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An update from Evaneos
Rio de la Passion

Rio de la Passion (Guatemala)

Practical information on Rio de la Passion

  • Nature Reserve / Wildlife Observation / Safari
  • River
  • Off the beaten track
4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
A 90 minute drive from Cobán or Isla de Flores, otherwise accessible by boat from Sayaxché
When to go
November to April is best
Minimum stay
One day

Reviews of Rio de la Passion

Perrine J. Seasoned Traveller
27 written opinions

Being one of the country's biggest rivers, it played a key role in the development of the Mayan civilisation and is currently a magnificent nature reserve.

My suggestion:
The best option is to find a base in the local vicinity, from which you can head out on trips to explore the river and visit the local, Mayan sites such as Aguateca or El Ceibal.
My review

Fed by numerous tributaries, including the Rivers Aguateca and El Faisán, the Rio de la Pasión is a long river which crosses the Petén region. Not many visitors include this neck of the woods during their trip to Guatemala, mainly because it's situated mid-way between the popular destinations of Cobán in Alta Verapaz and Isla de Flores, which is a short stop from Tikal.

Rio de la Pasión boasts an impressive natural habitat, where you can spot hundreds of bird species and turtles, whilst winding your way through mangrove swamps and different types of tree. Sitting on a little boat, I watched wild duck and spider monkeys, who swung between the branches above my head. It was by heading down some of the river's tributaries that I got the chance to explore several well-preserved sites, including Dos Pilas, El Ceibal, Aguateca and Tamarindito.

The Rio de la Pasión landscape
The calm waters of Rio de la Pasión