Puerto Quetzal

Puerto Quetzal's new cruise terminal is on a floating pontoon, where ships dock.

Puerto Quetzal is a small port town whose downtown is a short drive or walk from the cruise terminal. The town centre is approximately 2-3 kilometers away.

Live music accompanies local vendor stalls, cafes and a jade museum/store in a pretty area beside the terminal.

A printable map is available to take with you.

On Guatemala's Pacific coast, Puerto Quetzal is a cruise passenger's gateway to this Central American country's inland attractions. As in most Central American countries, population centres lie in the more temperate central highlands rather than on the humid, tropical coasts. Accordingly, Puerto Quetzal offers plenty for shipping companies but little in the way of attractions for cruise passengers.

Private cars can be hired as you leave the ship at the new terminal, and their prices are attractive.

Ship organized tours are recommended for security reasons.

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

The old capital, Antigua, is what appalling Guatemala City should be: elegant, peaceful, interesting and scenically situated between three volcanoes. This World Heritage site offers cobbled streets, flowers, evocative ruins and fine, varied drinking and dining establishments. It is popular with foreign families, Spanish language students and tourists. Antigua is about a 1.5-hour drive from Puerto Quetzal. Fit travelers seek guided tours up smoky Pacaya Volcano. Huge, clear Lake Atitlan is beautifully framed by three volcanoes and is where Maya traditions are at their ancient best in spite of a river of gringo…

Textiles are one of Guatemala's well-known specialities.

Currency: Quetzal (GTQ).

The US dollar is the foreign currency most widely accepted. Many city hotels, restaurants and shops accept Credit cards.

Languages include Spanish, Garifuna and 21 Maya languages.

Internet access is widely available, with even most more remote areas having some type of paid internet access.