Tour the Beautiful Rio Dulce From This Cruise Port in Guatemala

Is Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala, a stop on your cruise itinerary? If so, a tour of the Rio Dulce is one of the best things to do at this port.

I found it challenging to find information geared toward the Santo Tomas de Castilla cruise port. Compared to other popular ports, there was little information online, and what I did find was outdated and not very helpful, even on TripAdvisor.

This port is industrial, so booking a shore excursion is ideal. Later, I learned from our local travel guide that they receive one cruise ship weekly, which explains the lack of detailed info.

Santo Tomas de Castilla Cruise Port

The Santo Tomas de Castilla cruise port, also known as Puerto Barrios, is located in the Izabal department and is a trans-shipment terminal for cargo ships and a cruise port.

The cruise terminal here isn’t set up to accommodate large numbers of tourists like some other ports. However, there are interesting things to do nearby, and many cruise ships offer shore excursions from this port. We had an independent tour booked with Happy Fish.

After finding them inside the visitor center, we checked in and received stickers with their logo to identify us. They explained where we’d meet outside near the dock. In the meantime, we explored the souvenirs and made mental notes of what we’d like to purchase when we returned in case we didn’t find anything during the tour.

Booking a Shore Excursion in Santo Tomas de Castilla Port

You might be tempted to stay on the ship, but this is one port where getting off is a must. Guatemala is worth exploring if you’re looking for culture and nature, so booking a tour is best.

As someone who loves to explore independently when cruising, I found that Santo Tomas de Castilla is one of those ports where you’re better off booking a tour to enjoy the best it offers. Otherwise, you’ll miss out. After our day, we believed this was the best experience out of our Western Caribbean itinerary that week.

You can book tours via the cruise ship or find a shore excursion independently. Initially, we booked a tour with the cruise ship but ended up canceling after finding a similar tour with Happy Fish Travels. The most popular tour from Santo Tomas de Castilla is to the Rio Dulce, often combined with a visit to Livingston. While we highly recommend an organized tour, if that’s not your thing, you can negotiate with a water taxi at the dock to take you to Livingston for lunch and a walk around. Try to get them to give you a quick tour of the Rio Dulce.

Happy Fish Travel

During our research, Happy Fish Travel, one of the top tour companies in the area, offered a similar tour to the cruise ship’s shore excursion, but with lunch included in Livingston, for about the same cost.

Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala, was day 6 of our cruise itinerary and a first for us. We had never been to Guatemala. We wanted to make the most of our day with limited time here. We contacted Happy Fish regarding their Rio Dulce Canyon / Ak-Tenamit / Livingston Tour (they offer many others) and received a prompt response.

You can secure your spot by paying via their online portal or reserve and pay with cash upon check-in. We chose to pay in advance with a Visa card to avoid carrying extra cash. Note that the charge will be in their local currency. We had no issues with our credit card payment.

Tour of Rio Dulce, Guatemala

After checking in with Happy Fish Travel at the visitor center, we met our tour guide, René, by the docks. They fitted us with life vests (a bit uncomfortable on a hot, humid day, but necessary) and helped us settle into the boat.

Our journey into the Rio Dulce began. We passed by villages along the banks and saw wreckages and lush vegetation, all while René explained life in Guatemala. Words, video clips, and photos can’t do this beautiful country justice. We toured only a small part of the Rio Dulce and spent half a day there, but it was an absolute pleasure and privilege.

Here are a few Rio Dulce fun facts:

• Rio Dulce translates to “Sweet River.”
• It connects to Guatemala’s largest lake, Lake Izabel.
• You can reach Castillo de San Felipe from the Rio Dulce.
• It’s the principal transit point to Livingston.

We visited a local children’s school and walked around its lush campus. Although the students were off that day, they were usually eager to welcome visitors on a normal school day.

The tour included stopping at a natural hot spring for about 20 minutes. While we didn’t plan to get in, the hot spring was not impressive. It was located next to a bar where we docked. We enjoyed a fresh coconut drink and a homemade local dulce de coco.

Leaving the hot springs, we entered a beautiful lagoon filled with lily pads and water lilies, creating a picturesque view. Local kids in canoes approached us to sell souvenirs. Although we usually avoid such sales tactics, we were charmed to make a purchase this time.

As we rode through the Rio Dulce, flanked by the magnificence of the national forest, we were reminded once again of how incredible the world is and how much we have yet to explore.

Lunch in Livingston, Guatemala

Lunch was included with our tour at the Happy Fish Restaurant in Livingston. We chose chicken or fish; I had the fish, and my husband had the chicken. The dishes were rice, beans, and vegetables; everything was delicious. The fish was fresh and grilled perfectly. I also enjoyed a coco loco with my meal.

After lunch, we had some time to walk around Livingston. Many local shops were open, selling fresh fruits and vegetables, and plenty of souvenir shops. The women in traditional clothing added a vibrant touch to the experience.

Part of the main street was closed to vehicles, possibly for tourist safety. Soon, we returned to the boat to head back to the Santo Tomas de Castilla cruise port.

Our tour guide, René, from Happy Fish Travel, did a terrific job. We hope to return and perhaps rent one of those huts along the Rio Dulce to explore further one day.

Soon, we returned to the boat to return to the Santo Tomas de Castilla cruise port.

We visited the visitor center at the port and bought jade charms, Guatemalan coffee, and local chocolate before boarding the Norwegian Pearl.

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