Livingston is a small coastal town like no other in Guatemala.
Firstly, there are no roads leading to Livingston, so the only way to get there is by boat. Once you step off the boat, you’ll feel like you’ve left Guatemala and arrived on a Caribbean island. A new language will fill your ears, you’ll breathe in the smell of aromatic Caribbean cuisine and feel the reggae vibes all around.
Livingston, first inhabited in the 19th century, is home to the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna people. Their vibrant culture full of music, dance and spirituality brings Livingston to life and sets it apart from the rest of Guatemala.
Get your bucket list ready. In this guide, we’ll show you the best things to do in Livingston and how to experience them.
Need help planning your trip? Check out our best tips for visiting Livingston, Guatemala — you’ll find the best restaurants, where to stay, how to get around and more!
#1 Spend the day relaxing at Playa Blanca
There are no proper beaches in Livingston, but only 30 minutes away by boat is Playa Blanca.
Playa Blanca really feels like a paradise Caribbean beach. It boasts soft white sands, warm crystal-clear waters and plenty of palm trees.
It’s a lovely clean beach, with tables and chairs scattered along the coastline that you can use for free.
It can get pretty busy at times, but if you move away from the beach bars and restaurants, you’ll always find a tranquil spot to chill.
How to visit Playa Blanca
Most people opt to join a tour to Playa Blanca. This way the transportation is arranged for you.
Happy Fish runs a tour that lasts from 9:30am to 3:30pm and also takes you to Rio Cocoli and 7 Altares. The tour costs $14 per person.
If you prefer to organise things yourself, you can head down to the port in Livingston and arrange a private boat to Playa Blanca. The price per person will depend on how many people are in the boat and on your haggling skills.
Don’t forget to arrange a pick-up time from Playa Blanca back to Livingston too.
You have to pay a Q20 entrance fee for Playa Blanca.
#2 Swim at Los Siete Altares
Another great activity in Livingston is visiting Los Siete Altares. Five km from Livingston, set in a lush jungle, you can find seven freshwater pools that are supplied by little cascading waterfalls.
Los Siete Altares is the ideal place to escape the heat. It doesn’t usually get busy, so you may get lucky and have your own private natural pool.
You can also get some exercise in, as it’s possible to hike from Livingston to the pools.
Top Tip: We recommend visiting Los Siete Altares during the rainy season (July and August) when the waterfalls are most spectacular.
How to get to Los Siete Altares
You have two options to reach the beautiful pools — by boat or on foot.
The walk from Livingston mainly follows a beach path before venturing into the jungle that takes around 1.5 hours each way. Be careful: robberies have happened along this path in the past.
You can also take a short boat ride from Livingston for Q25 each way. Entrance to Los Siete Altares costs Q20 per person.
#3 Take a leap of faith at the Tiger Cave
Caves were believed to be the entrance to the underworld by the Mayan people living in Central America. The Tiger Cave near Livingston is no different. Why not discover for yourself whether it really does lead to the underworld?
After hiking through the hot jungle, you’ll be more than happy to cool down in the refreshing pool at the entrance to the cave. The best way to get in is jumping from the cliff above into the darkness.
For a few seconds, you might wish that you hadn’t trusted your guide, as you can’t see the water below!
Once you’re nice and refreshed, you’ll spend some time following the Tatin River and admiring all of the massive stalactites and stalagmites.
You’ll need a guide to visit Tiger Cave, which can be arranged by your accommodation. A lot of the tours also include a visit to villages along the way.
#4 Admire the incredible scenery of the Rio Dulce on a boat tour
When arriving and departing from Livingston, visitors get to experience a mini boat tour along the Rio Dulce.
If this boat trip wasn’t enough for you, you can join a boat trip that will stop at the main sights along the river.
The local tour company, Happy Fish, runs an all-day tour for $17 where you’ll get to visit thermal baths, lagoon gardens filled with aquatic plants and marine life, plus the famous Castle of San Felipe.
Aside from the spots that you visit, simply being in the boat and admiring the towering cliffs that are entirely smothered by greenery is a spectacular experience. The views are unforgettable!
#5 Catch your dinner on a fishing trip
If you visit any restaurant in Livingston, you’ll see plenty of fish on the menu. The town is lucky to sit at the mouth of the Rio Dulce and the Gulf of Honduras, giving it access to river and sea fish, such as barracuda, grouper, kingfish and snapper.
If you fancy catching your own dinner, or just want to try fishing, why not go on a fishing trip in Livingston?
We recommend asking your accommodation to see if there are any fishing trips you could join.
Rounding it up
Now you’ve picked the best things to do in Livingston, it’s time to start ticking off that bucket list. Not sure how to plan your trip? Our guide is here to help! You’ll find out how long to stay in Livingston, where to eat, how to get around and more. Happy planning!
About the author(s)
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
