Santo Thomas de Castilla

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Motagua Valley for wonderful views of the countryside and lush tropical vegetation. You’ll arrive at the bridge, which passes over the Rio Dulce, to enjoy the magnificent panorama over the River and Lake Izabal. This area has now been declared a national park and is one of the most important ecological reserves in Guatemala.

From the River, your scenic drive continues on a route taking you past attractive weekend homes, marinas and small hotels, which dot the banks of River Dulce and Lake Izabal. Here, you’ll find the Castillo de San Felipe.

Your mode of transport changes to boat as you cruise over to San Felipe Castle, located on the banks of the Dulce River. San Felipe was built in 1652, in honour of King Philip II of Spain. The old fort was strategically located on the riverbanks to defend against pirate ships that were pillaging the area, as far back as 1595. The San Felipe Castle was declared a National Monument in 1955.

The boat tour continues onto the Catamaran Hotel where you’ll be offered some light refreshments before returning to your coach for the drive back to Santo Tomas.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Motagua Valley passing banana plantations and lush vegetation.

On arrival at the Quirigua National Park, you’ll take a walk along the stone path to enter the grounds. Your guide will explain the interesting facts and mythical tales from the times of the Mayans as you see the monuments lining the Central Plaza and Acropolis.

See the intricate carvings on the altars and walls depicting the mysterious values and beliefs of the Mayans. Your guide will outline the interesting engineering techniques used in the construction of the ancient city of Quirigua.

After your walking tour, you’ll visit Jades to view the marvellous array of jade and jade jewellery before heading back to the ship.

Travel along the main streets of Santo Tomas de Castilla, passing by the seashore, the Naval Base and Belgium Cemetery where 19th century Belgian pioneers were buried.

You’ll arrive at the city of Puerto Barrios, capital of Izabal, which dates back to the 18th century. It was originally nothing more than a small village nestled on a muddy landscape alongside the railroad tracks. Over time, the town grew into a city with a frontier-town atmosphere where locals and foreigners once fought to reap the benefits of the banana, sugar and coffee trades. Today Puerto Barrios has become one of the most important commercial ports in Guatemala.

Before returning to the ship, you’ll stop at the Marbrissa Hotel to enjoy some light refreshments.

Board a small boat in Santo Tomas de Castilla for a scenic ride passing the lush green forests of Guatemala’s Caribbean coast. You’ll continue to the mouth of the Rio Dulce, a jungle river inhabited by the Maya-Q’eqchi, one of twenty ethnic settlements found in Guatemala.

Enjoy the sights of the river as you make your way to the town of Livingston. Take a walk through the main streets to the Villa Caribe Hotel, where you’ll be treated to a traditional musical presentation and offered some light refreshments.

You’ll board a small boat for a pleasant 10-minute ride across the Santo Tomas Bay towards Green Bay Hotel. Here, you’ll board a minibus for a short drive, taking you off-road to Las Escobas Springs Reserve. Capture fantastic views of the Bay as you journey through.

Upon arrival, you’ll be met by your local guide who will take you on a fascinating walk along the Reserve trail. Along the way, you’ll learn about the flora and fauna of the area and have the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the cool spring pools.

Afterwards, you’ll take a short drive to the small community of Las Escobas, where you’ll experience the daily life of the local people and watch as they prepare ‘tortillas’. Enjoy a short ride back to Green Bay Hotel, where you’ll re-board your boat for the short ride back to the port.