Jardín Botánico y Restaurante Ecológico El Hibiscus

Near Puerto Barrios [1], at Km. 284 of Highway CA-9, is the Jardín Botánico y Restaurante Ecológico El Hibiscus (tel. 7294-0397 or 5514-9525, www.hibiscusprojectizabal.com [2], 6 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat.), a pleasant restaurant tastefully furnished with tropical wicker furniture and Mayan textiles that serves excellent breakfasts ($3–4), seafood, steaks, sandwiches, salads, and Guatemalan dishes. A tasty caldo de gallina criolla (chicken soup) is served on Saturdays. You can enjoy your meal in a pleasant wooden dining room or outside on one of two patios.

Visitors can also enjoy a stroll through the botanical gardens housing a wide variety of flowers and tropical plants. It makes a pleasant stop on the way to Puerto Barrios or a good place to eat outside of town if you’re staying there. The restaurant also serves as an information center for the Cerro San Gil and Río Las Escobas [3], and Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge [4] protected areas.