Santo Tomás de Castilla

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Santo Tomás de Castilla, also known as Matías de Gálvez is a port city in Izabal Department, Guatemala. It is located at around 15°41′60″N, 88°37′0″WCoordinates: 15°41′60″N, 88°37′0″W. It lies at Amatique Bay off the Gulf of Honduras and is administratively a part of Puerto Barrios. Santo Tomás was settled originally by Belgians in the 19th century.[1]

[edit] Facts about the seaport

The seaport was built in 1976, after an earthquake had severely damaged the port of Puerto Barrios.
Today the seaport is among the busiest in Central America and currently expanding. [2]
The port is located next to a free trade zone, the Zona de Libre Industria y Comercio Santo Tomás de Castilla, called Zolic.
The port currently employs 2100 workers.
4.56 million tons of trading goods went through the port in 2004.
In 2004, 1372 ships anchored in Santo Tomás de Castilla. [3]

[edit] Cruise ships

In 2004, Santo Tomás de Castilla started receiving cruise ships. The cruise ship terminal is a tremendous boost for the Guatemalan tourism industry. Two cruise ships a month, carrying 1500 passengers each make a stop here. [4]. Cruise ship passengers visit Guatemala mostly for its Maya culture, spread throughout the country. Thus, Puerto Barrios Airport is currently being refurbished to carry ship passengers for day trips to Tikal or other places in Guatemala in the near future. Nearby attractions include Rio Dulce, Lake Izabal, the towns of Puerto Barrios, Livingston and San Felipe Castle, and the Mayan ruins of Quirigua.