Santo Tomas

[cruzincurt]

Ok, our cruise has been rerouted. What to do or see in Santo Tomas?

[elmorejj]

Santo Tomas is a big ugly commercial container port so unless you take a ships tour there isn`t anything to see. They do set up a craft market at the pier with some beautiful but pricey items for sale. Its extremely hot at that port.....jean :cool:

[bepsf]

There is an excellent all-day excursion to the Quiriuga Ruins and boat trip down the Rio Dulce.

 

The tour busses are air-conditioned, the tour guides (hopefully you'll get Manuel - he has a PhD!) are very polite, well informed and eager to share their post-Mayan culture with you. They supply you with cold bottled water and will even spray you down w/ insect repellent so you won't get eaten up by the bugs!!!

 

There is a mid-day stop at an American expat-owned resort for a delicious Central-American style all-you-can-eat buffet luncheon.

 

The trip down the river is amazing. Seeing the way that the native inhabitants live with nature is a real education in comparison to our own society. And the wildlife - its like being in an episode of the Discovery Channel!!! The seats are hard, and the boats are open - so it does get a bit uncomfortable, but the sights are worth it!!!

 

Along with your camera, I'd recommend bringing a small backpack w/ extra water and nibblie snacks, plenty of waterproof sunscreen - maybe even some music to listen to on the bus-ride or down the river (the boats have outboard motors, so they're loud). I was wishing for those padded stadium cushions on the boatride too...

 

And at the end of the trip, the boat drops you off at the pier right in front of your ship!

 

For a few pix, have a look here:

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170

(Guatemala pix are midway down the page)

[GA girl]

cruzincurt....

 

I previously answered a request for info on Santo Tomas de Castilla which you might find helpful - original request was titled 'Looking for info on Santo......', dated Oct. 13 (and today is on page 4).

 

Hope you enjoy your visit there - for us the trip up the Rio Dolce was wonderful.