On Lake Izabal’s northern shore, between El Estor and Río Dulce, is the wonderful waterfall hot springs of Finca El Paraíso (tel. 7949-7122), a working farm easily accessible from either town.

Here a wide, 12-meter-high warm-water fall plunges into a clear pool cooled by flows from surrounding streams. If you think soaking in warm water in a tropical climate wouldn’t be inviting, think again. Above the falls are some caves worth exploring, for which you’ll need to bring a flashlight.

Two kilometers west from the falls is a comfortable lodge and restaurant. The wooden bungalows have private bathroom and you can catch the cool lake breezes from a hammock on your very own patio. The restaurant is housed in a bamboo-and-thatch open-air structure with a menu that includes pasta and meat dishes.

The farm lies along the Río Dulce–El Estor bus route, about an hour from Río Dulce and 40 minutes from El Estor. Buses and pickups go by about every hour in both directions, with the last of these around 4:30 p.m. Hacienda Tijax (tel. 7930-5505/6/7, VHF channel 09, www.tijax.com) and Tortugal (tel. 5306-6432 or 7742-8847, VHF channel 68, www.tortugal.com) in Río Dulce, can also bring you here on a tour.