Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala)

Puerto Quetzal is the largest Pacific Ocean port of Guatemala. It is important both as a stop-off point for cruise liners and for cargo traffic. Puerto Quetzal is located in Escuintla department, alongside Puerto San Jose city, which it replaced as a port in importance to country's maritime traffic during 20th century.

After disembarkation in Puerto Quetzal , cruise ship tourists usually embark on different shore excursions and tours to Escuintla (Auto Safari Chapin zoo), La Reunion Golf Resort, and mostly to La Antigua City (Guatemala Kingdom's capital, approx 90 min bus drive). The nearest town is San Jose (approx 1 ml / 2 km to the west). For security reasons is recommended booking only cruise line organized excursions.

The port's operation hours are 8 am - 10 pm (Monday to Friday) and 8 am - 2 pm (Saturday). The port authority company is APM Terminals Quetzal - joint venture between APM Terminals (85%) and International Finance Corporation (IFC, 15%). APM Terminals invested around USD 180 million in a new container terminal, which increased the port's annual containership cargo capacity to 340,000 TEUs (containers). In 2016, all Guatemalan cargo ports handled a combined cargo of 1,57 million TEUs, ranking the country as Central America's second (after Panama, with 2016 handled cargo of 6,25 million TEUs).

Puerto Quetzal cruise terminal