Nature Reserves in Guatemala

Eastern Guatemala: Cerro San Gil

Tropical rainforest, enchanting jungle streams and outstanding bird watching await visitors to the Cerro San Gil natural reserve in the department of Izabal. The reserve offers about 12 kilometers of trails that wind through luxuriant forest, as well as a visitor's center, named for North American birder Chandler S. Robbins, which can accommodate 20 people for overnight stays. The center also serves as a base for scientific studies.

Cerro San Gil receives about 2000mm (80 inches) of rain each year, and afternoon showers are common. A lovely stream, known as Rio Las Escobas, drains part of the reserve. With small waterfalls and inviting, crystalline pools, the steam is a great place to stop for a cool swim.

In seven years, 356 bird species haven been identified at Cerro San Gil. Birders have a good chance of sighting species like the Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus), Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis), Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius), Crested Eagle (Morphnus guinanensis) and Olivaceous Piculet, (Picumnus olivaceus) along with motmots, manikins, toucans, tanagers and lots of parrots. Visitors are bound to see (and hear!) howler monkeys. Some other rare animals, like jaguars and pumas, have been reported at Cerro San Gil.

The Chocon Machacas Biotope: Is a reserve that protects jungle habitats, mangroves, streams, lagoons and rivers. Wildlife at this park includes toucans, parakeets, a wide variety of water birds, monkeys, crocodiles, otters and manatee. The manatee (sea cow), an endangered species in this part of the world have residence on the Lake Izabál and can be seen sometimes on the Rio Dulce river.

The Caribbean side of Guatemala is also host to several beaches: La Capitanía, La Guayra, Cocolí, Guanabrisa, and San Juán. Siete Altares, (seven alters), is a series of pools in the jungle. Towering waterfalls drain into them.

Western Guatemala

Monterrico Natural Reserve and Hawaii National Park: Two protected areas that lie adjacent to one another on the Pacific Coast. Although each reserve is under a different administration, The Monterrico Natural reserve and the Hawaii National Park form a natural unit and make up of the best-conserved mangrove forest on Guatemala's Pacific Coast. The mangrove swamps are a refuge for many species, one of which is the green iguana.

Chiquimulla Canal runs through both of the protected areas. It is part of a protected wetland area that is a bird refuge. The Palmilla Lagoon, is an ideal location for bird watching. The lagoon lies near Monterrico.

Due to their volcanic origin, the pacific beaches of Guatemala have dark gray sand, or black beaches. The beaches are nesting places for two species of sea turtles: the Leatherback and the Pacific Ridley.