Bordered by Mexico to the north and west, by Belize and the Caribbean to the northeast, by Honduras to the east, and El Salvador to the southeast, Guatemala is a constitutional democratic republic with a multi-party system whereby the President is the head of state and the government.

The largest economy in Central America, Guatemala has an estimated population of 17.6 million and is a leading exporter of coffee, cardamon, fruits, vegetables, flowers, handicrafts, and raw materials—like sugar cane and palm oil— for biofuel production.

Mostly a mountainous land but with small patches of desert and sand dunes, Guatemala also features sizable lowlands in the north and along the south coast. Its unique ecosystems are home to 1,246 different species, many of which are endemic.

Culturally and archaeologically, Guatemala is also of great importance. The renowned Tikal National Park became the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guatemala’s territory once hosted the core of the Maya civilization, conquered in the 1600s by the Spanish, who built the small mountain city of Antigua, Guatemala’s original capital. Visitors can still walk the old cobblestone streets and see much of the original architecture of Antigua.

Several airlines offer direct flights to Guatemala City, the nation’s capital, from Miami (2 hours), Houston (2 ½ hours), Dallas and Atlanta (3 ½ hours) and Los Angeles (6 hours). After clearing Guatemalan customs, you will be met by a representative of Casa del Rio and driven directly to the lodge in Buena Vista, a 90-minute drive from Guatemala City’s international airport—on a modern highway leading from the mountains to the coast.

Iztapa and adjacent Buena Vista, where Casa del Rio are your gateway to what many consider the most prolific big-game fishery on Earth. Marina Pez Vela in nearby Puerto San Jose, where the boats are docked, is only 10 minutes away from the lodge. Although you’ll see a number of small businesses and food kiosks frequented by locals along the road to the port and the marina, there are no tourist shops or eateries in this area. And while Casa del Rio is a fishing-focused operation, we can arrange a day trip to the beautiful mountain city of Antigua, the original capital of Guatemala, famous for its cobblestone streets and Spanish architecture dating back to the 1600s, great coffee, artisanal crafts (textiles, leather goods, etc), the variety of restaurants and small shops, and the views of nearby volcanoes.