Car Travel

Although this region fronts the ocean, you'll find few ways to travel along the coast other than the 40 km (24 miles) road that hugs the Pacific between Puerto San José and Monterrico. Highway CA–2, 45 km (27 miles) inland parallel to the ocean, forms the east–west transportation backbone of this region, connecting Mexico and El Salvador. The four-lane Highway CA–9—it’s the country’s best—begins in Guatemala City and runs south to the coast at Puerto Quetzal. You'll pay a Q12 toll at Km 51 north of the hub city of Escuintla. Highway CA–2 intersects at Escuintla, heading west to Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa and Retalhuleu. Continuing on CA–9, a large highway interchange sits at the coast. Follow signs to puerto san josé for points west, and to iztapa for Monterrico and the eastern Pacific coast. At Iztapa itself, a Q20 toll bridge crosses to an island for the last 25 km (15 miles) to Monterrico. Watch out for the iguanas that dart across the two-lane road.