Black beach
Tall waves.
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A long beach of shiny black volcanic sand on Guatemala's Pacific coast, stretching for kilometres in front of a quiet fishing village of thatched huts, with tall waves breaking in white foam, quite unlike the familiar white-sand beaches. Behind the village runs the long Chiquimulilla Canal through mangrove forest, where fishermen paddle small boats at dawn, showing visitors herons, kingfishers and pelicans in the quiet Monterrico nature reserve. The beach is an important sea-turtle nesting site, and the village hatchery collects and protects the eggs, releasing hatchlings to the sea just before sunset in season, roughly September to December, under volunteers' supervision. The black sand gets very hot in the sun, so do not walk barefoot at midday. Waves and currents are strong and dangerous, so do not swim far from shore.
Tall waves.
Dawn boat trips.
Hatchling releases.
Pacific coast of Santa Rosa department, about two and a half hours from Guatemala City
Waves and currents are strong and dangerous, so stay in the shallows or use lodge pools.