After Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean, San José is the country’s second-largest port, which is connected to Guatemala City in the north by Highway CA9 (more commonly known as the Pan American Highway). There are several seaside resorts on either side of San José where a variety of watersports are available. The waters here have abundant marine life (such as red snapper, tarpon, bass and sailfish) and the sea fishing is rated very highly. To the west, an interesting journey can be taken by launch from the old Spanish port of Iztapa through the Chiquimulilla Canal, which runs through mangrove swamps rich with plant life such as water lilies and irises. This canal is part of the Monterrico Nature Reserve, which was created to conserve coastal wildlife such as the green iguana, marine turtle and crocodile.