Tuesday 16th: We got up at 9ish, had a lovely breakfast & showers. Hacienda Tijax is a beautiful place - one of the best 'hostels' I've ever stayed in!! It is only accessible by boat and is situated in a jungle with the bar / restaurant area overlooking the water.
There was even a swimming pool!

This place is a haven for wildlife! I noticed some droppings in my room when I arrived, but didn't know what animal they came from, then during the night I'd heard squeeking and wondered if I was sharing with rats. To my relief when I woke up in the morning I noticed a few bats hanging on the wall!! My room was open at the front so the bats were free to come and go as they pleased and they'd obviously decided my room was the perfect toilet for them!! Luckerly they only used one side of the room so my belongings were kept clean and dropping-free on the other side!!


Jennie was surprised to come face to face with a little visitor when she stepped out of her shower too....a lovely huge hairy tarantula!!! Im sooooo glad that wasnt me - you'd have heard me scream back in London!!! She legged it out of there quick-sharp leaving shampoo and soap befind!!

Late morning we all went for a jungle walk over swinging bridges (scarily high up!!), we saw the rubber plantations and learnt about 'jungle stuff' from the guide who came with us from the Hostel.


We went across to Rio Dulce for lunch and had a typical meal of fish, chips and salad (the fish is served whole with head on). The we had a scoot around town - the town is not particularly attractive, but it is very interesting - it is functional and untouristy and just full of locals doing their stuff!!

We went back to Tijax for the evening and went into to Jens shower armed with cameras and a little dutch courage provided by a spot of the local beer (Gallo) and were able to retrieve her belongings which were still being guarded by the hairy beast!! He posed for a few photos too....


Wednesday 17th: I got up at 5.15am and went kayaking down the river with Matt - we went that early to see the Howler monkeys - they are apparently early risers!! It was good fun and we saw the monkeys so worth the early start. It started raining shortly before we returned so although I was already pretty wet from splashing myself with bad paddle technique, the rain finished me off and I was drenched from head to toe!!

At 9am all of us took a boat trip to Livingston on the Carribean :o) It rained most of the way there and I got drenched again, but it was warm rain so more like having a shower really!!


We stopped off on the way at what looked like someone's house, but was actually a kind of shop, although it didn't really sell much!! Nevertheless, we were able to have a coffee and it really was beautiful, surrounded by water lillies, and a very friendly stalk provided some entertainment too!!


The scenery on the boat ride was pretty lush, winding through an impressive gorge and as we approached Livingston there were so many stalks and pelicans along the banks of the river and flying overhead.
By the time we got to Livingston is was really sunny and we sat outside and had lunch and dried out. I had prawns, rice and beans - yummy!! Livingston has a real Carribean feel to it with Bob Marley playing everywhere, a much larger black population than anywhere else I've been in Guatemala and more 'Jamaican' style food on offer in the restaurants.
We stopped at the hot springs on the way back for a quick dip and were dropped in Rio Dulce where we organised buses for Thursday and got some cash from the machine.
We had dinner in the Hacienda - the food there is absolutely delicious!! It was Duff and Penny's last night with the rest of the family before flying home so we all had dinner together and Matt opened birthday presents which included a 'mullet' card game!! (don't ask!!)