Santo Tomas de Castilla information - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

canarymoon · 02-16-2007, 11:29 AM

FROM Travel Machine - Lafayette, LA - Cruises, Theme Cruises, Music Cruises, Travel Agency

SANTO TOMAS DE CASTILLA, GUATEMALAYour portal to the fascinating Mayan ruins of Guatemala and Honduras: the mighty Acropolis of Quirigua National Park and Copan, Paris of the ancient Mayan lost world. Each an enigma waiting to be solved. Santo Tomas is Guatemala's largest port on the Caribbean Sea; it was formerly known as Matias de Galvez. Dont miss the Temples of Tikal in the dense Petan Jungle.

canarymoon · 02-16-2007, 11:33 AM

This port was built in the 1960's to replace Puerto Barrios.

canarymoon · 02-16-2007, 11:49 AM

From Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com):

Santo Tomás de Castilla is a port city in Izabal Department, Guatemala. It is located at around 15°41′60″N, 88°37′0″WCoordinates: 15°41′60″N, 88°37′0″W. It lies on Amatique Bay off the Gulf of Honduras and is administratively a part of Puerto Barrios. Santo Tomás was settled originally by Belgians in the 19th century.

Starting in 2004 Santo Tomás has starting receiving cruise ships. In this poor country, this can be quite the boost to the local economy. For tourist oriented cruisers there are not beaches oriented or big-time Mayan ruins to see; this is a good place to get a taste of local Guatemalan culture. Other nearby options include the Rio Dulce, Lake Izabal, the towns of Puerto Barrios, Livingston and San Felipe, and the Mayan ruins of Quirigua.

Santo Tomás is one of two major Guatemalan ports on the Gulf coast. Guatemala has only a small coastline along the Caribbean and consequently Santo Tomás is fairly close to Belize and Honduras.

canarymoon · 02-16-2007, 11:53 AM

Also from Wikipedia:

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast.

The largest and most populous nation in Central America, Guatemala is best known for its historical role as a major seat of Pre-Columbian cultures, particularly the Mayans. Numerous sites of major archaeological significance have been discovered, including the ruins of the ancient city of Tikal. .... Other than tourism, Guatemala's economy depends largely upon agriculture, with coffee and sugar among its main exports.

Guatemala is a representative democracy with its capital at Guatemala City. Although the nation has been relatively stable since 1996, Guatemala's recent history has been plagued by civil war and military coups, which have slowed the nation's development.

Large portions of Guatemala's interior remain wholly undeveloped, including the nation's many rainforests and wetlands.

canarymoon · 09-24-2007, 06:45 AM

FROM: Lake Izabal and Caribbean Coast

Lake Izabal

On Guatemala's Caribbean coast visitors will see the country's largest lake, the old Spanish fortress of San Felipe or travel down a lovely jungle river bounded by lush tropical forest to a Garifuna village.

Lake Izabal is more than 45 kilometers long and covering about 590 square kilometers. It is surrounded by lush tropical rainforest inhabited by hundreds of bird species, monkeys and many other animals. The waters of the lake are rich in fish. Unique to the lake is the fresh-water sea cow (manatee), a mammal that can weigh up to a ton. This species is in danger of extinction and the manatees are the largest mammals in the country.

canarymoon · 09-24-2007, 06:48 AM

The Rio Dulce (sweet river) runs about 40 kilometers from Lake Izabal before it empties into Amatique Bay at Livingston. At its upper end there is the town of Frontera. Downstream, the river widens into an area known as Golfete, before flowing through a narrow, spectacular gorge and then on the bay. Boat tours begin in Frontera or in Livingston.

FROM: Lake Izabal and Caribbean Coast

canarymoon · 09-24-2007, 07:20 AM

Livingston, a charming town located at the mouth of the Rio Dulce, is unique in Guatemala due to its Garifuna culture. Originally a mix between a native tribe, the Kalipuna's and slaves from Nigeria mixed in the 17th century and conserved their own language, music and religion. Livingston can only be accessed by boats traveling across the bay from Puerto Barrios or down the Rio Dulce from Frontera.

Puerto Barrios is a convenient base for tours in the region. Boats depart regularly from Barrios for Livingston and Belize. Puerto Barrios is also the capital of Izabal state and once was a busy place before the modern port of Santo Tomas de Castilla was built nearby.

SOURCE: Lake Izabal and Caribbean Coast