Guatemala projects 45 cruise calls and $8 million in visitor spending
Nearly 96,000 cruise passengers are expected during the eight-month season, which runs through May.
Guatemala expects to receive 45 cruise ships carrying nearly 96,000 passengers over the next eight months, with visitor spending projected at about $8 million.
The cruise season began Oct. 5 when Queen Elizabeth arrived on Guatemala’s Pacific coast with 1,863 passengers. According to the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, known as Inguat, the season will continue through May.
Guatemala recorded 45 cruise calls in the 2024-25 season, while Inguat’s figures also list 45 calls for the 2025-26 season. Most ships visit Puerto Quetzal, on the Pacific coast in the department of Escuintla, while a smaller number call at Santo Tomás de Castilla on the Caribbean coast.
Inguat said cruise visitors show particular interest in Antigua Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as facilities involved in coffee and chocolate production.