It really did seem like this gull thought it could hatch this dock tie anchor on the waterfront in Liverpool, England.
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Discover Puerto Quetzal: Guatemala’s Cruise Destination
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala’s Major Pacific Port Of Call
Guatemala, in Central American, south of Mexico, it is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. The capital, Guatemala City, features the stately National Palace of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Antigua, west of the capital, contains preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Lake Atitlán, formed in a massive volcanic crater, is surrounded by coffee fields and villages.
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala is the largest port in the country. Many Eastern Pacific cruise itineraries now regularly have cruise ships calling on this interesting port. Puerto Quetzal is now Guatemala’s primary cargo entry port serving cities like La Antigua, and Guatemala City some sixty miles inland.
Where Your Ship Docks
Cruise ships dock inside the harbor area at a dedicated cruise pier that includes a visitors center and crafts village providing entertainment, food and public facilities.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with but the visitors center and craft village have no obsticels.
Transportation
There are taxis usually available outside the port village but it is several miles to the nearest town of Puerto San Jose. The best way to see the areas attractions is with a tour.
Local Currency
The Quetzal is Guatemala’s currency with an exchange rate in the range of approximately 7 to 8 Quetzal per 1 U.S. Dollar. At the village US Dollars are often welcome and there is an ATM available. Most credit cards are gladly accepted.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. If service charges are included in the bill, rounding up or leaving small change is customary. In restaurants, leaving between 5-10% of the bill is becoming a common practice if you are satisfied with the service. Tipping tour guides is usually based on the tour cost with a few dollars being a minimum. For taxi drivers or service staff, rounding up the fare or leaving a small tip is sufficient.
Attractions
Guatemala offers a wealth of interesting activities that appealing to various interests. Located north of the cruise port is Abaj Takalik one of several Mesoamerican sites with both Olmec and Maya features that shows evidence of being occupied for over two thousand years. Located some distance away is one of the most popular sites, Tikal National Park, renowned for its ancient Mayan ruins and rich biodiversity. Visitors can also explore the charming colonial city of Antigua, which is famous for its well-preserved architecture and vibrant culture.
For nature enthusiasts, hiking Acatenango Volcano provides stunning views. Lake Atitlán, surrounded by volcanoes and picturesque villages, is another must-visit destination, ideal for kayaking and hiking.
Many cruise lines offer shore excursions to Antigua City and other points of interest but right in the port area is a craft village that offers some amazing handcrafted items at very good prices. There’s a cute crafts market that has a multitude of souvenir items along with an interesting Jade Museum with some quality jewelry for sale.
Some distance up the coast is the town of Monterrico with a volcanic black sand beach anlong with the Monterrico Nature Reserve intended to protect sea turtles and the areas mangrove estuary.
Antigua located some sixty miles east of the port is a cute town featuring museums and art galleries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Port of Call Roatan, Honduras
Roatan, The Other Caribbean
Most everyone is familiar with at least a few Caribbean islands like Sint Maarten, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Grand Cayman but there are a number of lesser known tropical islands that share that same Caribbean Sea.
Roatan is the largest of the Honduran Bay Islands in the Caribbean and is becoming a popular cruise itinerary destination. Like many Caribbean destinations it is recognized for its beautiful beaches, water sports, including premier scuba and skin diving, and modern resorts. It also has a growing number of American and Canadian ex-patriots and seasonal residents attracted by its beauty and low cost of living. To accommodate more cruise ships the Honduras government and Carnival Cruise Line developed Mahogany Bay with modern cruise ship docks, a well equipped duty free shopping village and a beautiful beach recreation area with great facilities and water sports.
Where You Dock
Most Cruise ships are now docking at the Mahogany Bay facility on the southwest coast.
Mahogany Bay was built by Carnival Corporation with a man-made beach nearby, water-sport rental, snorkeling from that beach, a zipline canopy tour and several bars and restaurants at the beach area. In the village are all the standard shops including Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, a Harley Davidson store, pharmacy, and a number of local gift shops and stalls.
In addition to Mahogany Bay there is also the Port of Roatan located a bit farther west near Barrio Loma Linda where occasionally cruise ships may still dock. It is about five miles between the two port facilities.
Transportation
The best way to get around Roatan is by hired taxi or a rental car. Taxi’s are inexpensive and drivers are eager to negotiate an island tour at a good price (share with other passengers and save more). Rental cars are readily available as low as US$11 per day (Expedia examples HERE) with a couple of offices near Mahogany Bay.
Money
The local currency is the Honduras Lempira with one being worth about US 5¢. US Dollars are usually welcome and most major credit cards are accepted.
Attractions
Outdoor recreation is the focus on this Caribbean island with sandy beaches and clear, warm water being the central attraction. There are also several zip line facilities on the island and a dolphin encounter at Anthony’s Key Resort that’s very popular.
If your ship docks at Mahogany Bay you can spend the day right at the ports beautiful beach. It’s equipped with water sports equipment, beach loungers and umbrellas with a number of excursions leaving right from the cruise port.
A little over a mile from Mahogany Bay is the town of Barrio Loma Linda. It is not a resort area but a typical small Honduran town with stores and restaurants along with a couple of crafts shops working in leather and wood.
Approaching Roatan
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South Americ’s Land of Fire
Tierra del Fuego the Land of Fire
The very name of this region, Tierra del Fuego (meaning “Land of Fire”), came from Spanish explorers as they journeyed in search of the Spice Isles. Upon passing the Tierra del Fuego shoreline they saw a land clouded by smoke from numerous man-made fires.
Tierra del Fuego National Park is the southernmost park in Argentina, known for its breathtaking glacial, mountain, and forest landscapes. Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago located at the southern tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the Magellan Strait and the Beagle Channel and the southern terminus of.the Pan-American Highway.
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Wildlife Adventures at the Icy Strait Point, Alaska Cruise Port
General – This is a nature port on Chichagof Island which opened in 2004 and is only open when cruise ships are in. It was developed by the Native Tlingits and celebrates their culture. It is the ideal location for viewing wildlife and sea life. Hoonah, the only town on the island is described as the largest Tlingit Village in the state.
Where You’re docked – Depending on tides and number of ships, cruise ships either dock or tender (sometimes both). In either case, arrival is near the adventure center which is the starting point for land tours. Going in the other direction, the boardwalk takes you to the old cannery complex which now houses a museum, local shops, restaurants and a display of the original cannery operation. The Fish House is also located in this area and it is the starting point for marine tours.
Transportation
There are very limited car rentals or taxi service. A sightseeing trolley is sometimes operational. If you plan to do more then a walking exploration, it is probably best to book a tour.
Money
The US dollar is used and credit cards are welcome. There is also an ATM in the store.
Nearby Trips:
Two of the more popular attractions are kayaking and whale watching that can be booked at the Adventure Center.
There are Cable Cars with 3 stations as part of the facility allows access to the zip line and the gallery-gift shop.
The largest and highest zipline in North America is located at ISP. It runs 5330 feet and includes a 1300 foot vertical drop.
Hoonah Village is a short ride from where you come ashore. If a trolley is running it will be one of the stops. It is a very small community with only a few shops and restaurants. There is a brewery and an Alaska Native project teaching the art if totem pole carving.
The nature trail provides an opportunity to see native plants and possibly brown bears, bald eagles and the Sitka black tailed deer. If the weather is wet, trails can be very muddy so hiking boots are recommended.
Porpoises and whales have been sighted from shore and anchored ships and several tours visit the Point Adolphus area, a prime location for whale watching.
- NOTE: Cruise ships do not dock near town but dock right next to the Adventure Center which is the major attraction at this port.
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Enchanting Budapest and Night Along the Danube
There are simply not enough superlatives to fully describe the magic of Budapest nights along the Danube.
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