Hotel Utz Tzaba

Overview

Description

The Hotel Utz Tzaba is in the town of Monterrico, near a natural heritage area with mangrove forests. Monterrico is a typical beach town with charming bars and hotels.

Visitors can take a motorboat or canoe trip through the spectacular mangroves of the Monterrico Canal, where you can see all kinds of birds, fish, and other animals. On a good day you will have a clear view of four volcanoes. You can also visit the town’s turtle hatchery; this is an interesting project created by the San Carlos University of Guatemala where you can see caimans, turtles, iguanas, and other animals. On Saturday afternoons you can participate in turtle releases, letting the baby turtles go to their natural habitat.

You can also visit Spanish moss and sesame plantations and shrimp farms in the area.

Rooms

10 double rooms and 4 bungalows.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 11

Percentage of local employees: 9%

The Hotel Utz Tzaba uses products that do not harm the environment and supports the local communities with donations.

In 2006, Utz Tzaba began a project to protect olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) marine turtles. These turtles nest along the coast and lay 80-150 eggs per nest, every two weeks during the season. Unfortunately, their eggs are prized by the local community as a food item. To minimize the impact of egg collecting, we buy the eggs from the collectors, take them to our conservation center where we bury them in the sand to incubate for 45 to 55 days, and then release the hatchlings in the sea.

Rates

$76 – 100

More information about rates is available on the hotel's Web site.

Getting There

Nearest international airport: La Aurora (GUA)

Travel time to nearest airport: 3 hours

The two highways to the coastal area are completely paved. By Puerto Quetzal, is necessary take a 5-minute ferry. By Taxisco, the canal must be crossed in a picturesque 30-minute ferry that is safe and carries only a certain number of passengers and cars. Another arrival point is the Pacific Naval Base in Puerto de San José, Escuintla.

Visit the Route page on our Web site to get detailed directions to our hotel.

Additional Information

Date This Information Was Provided

October 2010.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Utz Tzaba, Guatemala, for SustainableTrip.org.