Sea turtle hatchling release at Monterrico

Four species of sea turtle come ashore to nest on Monterrico's long black-sand beach, and a few hatcheries along it collect the eggs and let the young go together once they hatch. Guatemala City families fill the town at weekends, but foreign visitors come largely for the turtles. The best known hatchery is the Tortugario Monterrico, run by CECON, the conservation centre of Guatemala's San Carlos university, where you can walk the trails and see young turtles being raised in safety.

The hatcheries matter because most eggs laid on this coast are still dug up and eaten; egg hunters hand a share of what they find to the tortugarios. Release times depend on what has hatched, so ask your hotel or locals in town when the next one is. It is a short stop rather than a day out, so pair it with the beach or the mangrove canal behind town.