El Estor travel guide

El Estor enjoys one of the most beautiful vistas in Guatemala. It is strung along the northwest shore of Lago de Izabal, backed by the Santa Cruz mountain range and facing the Sierra de las Minas. The lake is the largest in Guatemala at 717 sq km. It’s a great place to relax, swim (down a nearby canyon), go fishing and spot manatee. Some businesses are expecting the new road to bring a surge of tourists visitors. For the next few years, you’ll still have the place mostly to yourself. The town dates back to the days when the Europeans living in the Atlantic area got their provisions from a store situated at this spot, now the Hotel Vista al Lago. Briton Skinner and Dutchman Klee used to supply the region from el store from 1815 to 1850. Nickel-mining began just outside town in 1978, but was suspended at the Exmibal plant after the oil crisis of 1982, because the process depended on cheap sources of energy.

Mariscos is on the southern shore of Lago de Izabal. The best reason to come here is the nearby Denny’s Beach.