Cruise Arrivals

In 2004, cruise ships began arriving at the port city of Santo Tomas de Castilla.  In 2006, Carnival Cruise Lines built a new terminal in the port at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.  As a result, the once-sleepy backwater seaport is beginning to buzz with visitors.

The new Terminal de Cruceros houses a bank, a post office, a money exchange, international telephones, internet access, a market offering local handicrafts, and an INGUAT tourist office—all the amenities a visitor may need.  Disembarking cruise passengers are invariably welcomed to Santo Tomas by a local band, and are encouraged to explore the region during their time on shore.  Mos visitors make the short trip to the Mayan ruins of Quiriguá.  Also popular are boat trips on the Río Dulce and day trips to nearby towns of Livingston and Puerto Barrios. 

A number of nice restaurants and hotels are cropping up to accommodate the rising tide of tourists.  A regional airport is in the process of being upgraded to handle the growing demand for domestic flights to locations such as Antigua and Tikal. When the renovations are complete, cruise passengers will be able to enjoy weekend getaways to far-flung destinations across the country.