Rio Dulce is Sweet!

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away. And boy was our breath taken away as we boated up the river.

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We left Placencia on a small Cessna Caravan and flew to Punta Gorda. From there we took a lancha for s spine crunching hour or so across the sea to Livingston Guatemala. There we met Carlos, who was to take us to FInca Tatin, our home in the jungle for the next few days.

Immediatley upon leaving Livingston, there are lush green cliff faces looming over 100 m high, steep walled gorges hung with giant tangles of jungle foliage. There are calm wide stretches of water, just breathtaking.

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We later would visit aguas calientes where hot water surfaces along the rocky bank and an island filled with storks appeared from the middle of nowhere. There was a manatee sanctuary with these shy creatures that grow to 1000 pounds, along with tons of tree ferns and butterflies, and the sounds and smells of the jungle!

We eventually made our way to Finca Tatin, a wonderful place built by an Argentinian couple which is completely carved out of (or into) the rain forest. We visited Q'eqchi villages full of wood and thatch huts , explored jungle trails and kayaked the river and its tributaries.

It was fantastic, but really a rain forest. It poured...everything we have was cold and wet! This went on for a few days and made everything cold and damp and musty and simply tough going. After waiting a bit for the weather to clear, we decided to hightail it to the town of Rio Dulce, to attempt to do some sailing on the Lago de Izabel. Apparently (of interest to Bruce and Roberta) the town is a haven for foreign yachties sailing around the world. It is a safe haven from hurricanes and dock space is only about a 200 bucks a month! Much more from Guatemala to come...

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