We never intended to make the trip to the pacific side of Guatemala. I knew my friends Nick and Kath loved this portion of their trip, but we did not think we had enough time so we were going to skip it. After talking to fellow travelers who had just come from there, they convinced us that it totally was worth the trip even if you were only going for a couple of days. On their advice we stayed at an a awesome hostel/hotel called El Delfin....super cheap at only $35US/night, rooms were very simple, but the property was awesome, right on the beach with a sprawling restaurant that went on to the sand, hammocks a huge pool, volleyball net and a bar...all you need for a relaxing little holiday
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| The girls playing volleyball with Cas |
As soon as we arrived we went straight to the pool and ordered an obligatory drink to cheers our new destination (a "thing" Johnny and I started doing a while back- every time we arrive at a new spot we order a drink and have a cheers).
Straight away we all LOVED Monterrico- not much of a town, seriously the entire place is two crossroads the main drag and the a long dirt road. But there was something very relaxing about it.
Liv said "I know we are going to like it here". I said, "Why?".
She said, "because its a beach town mom, and I love all beach towns".
ahhhh that's my girl!
Down to business, why we really made the 2 and half hour side trip from Antigua??? For the baby turtles of course! I have been trying since Costa Rica to see either a turtle laying its eggs or to help baby turtles be released back to the sea. For whatever reason timing was never on our side, but I had been told by the Amazing Grace who ran Hotel Delfin that the turtle hatchery in Monterrico releases baby turtles nightly, for basically $1 a turtle! That afternoon we walked over to Tortuga Monte Rico, the turtle hatchery about a 5 minute walk down the dirt road,
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The walk on the way to the turtle Hatchery notice all the stray dogs :(
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When we arrived we took a small tour of the sanctuary, they had several areas with crocs, caymans and iguanas.
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| One of the biggest crocs at the sanctuary. |
We then paid for the baby turtles and they handed us a small bowl (basically the bottom of a pop bottle) we all walked down the beach where there was a roped off section. As we stood there a man came over with a huge basket full of baby turtles that had just hatched. He then put 3 in each of our bowls and we counted down just as the sun was setting... it really was magical!!!!!
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| look closely you can see all the turtles in the baskets |
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| getting ready to put them down |
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| Just as we released them |
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| we just counted down and gently put them in the sand |
We all sat and cheered the turtles on as they scurried to the sea...there were a few that were not moving very fast, (actually they were just kind of sitting there, we kind of thought they may be not doing too well). The man then asked the girls if they would like to help them out so they got to pick up the babies and take them directly to the water, it was pretty awesome.
We met an amazing couple travelling for 6 months on their honeymoon (hi to Anna and Cas!)
we spent the next two days literally hanging out at the pool, in great company enjoying the amazing weather and good vibes. We went back the second night to release the bay turtles again and it was just as special.
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| Enjoying the sunset our last night |
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| Miles of black sand beach |
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| Our new friends from Wales- Anna and Cas-we hope to see you again! |
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| Me and Grace, a half Canadian (we will forgive her for her other half), running the Delfin in Monterrico |
While travelling to Monterrico was about 5 hours out of the way, it was so worth it, I am so happy we made the trip and would happily come back here. On our last morning we headed from Monterrico in our own little shuttle to Antigua and then straight through to Lake Atitlan, (where I am right now (yay I am finally caught up!).
so many beautiful places in Guatemala!
