Foreign countries are great. Not to say that old Blighty doesn’t have some treats of its own. Weather wise you can almost set your watch to when a sunny spell will come, which is about 24 hours after departing for lands afar. Note to self – take shorter holidays (23.9 hours).
Anyhow, the reason for this entry is I wanted to share some of great outdoor swimming spots of Central America that I have seen of late. Not the traditional 15c logged by most, and far be it from me to judge which holds more credibility. So here in reverse order of the Joe Lewis outdoor swim 1-10 rating system………
5. Livingston, Guatemala – 7/10
Not to be confused with its Scottish counterpart, although some parallels do exist. An Indiana Jones style bridge which accesses the beach walk into the cascading pools from the hillside. Follow a jungle path to be met by waterfalls and great jumping spots.
4. Aqua Lounge, Bocas del Toro, Panama – 8/10
Great by day or night, but occasionally a little hairy due to fast Jack Russell like boats. A swing into water is never a bad thing. When complimented with music, friends and drinks it is an excellent thing. Many long-swim opportunities and fishes all over the shop.
3. Flores, Guatemala – 8/10
Huge open water lake with main land to swim to (complete with museum). Docks to jump off, warm calm water and serious organised crime to dodge... eeeeeeek! hipptrip.com/articles/mur#E9152 2. Puerto Escondido, Mexico – 9/10
Challenging swimming with strong rips, big waves, fish, hot sand and Corona's for afters. There are 4 main beaches in the area but Bacocho is a seriously beautiful one. Zicatela has some insane waves at the right time. A highlight was watching the quintessential disappearing surfer re-emerge from a massive barrel. Big cahoonas to paddle into that.
1. Semuc Champey, Guatemala –10/10
Joint first! And more of a 3 in 1. The day started with a huge swing into a deep river so being part of an adventurous group the flips and fails really came out, much to every ones delight. This was accompanied by a 12m bridge jump and being a diver in my younger years, I had given it the Charlie big potatoes in passing. Not being one to back down from a challenge I was soon committed to a back flip. Jump, land, survive! This was followed by cave swimming and climbing in natural tunnels allegedly burrowing 14km into the hillside, made possible through the use of a candle. Which got wet. The final part of the Semuc Champey trilogy were the pools. Smooth rock slides and true blue water waiting for you at the bottom. 
1. Agua Azul, Mexico – 10/10
The piece de resistance of outdoor swimming spots as experienced by yours truly. Utterly breath-taking. Steeped in Mayan history, multiple waterfalls and rock jumps, infinity pool swim leading to waterfall edge. The waters fine, come on in! Only the quarry in Cambridge can top it. Amazing!
