Puerto Quetzal

Puerto Quetzal has a new cruise terminal on a floating pontoon where the ship docks.

Puerto Quetzal itself is a small port town, and the downtown area is within a short drive or walk from the cruise terminal. It's approximately 2-3 kilometers to reach the town center.

There is a jade museum/store, cafes, local vendor stalls and live music all located in a pretty area near the terminal.

Printable map to take along.

Puerto Quetzal, on Guatemala's Pacific coast, serves as a cruise passenger's gateway to the inland attractions of this Central American country. As with most Central American countries, the population centers are located in the more temperate central highlands, rather than along the humid, tropical coasts. Accordingly, Puerto Quetzal, while offering plenty for shipping companies, offers little in the way of attractions for cruise passengers.

There are some private cars for hire when you get off the ship right there at the new terminal and the prices are attractive.

For security reasons ship organized tours are recommended.

Not unlike Mexico 30 years ago, Guatemala has to be the most colorful country in Central America and second only to Peru in all the Americas. It offers superb, jungle encrusted Maya pyramid complexes, gorgeous smoking volcanic landscapes [Guatemala volcanoes], wildlife crammed rain forests, magnificent colonial towns, and colorful ethnic people with curious customs. It's also good value, relatively undeveloped and - if you go in the right season - has a climate of 'Eternal Spring' in highland areas.

Antigua, the old capital, is just what appalling Guatemala City should be - elegant, peaceful, interesting and scenically situated between three volcanoes. This World Heritage site has cobbled streets, flowers, evocative ruins and fine, varied, drinking and dining establishments It's popular with foreign families and Spanish language students as well as tourists.It's about a 1.5-hour drive from Puerto Quetzal to Antigua. Guided tours up smoky Pacaya Volcano are in demand by fit travelers. Lake Atitlan, huge, clear and beautifully framed by three volcanoes; this is where Maya traditions are at their ancient best in spite of a river of gringo…

Guatemala is famous for its textiles.

Quetzal (GTQ)

The US dollar is the most widely accepted foreign currency. Credit cards are accepted at many city hotels, restaurants and shops.

Language: Spanish, Garifuna and 21 Maya languages.

Internet access is widely available. Even most of the more remote areas have some type of paid internet access available.