Livingston - Guatemala

Livingston... so Called La Buga by the Garifunas, Livingston is home for the Guatemalan part of the Garifuna culture.

The Garifuna society, also known as the Black Caribs settled in Livingston around 1795, conserving their own language, music & religion. Livingston is the only Carib settlement in Guatemala, which makes it a very unique place in our country.

This colorful town is located on the north bank of Rio Dulce, making it the gateway between the river and the Caribbean.

Livingston is a place to soak up the sun and enjoy of a unique atmosphere only this town can give you. There is no overland access to Livingston, which keeps it hidden and exotically unspoiled.

There are numerous hotels at Livingston ranging from luxurious to low-budget and a large number of restaurants serving a variety of Guatemalan and continental dishes. The traditional and delicious prepared seafood dishes are a non forgettable culinary experience.

The Garifuna are very proud of their traditions, and their distinct customs, food and music, which set Livingston apart from the rest of Guatemala. Complete with their own language and culture, the ambience in Livingston reminds visitors more of Belize and the Caribbean than of Latin America, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons why Livingston appears at the top of the itinerary of many visitors to the area.

Keeping in mind that the reggae is fierce here, as is the incredible seafood. You will also have the best banana pancakes of your life. These descendants of escaped slaves really know how to kick back.

As there are no roads to Livingston, the town can only be reached by boat. Getting there is not a problem, though, since many lanchas are available that connect Livingston with Rio Dulce, Puerto Barrios and southern Belize.

The history of Livingston actually begins on the faraway Caribbean island of St Vincent. A mixture of shipwrecked African slaves and native Indians, the Garifuna people was fiercely independent and resisted all attempts to conquer the island for years. When the British finally defeated them, they deported the surviving Garifuna to the Honduran Bay Island of Roatán, from where they later spread all along the coast from Trujillo, Honduras, to Belize.

There are two distinct thoughts on this little Caribbean town. Some people would say Livingston's a tourist trap, with drugs and hustlers, but culture loving people discover in it a rich mixture of living cultures, music and history.

Livingston is a wonderful town to visit. If it's sunny you can relax, hike, swim, eat, drink, and relax.

Livingston has a port, immigration office and police station. You will also find a post office, Guatel office (telephones) and a fuel dock.

Don't be fooled though, this place is not a resort town. It has a gritty edge, but it sure is a destination that should not be missed in Guatemala and a great point of departure to visit many other destinations in the Amatique Bay and Rio Dulce.