Beautiful(ish) Puerto Quetzal – Journey into the Darkness

Sailing to Puerto Quetzal involves an almost complete 360-degree loop to clear the seawall and arrive at the dock at the cruise terminal. This also included navigating through a busy industrial port.

The cruise terminal itself is a small square of lush green trees surrounded on three sides by the container terminal. To the left, a large warehouse, steadily loading thousands of tons of the black substance onto a waiting cargo ship.

We half-heartedly considered taking a trip to Antigua, but a quick look at photos online shows that, although pretty, it’s not a motorcycle town. A trip to the forest would be similarly a waste of time. So instead, we decided to stay local and see what we could do in the immediate vicinity of Puerto Quetzal.

As before, we hung around a bit, waiting for the early rush to subside so we could descend more smoothly. The pier is fairly new and well maintained which makes it suitable for scooter riding.

Once we reach the beach, we pass through a large “hut” that also serves as a tourist information point. There are several offices that offer tours, mostly to Antigua. Outside, it’s a festival of music and colour, with dozens of stalls selling local crafts, chocolate, clothes and jade.

People are cheerful, friendly and open to bartering. This is the first stop in the port where we saw any handmade Christmas decorations and they look excellent. So we buy one. The entire station is a riot of colours.

It’s very warm and humid, but the trees provide some relief. There are also some local musicians playing traditional instruments to entertain the crowds. There’s even one man dressed as a Mayan warrior…

We don’t stay at the beach long but we really enjoyed our visit. Guatemala has been much more welcoming than Mexico, and Puerto Quetzal is a great advertisement for the country.

Accessibility information

Batteries used: 66%

Terrain: The cruise terminal is very well paved, with smooth cement paths and good paving throughout. However, the aisles get very crowded, and it can be a little difficult to get close to some of the stalls.

Taxis: Taxis are available outside the cruise terminal for short trips to nearby San Jose. We cannot comment on vehicles, but other passengers pointed out that the city is not easily accessible.

Did you get your passport stamped in Puerto Quetzal?

Yes! Just ask the tourist information desk inside the large hut when you get off.

Will you visit Puerto Quetzal again?

Maybe not Puerto Quetzal itself, but the stop provided a glimpse of what Guatemala has to offer – and we liked what we saw.

Things to see and do in Puerto Quetzal

Puerto Quetzal may be the southern gateway to Guatemala – but the majority of the population lives in the center of the country. As such, there are not many things to do in Puerto Quetzal itself. In fact, Princess Cruises recommends it to guests no To walk into town because it is very dangerous and heavily trafficked.

However, the UNESCO-listed city of Antigua is about 50 miles away:

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