At the mouth of the Amatique Bay, in the northern department of Izabal, lies a unique town called Livingston, very different from any other town in Guatemala. The people and culture of Livingston, of Afro-Caribbean origin, makes this spot a very special place. Livingston was founded in 1795 by the Garifuna people that came to Guatemala from Honduras. Garifuna culture began on the island of St. Vincent, when African slaves mixed with the native Indians from the island.
The only way of getting to Livingstone now days is still by boat, but that is not a problem for many visitors, since there are many speedboats connecting this town with Puerto Barrios, Rio Dulce and Belize. Maybe its because of this “isolation” that Livingston has been preserved as one of the most authentic Garifuna communities.
Traditions, food and music is preserved with pride by the happy and open people of Livingston. So if you visit this beautiful place, don’t forget to try some of the delicious Caribbean influenced meals. A town where you can start your day with banana pancakes watching the sea and end up at night dancing reggae and punta amongst joyful people has to be a worth visiting place.
After you’ve experienced the magic of Livingston, you may want to visit some of the wonderful natural destinations surrounding the town. Siete Altares is private park with a series of fresh water ponds forming cascades in the middle of lush vegetation. You can get to Siete Altares walking on the beach from Livingston or by boat.
Playa Blanca, accessible only by boat, is a golden sand beach where you can spend a wonderful day beneath gorgeous palm trees. It’s all about relaxing and enjoying life in Livingston, a wonderful place to visit.
Image: Anaypeter
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