Cobán to Lago Izabal?

No doubt I shall be bugging you all with some detailed route options soon :-)

But it strikes me that it would be really advantageous, as we'll be coming from the highlands and would probably like to go to El Estor area for some tropical nature stuff before heading up to Flores, to be able to travel from Cobán to El Estor. LP says this route is dangerous, but according to RG it's perfectly feasible. Does anyone have any info on this route?

Hey there, from what I've been reading lately in the papers, that road is safe. They had riots in El Estor in the past because of land claims by locals with the canadian nickel mining company. You should be able to find transportation from Coban. Of course you can always ask around when you get to Coban before you head that way. For additional information on where to stay or how to get there visit www.passplanet.com/guatemala. Good luck.

Yes it is doable. I was there in Feb. (el estor). One thing that I did not realize that I went to el estor via poptun that after visiting el estor I had to backtrack back to rio dulce to head towards guate city. From the map it looks like you can just go around - not. Also, the ferry that used to go between the villages around the lake is no longer.

there was trouble with a gang of robbers on this road a few years ago, but I think they caught them and linched them eventually. Haven't head of an incident for quite some time. El Estor has a sleepy charm, don't miss Boqueron canyon and the hot water waterfall...

Thanks guys - I think there are two possible routes, no? Either going through Cahabón (and stopping off at that place with bats and river pools??), or backtracking a bit towards GC and taking the route down the Polochic river valley.

From Coban I've only taken the route through Tactic and La Tinta many years ago and it was a flat and good road though. From what I see on the map if you go through Cahabon you still have to go down to Panzos to catch the other road.

Cheers - anywhere interesting to stop en route?

I'm also not quite sure if it wouldn't be better to go north to Flores via the other cave place and the big lake (sorry, can't remember the names right now) and Sayaxché, rather than Estor/Río Dulce/Tatín/Lívingston. But then we'd miss out on the jungley stuff maybe? Any views?

Petexbatún, that's the lake. There seems to be quite a bit to see on this route too.