International Seaports in Guatemala:

Guatemala has 5 ports located on both coasts. On the Atlantic side are Santo Tomas de Castilla and Puerto Barrios. On the Pacific side, you’ll find Puerto Quetzal, Puerto de San Jose, and Champerico.

The main cargo ports are Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Barrios, and San Tomas de Castilla.
. The other ports are used for recreational and finishing activities, except for San Jose, which is used primarily for liquid bulk shipments, including petroleum and molasses.

Puerto Quetzal:

Located on the Pacific side of Guatemala, Puerto Quetzal is the largest Pacific seaport and a key location thanks to its proximity to the Panama Canal. It is 100km from Guatemala City. It is also a popular spot for cruise docking.

Port Quetzal is a huge sugar export location and is the most efficient sugar loading terminal in Central America. It also contains a liquefied gas terminal, a coal terminal, and a cruise ship terminal.

Puerto Barrios:

Located on the Atlantic side of Guatemala, Puerto Barrios is the older and smaller of the two Atlantic ports. It was the main Atlantic port until 1976 when heavy earthquake damage destroyed the town and the port of Santo Tomas de Castilla was built. Since then, it has been rebuilt as a modern industrial port. Originally built by the United Fruit Company, it is 295km from Guatemala City. Built to be a railroad terminal that would help connect the country with American trade, it is still an important hub for fruit and vegetable exports, including Chiquita, Dole, and Del Monte.

Santo Tomas de Castilla:

This is the largest Atlantic port in Guatemala, located 295km from the capital and connected by highway and railroad. Built in 1976 after an earthquake destroyed most of nearby Puerto Barrios, this modern facility not only handles cargo but is the main docking point for cruise ships visiting Mayan ruins in the area. Over 5 million tons of products and goods go through the port every year. It has terminals for liquid bulk, general cargo, containers, and cruise ships.