Tilapa & Tilapita

The town of Tilapa is friendly and laid back but unremarkable so it’s best to head straight for the beach. If the rains have not washed the wooden bridge away you can walk over the canal to La Isla el Tular Tilapa, otherwise take a lancha. The island is incredibly narrow (standing in the middle you can see the canal and the beach at the same time) and very tranquil. There are no hotels but Ronny (just ask around for Ronny) has started renting out a room on his family's property for $6 a night and intends to build a couple more.

Nicknamed ‘community tourism,’ travelers who are looking to experience real life on an isolated island will love this place. There is nothing to do here except walk on the beach, watch the dogs chasing the pigs and learn how to climb a coconut tree. Ronny has fishing rods (bring line and hooks with you) and will happily teach you how to throw a net. There are some hammocks in a shady, breezy spot to laze away the day when it all gets too much. Simple meals available.

Tilapa has a couple of hotels in town, near to the bus stop, which would do for a night but not for a holiday. Rooms in Hotel Misapa cost $10 for 2 people with private bathroom, $6.50 for one person or $5 for 2 people with shared bathroom.

Tilapita is the long spit next door to La Isla el Tula and only accessible by lancha. There is quite a large town based here, almost 1,000 houses, but the locals look after the place. Houses on the canal side are set back so that channels have been cut through the mangroves to reach the docks rather than just clearing the land. The same has been done on the beach side so the natural tree line still exists. There is a small and vitally important tortugario in operation. It is located opposite the only hotel, Pacific Mar. Pacific Mar has simple but adequate rooms with private bathroom costing $12.50 for two people or $7.50 for one person. The restaurant prepares local fare and seafood dishes from $5. They also have a pool which is useful because days are hot and the sea here is not the best for swimming as undertows are common.

Apart from doing little, the only key tourist activity in Tilapa or Tilapita is visiting Manchón Guamuchal Wetlands.

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Other places nearby Tilapa & Tilapita: Chulamar, Escuintla, Champerico, Cuilapa, Puerto San Jose, La Democracia, Retalhuleu, Guatemala's Pacific Coast, Taxisco and Monterrico.