The Chocón Machacas Protected Biotope is located in eastern Guatemala, in the municipality of Livingston, department of Izabal. The name stems from a river that flows through the central area of the biotope. The southern zone of the biotope is within Río Dulce ("Sweet River") National Park's boundaries (CEMEC/CONAP, 2001), which is a protected area in itself. The northern sector is bordered by agricultural and cattle farms; Río Dulce is the southern boundary; the Cáliz community and the national park are the natural boundaries to the East, and the Ciénega river is the western boundary. Although the area is not vast, the fact that it shares the complex water system of the Río Dulce National Park is pivotal to the many species it harbors. A considerable part of the biotope is particularly fragmented, and it is surrounded by agricultural and cattle lands that are extremely deforested. 

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The soils of the protected area are calcareous, shallow and drain poorly (CECON, sf.) The biotope's landscape is mostly between flat and slightly rolling; the highest altitudes are found in the western bank of the Chocón River, and the many hills in the East extend into areas beyond the protected region. The lower regions are 10 m ASL; the highest can reach 280 m (CDC/CECON, 1995). Climate is warm and very moist; although seasons are not clearly marked, between January and April rainfall diminishes. Annual average precipitation is slightly over 5,700 mm, and varies between 3,000 mm and 6,000 mm (CECON, sf). The average temperature is 27° C, which rises to 9° C between maximum and minimum; during cold periods it seldom falls under 18° C (CDC/CECON, 1995).

Abundant water is one of the most evident characteristics of the Chocón Machacas Protected Biotope.  Within the biotope there is the Chocón River, which flows throughout the area and divides the biotope in two distinct halves, plus seven minor rivers (locally called "creekes") and five lagoons. The area's flat grounds are prone to flooding during parts of the year. The Ciénega River is the natural western boundary; Río Dulce is the southern limit.