Retalhuleu

Introducing Retalhuleu

Arriving at the bus station in Retalhuleu, or Reu (ray-oo) as it’s known to most Guatemalans, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be underwhelmed. The neighborhood’s a tawdry affair, packed out with dilapidated wooden cantinas and street vendors.

The town center, just five blocks away, is like another world – a majestic, palm-filled plaza, surrounded by some fine old buildings. Even the city police get in on the act, hanging plants outside their headquarters.

On the outskirts are the homes of wealthy plantation owners, impressive weekend getaways and the gated communities that are springing up all over the country.

The real reason most people visit is for access to Abaj Tahalik, but if you’re up for some serious downtime, a couple of world-class fun parks are just down the road.

Tourists are something of a curiosity in Reu and are treated well. The heat is fairly stifling, and if you can splurge for digs with a pool, you’ll be happy for it; at the very least, make sure your room has a fan.

Last updated: Sep 25, 2008