Santo Tomas

One of two major Guatemalan ports on the Gulf coast, Santo Tomás de Castilla is a few kilometers south of Puerto Barrios on Santo Tomás Bay. It is Guatemala’s largest and most efficient port on the Caribbean Ocean. It was formerly known as Matías de Galvez, and now handles 77% of the country's exports and half the imports, as well as 20% of El Salvador's imports and 10% of its exports. It is a wonderful place to get an authentic taste of local Guatemalan culture.

The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 180 days before the cruise begins.

Countryside and Rio Dulce By Land
Tour Code: SST-6953
Duration: 4 1/2 hours
Retail Value: $119.00
Price: Free

Explore Guatemala's scenic beauty and storied past during this orientation tour through the Motagua Valley, and a visit to the 17th-century Castle of San Felipe.

Depart the pier for the drive through the scenic Motagua Valley. Along the way, you will see an abundance of lush tropical vegetation in the countryside. Upon arrival at the bridge over the Rio Dulce, a stop will be made for spectacular views and photo opportunities of Lake Izabal and Rio Dulce National Park, a protected area and one of the most important ecological reserves in the country. From this vantage-point, you will also see Guatemalan weekend homes, marinas and small hotels dotting both sides of the river and lake.

On Lake Izabal, you will find the tiny Castle of San Felipe, or Castillo de San Felipe, the Spanish fort built to protect the Rio Dulce from invading pirates. You will then take a brief boat ride to the castle for an inside visit. Located just minutes from the bridge, the Castle of San Felipe was built during the 17th century in honor of the Spanish King Felipe II. The fort, with its powerful battery of cannons strategically positioned at the entrance to Lake Izabal, offered protection to Spanish ships crossing its waters, and transporting products and supplies to and from Spain and Havana. Its walls offered protection from pirates that used to navigate the river and attack the boats they encountered along the way.

In 1686, a pirate assault burned most of the fort, and the attacks continued until a series of treaties were signed between Spain and England. As a result, the Castillo lost its importance as a defensive fort, and was converted into a prison. It was later abandoned, and fell into a state of disrepair until its renovation by Architect Francisco Ferrus in 1955. Although rebuilt based upon its original plans, the Castle of San Felipe still retains two cannons dating back to the 1790s, and a pair of 400-year-old towers.

Following your tour, you will proceed to the Catamaran Hotel for refreshments before returning to the ship.

Please note: Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and bring sunscreen a hat, sunglasses and insect repellant from the ship. Guides will assist guests embarking the boats, but guests must be able to step into and out of the boat on their own; a challenging feat during low tide.

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Terms & Conditions:

Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tours operate rain or shine. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.