Escuintla, Guatemala

Located at the junction of the two principal coastal roads from the capital, bustling ESCUINTLA ranks as Guatemala's third largest city with a population of 130,000. Despite its size there's nothing to see here, but you do get a good sense of life on the coast – its heat, pace and energy, as well as the frenetic industrial and agricultural commerce that drives it. Below the plaza a huge, chaotic market sprawls across several blocks, spilling out into 4 Avenida, the main commercial thoroughfare, which is also notable for a mock castle that functions as the town's police station.