 3pm everybody leaves and you have the beach just for yourself. The cabin are rustic and very nice, the bed comfy. The beach is Beautiful, very well taken care of, it looks like a garden, full of hammocks, chairs and everything you need to be comfortable. The staff is really nice and help you in what you need. And you can pay in credits card, a plus in the region.
Day trip from Rio Dulce by hired private boat. 2 hours. Public boat also available from Livingstone pier. I ordered shrimp at the only beach bar/restaurant. Great service from the staff. It was delicious. Spent a couple of hours at the beach. Great massages and cheap. 2 hour return to Rio Dulce.
Rio Dulce
3. Rio Dulce
4.7
(750)
River
Nature & Parks
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The canyon at the mouth of the river on the Amatique Bay offers a unique scenic beauty due to its vegetation and because it is a refuge for many sea birds. To travel the 16 km that separate the gulf and the sea, the waters of the river enter through an enormous crack that separates the mountains where high walls of limestone rocks with lush vegetation, 120-150 m high, almost completely hide the sunlight; in this unique and solid place the river has a depth of 30-50 m, and a width of 200 m.
Things to do on Rio Dulce 1) Leave! Don't stay in the town, it is loud and crowded with no pavement. Apart from Sun Dog, there are no restaurants of any decent standard. Stay out of the city and go to the Finca Paraidiso springs for a day trip. The boat trip to Livingston is nice but Livingston is dilapidated.
Lake Izabal and Rio Dulce are one of those places you can not miss in life. Wonderful and peaceful.
We stayed at Banana Palms Resort and was spectacular! Clean and wonderful view of the lake makes this the best place to lodge in Guatemala so far. The city, however, lacks in infrastructure which makes it tough to get around. This place has lots of tourism potential but investment is minimal making parts of the area though to get to unless you take a boat. The villages around town are beautiful and offer artisanal souvenirs and the Castillo de San Felipe is a plus when visiting Rio Dulce.
Worth the detour to go to the Hot Springs and the warm and sweet hostel Kangaroo! But, the town is loud and ugly don’t spend time trying to eat there or shop there except if you are aiming for the pharmacy. Yes they sell Valium ivermectin the counter for 6$ per 10pills blister pack! Grabbed 100 and went to party hard in Belize.
Clear rivers near the Atlantic Ocean, dense trees rooted in them, and the jungle they created. When you come here, you can see them. + I recommend you to take a boat or yacht around the river.
Beautiful destination in Guatemala! The Food, scenery, people and river itself is amazing! I highly recommend going to Tijax waterfront hotel. Right on the river and you're able to access everything from there!
I had a very good time in Rio Dulce. Amazing
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