How to get to Tikal from port stop in Puerto Quetzal.

[Giovanina]

We're taking a Panama Canal cruise later this year and one of our ports is Puerto Quetzal. I understand Tikal is nearby but no shore excursion is offered by our cruise line. Would appreciate any information on doing this on our own, length of time needed and any advice you might have to offer. Thanks in advance.

[atlanta99]

same story here. We also are stopping off in Quetzal later this year during PC cruise. I had heard great things about Tikal and Antigua (especially Tikal) and was hoping to somehow hit both, but was surprised that the ship (Regal Princess) doesn't offer any excursions at all to Tikal. Is it just too far (or slow roads) to get there and back during the time we have in port? We look forward to help from our Guatemala veterans out there !

 

Mark

[Giovanina]

Did some further research and discovered that Tikal and Puerto Quetzal are a considerable distance apart, from one side of the country to the other. Holland American apparently offers an excursion for about $500.00, which includes airfare and transfers. so we could probably do this on our own. However, since Tikal is such a large site (in addition to the high cost) I think we are going to forget it for this time and hopefully go there on a future trip when we can spend some time, probably stay overnight and really do the site justice.

 

We are taking the same ship as you Mark. We cruised on the Regal Princess to Alaska last year and liked the ship very much. We were even able to book the same state room.

[atlanta99]

Thanks for the further update and info Giovanina. Sounds like we will be sticking with Antigua then.

 

When are you going? We will be on the New Year's cruise.

 

Mark

[Giovanina]

You're welcome Mark. Sorry it wasn't possible to get to Tikal. Hopefully, we can plan a trip and visit both Tikal and Coban in Honduras someday.

 

We had considered the New Year's Eve Cruise, which would also have included my husband's birthday, but finally decided on the earlier date. Since we will be home before you leave, I'll try to post some things that might be helpful for you.

 

I've noticed many of you list the cruises you have taken, so decided to list ours.

 

Sitmar - Fairsea - March 1979 - Mexican Riviera

Royal Caribbean - Song of Norway - March 1985 - Western Caribbean

NCL - Starward - November 1988 - Deep Caribbean

Bermuda Star Line - Queen of Bermuda - April 1990 - Keywest/Cozumel

Commodore - Enchanted Isle - June 1992 - Mexican Riviera

NCL - Starward - November 1993 - Mexican Riviera

Dolphin Hellas - Aegean Dolphin - October 1995 - Greek Isles/Turkey

Royal Caribbean - Nordic Empress - October 2000 - Bermuda

Princess - Regal Princess - June 2005 - Alaska

 

Princess - Regal Princess - September 2006 - Panama Canal

[travel-kat]

I've been to both Tikal and Copan and they are fantastic (especially Tikal). But, as you have figured out, not reasonable from Puerto Quetzal on ship stopover. (We took a land tour from Caravan Tours several years ago).

 

We did a Panamal Canal (Volendam) Florida to LA trip this April (2006). We had a great day in Antigua at much less than what the shore excursions offered. Because we have been there before, we were comfortable making our own arrangements. HOWEVER I couldn't find any information on who to book with and just finally went with my instinct. It worked out perfectly, so maybe I can make it easier for someone else. We used sin fronteras for transportation and then joined up with Elizabeth Bell for a tour. Probably could have handled everything through either one of them. We had a great day. We had toured Antigua on our previous trip to Guatemala and learned a lot from Elizabeth Bell - she's an American that has lived in the city since her teens. Great perspective and she's trying to do a lot to help.

 

I don't know where your other stops are, but if you need any input on Dominican Republic, Cartagena, Nicaragua, Punta Arenas (Costa Rica), Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas - maybe I can help. We went on our own in Punta Arenas and had a PERFECT day. The others we had shore excursions that we learned from.

[Giovanina]

This is ridiculously late Travel-Kat, but wanted to thank you for the info you provided. I printed your post and promptly misplaced it, so just today e-mailed Antigua Tours and I'm hoping we can arrange something with them on this short notice. We plan to do Huatulco and Orangestad on our own by taxi and possibly a 4X4 rental in Aruba. We've reserved a tour in Puntarenas. If you happen to open this thread again and have any thoughts or suggestions would appreciate hearing from you again. Again. thanks and I apologize for not posting before now.

[robtulipe]

I've noticed many of you list the cruises you have taken, so decided to list ours.

 

Sitmar - Fairsea - March 1979 - Mexican Riviera

Royal Caribbean - Song of Norway - March 1985 - Western Caribbean

NCL - Starward - November 1988 - Deep Caribbean

Bermuda Star Line - Queen of Bermuda - April 1990 - Keywest/Cozumel

Commodore - Enchanted Isle - June 1992 - Mexican Riviera

NCL - Starward - November 1993 - Mexican Riviera

Dolphin Hellas - Aegean Dolphin - October 1995 - Greek Isles/Turkey

Royal Caribbean - Nordic Empress - October 2000 - Bermuda

Princess - Regal Princess - June 2005 - Alaska

 

Princess - Regal Princess - September 2006 - Panama Canal

 

If you go to Quick Links above on a CC page (like this one) then select Edit Signature you can type in or copy and paste your cruise history as part of your signature so it shows with all of your postings. You can change the case size and/or color at the same time if you wish.

[Giovanina]

Thank you. I wondered how this was done.

[robtulipe]

You are very welcome.

By the way I can see the Regal Princess docked at the Pan Am terminal from our hotel location in Miramar district of San Juan and she is a beautiful ship.

[Giovanina]

I checked Regal's web cam earlier today and saw she is alongside San Juan. Your hotel must be near the pier. She is a very beautiful ship, designed by Renzo Piano, an acclaimed Italian architect. He used a singular stack, "dolphin-like prow" and unique domed observation lounge (also the casino).

 

Sadly she will be leaving the fleet next year, going to P&O Australia. We're looking forward to sailing with her soon and unless we decide to take the last voyage, will very much miss her.